Cuban Catcher Declared Free Agent

Discussion in 'Los Angeles DODGERS' started by irish, Jan 24, 2014.

Page 1 of 2
  1. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    53,290
    Likes Received:
    40,916
    Trophy Points:
    278
    just kicking the tires
    or a sign of the front office's lack of faith in aj?

    By Steve Adams [January 24, 2014 at 10:38am CST]​

    ​
    Cuban catcher Yenier Bello has been cleared by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and is now free to sign with a Major League club, according to MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez.​

    ​
    The 28-year-old Bello was cleared to sign by Major League Baseball back on Oct. 1 and has been scouted by as many as 15-20 Major League teams. Sanchez lists the Dodgers, Cubs and Blue Jays as teams that have been connected to Bello, who is said to offer some pop from behind the dish. He batted .274 with 13 homers in Cuba's Serie Nacional in 2011 -- a league in which the regular season is just 90 games long.​

    ​
    It's unclear what type of commitment it would take for a team to land Bello, but doesn't appear to be on the same prospect level as recent Cuban signees Jose Dariel Abreu, Yasiel Puig, Yoenis Cespedes and Aroldis Chapman. Because he is older than 23 and has more than three years of professional experience, Bello will not be subject to the international spending limitations laid out in the most recent Collective Bargaining Agreement; Bello can sign with any team for any amount. Now that he's been cleared to sign, I've added Bello's name to our 2014 Free Agent list.​

    __
     
    irish, Jan 24, 2014
    #1
  2. back2back x 2 + 1

    back2back x 2 + 1 DSP Legend Damned

    Joined:
    Jul 2013
    Messages:
    8,440
    Likes Received:
    1,920
    Trophy Points:
    173
    me likey. jump on this guy and fast track him...he's 28, so certainly don't sign him to 2 or 3M a year deal and slow-track him. lol see what he can do. may even become a younger backup option at 3rd and 1st for us. AJ's job is likely safe for 2014 tho.
     
    back2back x 2 + 1, Jan 24, 2014
    #2
    TuborgP likes this.
  3. BlueMouse

    BlueMouse 2020 World Champions

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    12,445
    Likes Received:
    14,570
    Trophy Points:
    198
    As far as I know we aren't super deep at catcher, so it makes sense that we are looking. I don't think this means there a lack of faith in AJ.
     
    BlueMouse, Jan 24, 2014
    #3
    TuborgP likes this.
  4. Doughty8

    Doughty8 DSP Legend

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    10,213
    Likes Received:
    4,243
    Trophy Points:
    198

    We are positively barren at catcher! AJ is going to be 33 this year isn't he so we need catchers.
     
    Doughty8, Jan 24, 2014
    #4
    TuborgP and irish like this.
  5. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

    Joined:
    Jul 2013
    Messages:
    11,710
    Likes Received:
    10,087
    Trophy Points:
    198
    The early reports I saw on this guy was that he is a lower second tier starter or a first tier backup. Don't think he would be a replacement for AJ, but a solid back up and let FedEx get AB's in AAA. I heard AJ talking the other day and he mentioned that he came to camp trying to be the type of hitter he's not and it totally screwed up his approach and swing at the plate. He went on to say that he was all out of sorts by the end of the season. I guess Mark and Donnie sat him down after the season and helped set him straight. He attributed that to his better approach in the playoffs. Be nice to have the OBP machine back this season.
     
    ColoradoKidWitGame, Jan 24, 2014
    #5
    irish likes this.
  6. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

    Joined:
    Jul 2013
    Messages:
    11,710
    Likes Received:
    10,087
    Trophy Points:
    198
    Also, .274 is not a great batting average in a league known to be extremely hitter friendly.
     
