Top (Remaining) Cuban Baseball Free Agents: Ruiz, Anderson, Hechevarria

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After many of this year's wave of Cuban baseball have been signed by MLB teams, there are still a number of talented players that remain available. So far this winter, Jose Iglesias, Noel Arguelles and Aroldis Chapman have flooded sports and business news after signing lucrative contracts. Chapman especially, was considered to be a gem on the free agent market, approaching the notoriety that Japanese star pitcher, Daisuke Matsuzaka, held a few seasons ago.

Earlier this month, first basemen Jose Julio Ruiz and outfielder Leslie Anderson were cleared to seek MLB contracts. Now, possibly the most talented Cuban defector not named "Aroldis Chapman," 19-year-old shortstop, Adeiny Hechevarria, is reportedly being sought after by as many as six MLB teams, including the Los Angeles Angels.

While Jose Iglesias, signed by the Red Sox earlier this winter for $8.2 million dollars, has garnered more buzz, Hechevarria actually forced Iglesias to second base while playing on the Cuban Junior National Team in 2007. While Iglesias has the tools to be something like a softer-hitting Orlando Cabrera, Hechevarria has the power potential to hit 15-20 home runs, and the range and arm to win a Gold Glove in the MLB. There's no doubt, Iglesias is a very talented player, and one who has a chance to embody the classic MLB shortstop-- mixing his steady glove with a contact-oriented bat. However, Hechevarria is much more athletic than the two-dimensional Iglesias, and can offer more bat and even more glove (if he adjusts well to American baseball). A shortstop similar to Yuniesky Bethancourt, with better defense, isn't a tall order from a player like Hechevarria, and at best, he could be something similar to a 2007-2008 J.J. Hardy.

Set to turn 26 this March, Jose Julio Ruiz-- arguably the most advanced bat available among the 2009-2010 class of Cuban baseball free agents-- can hit for both average and power, and has enough speed and athleticism to handle the outfield corners. While he won't hit 30 bombs in the MLB, Ruiz could use his strong cut to hit .280 with 18-25 home runs and he could rack up doubles with his above average speed and base-running instincts. At best he will be similar player to the Mariners' Casey Kotchman. He isn't a high-reward prospect, but because his skill-set (athletic first baseman with a polished, line-drive bat) is one that shouldn't deteriorate with his adjustment to American baseball, he isn't one that comes with considerable risk either.

Leslie Anderson is an older prospect, turning 28 this spring, but he does offer an impressive hitting savvy that could be useful on an MLB club. While Anderson played centerfield for the Cuban National team, he would probably fit better in left field or even first base in the MLB-- he also has experience in right. While his tools are fairly pedestrian, Anderson does have plus to plus-plus bat control, regularly hitting well over .300 and striking out far less than he walks. If given the chance, Anderson could be something like the Braves' Matt Diaz or a young Orlando Palmeiro with more gap-power. As always, until young Cuban ballplayers get a few months worth of red meat and protein in their diets, it's difficult to project their power and arm strength. However, because Anderson is already in his prime years, his ceiling isn't far off and he probably won't develop the power to hit more than 10-15 homeruns when given 600 at bats.

Below are videos of Ruiz, Anderson and Hechevarria provided by CubanBallPlayers.com.

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Hechevarria comes to bat at the 3'40" mark in this video, then makes a web gem later in the video...

Dominican I.F.A. Rafael DePaula Back on Market

After being suspended by Major League Baseball for misrepresenting his age, the young, right-handed pitcher Rafael DePaula is once again fielding offers from MLB clubs. Just weeks ago DePaula and his agent considered beginning DePaula's professional career in Japan instead of the United States. However, the relatively minor level of deception that DePaula used (a matter of a few months) has probably allowed the Dominican teenager the opportunity to being his career in the US.

Numerous teams have resumed contacting/scouting DePaula. Both the Yankees and the Red Sox are reportedly interested in signing him. The seventeen year old righty wields a low 90s fastball and a repertoire of breaking pitches that have shown impressive potential. With further maturation and development, many scouts believe that DePaula will become a fire-balling ace, capable of launching mid-to-high 90s fastballs and spinning razor sharp sliders past opposing batters.

While no formal offers have been reported, DePaula should easily command a seven-figure contract. However, his age-misrepresentation offense won't be taken lightly by many clubs--especially those that have been burned in similar (but certainly more severe) cases in the past, and his final contract will definitely max out considerably below what it would have been, had he avoided being caught.

Below is a video of DePaula pitching for scouts while in the Dominican Republic. The video is from Kiley McDaniel of Baseball Prospectus.

Rafael DePaula from Kiley McDaniel on Vimeo.