I know it's early, but outside of the managerial search, I see virtually no Cubs rumors relative to free agents or trades. I also don't see the Cubs linked at all to Cuban free agent Yoenis Cespedes. This guy really looks to be a top notch talent. Looks like it'll take a 30M commitment to get him and all the big boys are after him hard. Would seem like a real nice young player to throw in the mix:


Yoenis Cespedes To Gain Free Agency
By Tim Dierkes [November 7 at 7:15pm CST]
7:15pm: The Red Sox are "sending everyone" to the Dominican to evaluate Cespedes, according to MLB.com's Peter Gammons. The Rangers are also interested, along with the many teams named below, according to Gammons, who confirms that small-market teams like the A's, Pirates and Indians will be involved.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports names the Marlins, Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers, and Nationals as teams with a significant presence at the Friday workout.

5:49pm: Yankees GM Brian Cashman confirmed that he saw the Cespedes video, but wouldn't say whether the Yankees are interested, according to Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger (link on Twitter; the video has been removed). Meanwhile, Braves GM Frank Wren told David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he doesn't expect to sign the center fielder, though they're checking in on him (Twitter link).

2:25pm: The Yankees, Phillies, Blue Jays, Giants, Marlins, Nationals, Indians, Athletics, and Pirates have had a presence at Cespedes' workouts, reports Yahoo's Tim Brown. Giants GM Brian Sabean told reporters today that his team will not be involved on Cespedes, however (via Andrew Baggarly on Twitter).

Agent Adam Katz tells Brown he'll wait until his client is technically declared a free agent before discussing contract terms with teams. The Yankees, Phillies, and Marlins will have private workouts with Cespedes within the next few weeks, with a Marlins contingent heading to the Dominican Republic this week.

8:30am: Cuban center fielder Yoenis Cespedes defected mid-summer and is expected to be cleared for free agency within a matter of weeks, reports Yahoo's Jeff Passan. The 26-year-old is "arguably the best all-around player to come out of Cuba in a generation," according to Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus, who describes Cespedes as "a legitimate centerfielder with plus power and speed." Both Passan and Goldstein expect the 26-year-old to receive a deal in the range of the $30.25MM Aroldis Chapman received in January of 2010. MLBTR first told you about Cespedes' escape from the Cuban National Team in July.

If you really want to get to know Cespedes, though, you need to watch the 20-minute YouTube video sent by his trainer to MLB teams. Goldstein's column provides a full breakdown of this bizarre production, but I'll just note that it includes Cespedes making a 45-inch vertical jump, leg-pressing 1,300 pounds (with two friends atop the weights), catching a flyball behind his back while facing the batter (twice), a thank you to Ahman Green, and the player roasting a pig. Some of the songs used may not be appropriate for your workplace, except for Christopher Cross' 1980 hit "Sailing," which was deemed too tame even for your office's elevator.

Cespedes is represented by Adam Katz of Wasserman Media Group. Passan says the Yankees are "particularly hot" for the center fielder. Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post says the Nationals had multiple talent evaluators on hand at Cespedes' workout last week in the Dominican Republic, and a team official said they'd "love to have him." Ownership has been informed about Cespedes and what it would take to sign him. The Marlins and Phillies are also in the mix for Cespedes, writes Kilgore. As with Chapman, this type of player in his prime will draw the interest of almost every club.

The Marlins have the inside track, one American League source who attended the showcase told Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. A Marlins contingent including owner Jeffrey Loria will visit Cespedes in the Dominican Republic later this week, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

I have enough faith that they are aware of the situation.

In the past this did concern me, Just didnt have enough people.

_________________
"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Would still be nice to see some interest however. Wilken is still on the payroll.

Have to imagine Fleita is on this one. He spends the offseason at many of the latin leagues and has said he will spending more time in the dominican this year overseeing the building of the new facility.

Would not be surprised if he was already there before this.

_________________
"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

I would hope so. This guy looks like a big time stud.

Latest On Yoenis Cespedes
By Tim Dierkes [November 9 at 11:58am CST]
The market is strong for Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes, who currently resides in the Dominican Republic. The paperwork required for the center fielder to play baseball in the United States should be done this month, advisor Edgar Mercedes told Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus. Said Mercedes, "I'm confident that he'll be in spring training with a major league club."

Private workouts are beginning this week, with a large Marlins contingent scheduled to visit Thursday. The Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, Indians, Blue Jays, and Pirates are among the teams that will visit in the coming weeks, Mercedes told Goldstein. Mercedes also answered questions about the legendary showcase video he produced for Cespedes.

On Monday, the Rangers, Tigers, Nationals, and Athletics were named as other clubs interested in Cespedes, who is represented by Adam Katz of Wasserman Media Group.

Can't speak as to how good this guy is, but he looked a lil chunky, so I assume he can bring some power?

I know the Marlins are looking at Reyes, moving Ramirez to 3B.

Ozzie could get the team he wanted. You know he will push this ownership group hard to get really good players and they might respond, going into the new park.

Still, nobody will come. I guess the Cuban players are the best chance they have

_________________
"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Good point, however given Fleita has been on the job now for years, one has to ask why is he NOT all over this guy. Either a. Ricketts doesn't feel like dropping 30M on 1 guy, b. Fleita is behind the curve here or c. Theo doesn't have any confidence is his evaluations.

Or D) The guy is the Cuban Kosuke Fukedome.

I agree about Fleita's evaluation. Might say that about all of them. Steve Johnson and Wilkens.

_________________
"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Steve Johnson? Not familiar with him...

I'd take a highly rated Cuban over one of these overhyped Japanese guys anytime although your point is well taken. Suffice it to say, Kosuke was one of the major fuckups of the Hendry regime. Talk about a waste of 48M fucking dollars. This guy is younger and much more athletic. Fukudome was already past his prime IMO and is nothing more than an average MLB player.

The guy says he's 26 which means he's 30. He has never played in any league worth a damn. None of the overhyped Cuban defectors have ever really been great. Sounds like a waste of money to me.

It's all a hype machine that I doubt Theo will be sucked into considering his experience with Daisuke.

Good link - and a good sign!!