    ColoradoKidWitGame, Jan 24, 2014
    #6
  7. carolinabluedodger

    carolinabluedodger DSP Legend

    Joined:
    Jul 2013
    Messages:
    4,370
    Likes Received:
    3,351
    Trophy Points:
    153
    What CKWG said, AND I haven't seen a word about his defense yet.
     
    carolinabluedodger, Jan 24, 2014
    #7
  8. CapnTreee

    CapnTreee Guest


    anything less than a passed ball per game would be an improvement
     
    CapnTreee, Jan 24, 2014
    #8
    Bluezoo, N.Z and mugs like this.
  9. N.Z

    N.Z DSP Legend

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    7,109
    Likes Received:
    6,719
    Trophy Points:
    173
    Positional depth. We need it at catcher.
     
    N.Z, Jan 25, 2014
    #9
  10. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    53,290
    Likes Received:
    40,916
    Trophy Points:
    278
    and he wears the same number as your all time favorite dodger catcher :duck:

    [​IMG]
     
    irish, Jan 25, 2014
    #10
  11. BigDaddyKaine

    BigDaddyKaine DSP Legend

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    12,048
    Likes Received:
    6,361
    Trophy Points:
    198
    He looks fat as fuck
     
    BigDaddyKaine, Jan 25, 2014
    #11
    blueplatespecial and ColoradoKidWitGame like this.
  12. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    53,290
    Likes Received:
    40,916
    Trophy Points:
    278
    which is a far cry from confident as fuck
    who wants to fight?
     
    irish, Jan 25, 2014
    #12
  13. lastatman

    lastatman DSP Legend Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    Jul 2013
    Messages:
    4,249
    Likes Received:
    5,460
    Trophy Points:
    153
    Is Pablo Sandoval's nickname Fuck?
     
    lastatman, Jan 25, 2014
    #13
    BigDaddyKaine likes this.
  14. MZA

    MZA MODERATOR Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    11,849
    Likes Received:
    6,045
    Trophy Points:
    198
    Shit if he can hit like Sandoval he can be as fat as he wants to.
     
    MZA, Jan 25, 2014
    #14
    BigDaddyKaine likes this.
  15. Bluezoo

    Bluezoo Among the Pantheon

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    27,552
    Likes Received:
    21,759
    Trophy Points:
    228
    Sandoval is a lean dude now.
    Lost about 40 lbs. Watch out when Vinny gets hold of him...
     
    Bluezoo, Jan 26, 2014
    #15
  16. southerndodgerfan

    southerndodgerfan Dodgers Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    3,594
    Likes Received:
    930
    Trophy Points:
    123
    As a Gnat, I hate Sandoval. However, I have to admit I would not be upset if he wound up on the Dodgers after this season. His bat coupled with the fact that he can play 3rd and 1st make him pretty attractive.
     
    southerndodgerfan, Jan 26, 2014
    #16
  17. carolinabluedodger

    carolinabluedodger DSP Legend

    Joined:
    Jul 2013
    Messages:
    4,370
    Likes Received:
    3,351
    Trophy Points:
    153
    So did Campanella.
     
    carolinabluedodger, Jan 26, 2014
    #17
    irish likes this.
  18. carolinabluedodger

    carolinabluedodger DSP Legend

    Joined:
    Jul 2013
    Messages:
    4,370
    Likes Received:
    3,351
    Trophy Points:
    153
    It's good that he can play first, it might postpone the time it takes him to eat himself out of the league.
     
    carolinabluedodger, Jan 26, 2014
    #18
  19. Bluezoo

    Bluezoo Among the Pantheon

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    27,552
    Likes Received:
    21,759
    Trophy Points:
    228
    Maybe it was a joke or something, but they showed a photo of him in the DR (or wherever) where he was a much trimmer version of his previous self. Maybe a photoshop thing or a semi- in shape brother or look-alike, but I'd say at least minus 40 pounds from the previously morbidly obese individual he was.
    IDK. What does it matter...he plays for them....
    Literally though, he (Sandoval) makes Campy look like Dee Gordon by comparison.
     
    Bluezoo, Jan 27, 2014
    #19
  20. lastatman

    lastatman DSP Legend Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    Jul 2013
    Messages:
    4,249
    Likes Received:
    5,460
    Trophy Points:
    153
    No, it's for real. Here in the Bay some are hailing his weight loss as the key to their return to winning championships.
     
    lastatman, Jan 27, 2014
    #20
Page 1 of 2

Share This Page