The Cubs have signed Cuban prospects Yasiel Balaguert and Carlos Martinez, reports Baseball America's Ben Badler. Both players are represented by Jaime Torres.
Balaguert, 19 in January, is said to have "modest tools" and a "long, uppercut swing from the right side and an aggressive, pull-oriented approach that leaves him susceptible to secondary stuff." Although he's played center, it's likely that he'll be relegated to left field down the line. The Marlins had interest in signing him earlier this offseason.
Martinez, 20, is a right-handed pitcher who has worked mostly out of the bullpen according to Badler. He has a "fastball that parks in the low 90s" and an "average curveball but it often gets slurvy, while his changeup is also a work in progress with occasional fade."
grownice
So the cubs found the their replacement for Soriano in a few years , and they will replace him with … Soriano?
jb226 2
If he turns out to be Soriano with, you know, a fifth the salary I think that would be quite effective. Somehow I am not expecting it.
imachainsaw
soriano is an above average left fielder.
dudemanbro
not sure if serious…
imachainsaw
an .818 OPS in his tenure with the Cubs is way above average for left fielders.
imachainsaw
his UZR is also way above average in LF, and he has a positive dWAR, so yeah I’m damn serious.
Matt Manzella
It’s no Yoenis, but it’s good that they’re signing international talent.
Ferrariman
who needs Yoenis when you have Yasiel
cubs27
Yasiel’s “scouting report” actually sounds like Yoenis with less speed
danistheguy
Theo strikes!
popular_mechanics_for_pitchers
Out!
Couldn’t resist
CandyMaldonadoLand
I’m naming my first child Yasiel Balaguert
Lastings
Can you even pronounce that name correctly?
Cheeseballs
Our Carlos Martinez is better than your Carlos Martinez. Birds
chaifetz10
The Cardinals Chris Carpenter is better than your Chris Carpenter, and their Carlos Martinez is better than yours too.
Cheeseballs
I was speaking for the birds, not against. But yes.
jb226 2
I’d like to see them go after a bigger fish since it seems like this will be the last offseason to be able to use their financial advantage internationally, but I guess something is better than nothing.
Roy-Z
Those scouting reports are…not that great?
Rick Springer
I’d be more worried about these signings if they were all projected to beat dominating.
Guest 5431
They don’t sound overally impressive, but it’s good to see the Cubs going out and getting some young players… they must have seen something in them
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Meaningless signings they will never make the ML level, The Cubs are in dyer need or a catcher a closer, and starting pitching. Yet they sign to players who are 19 and will take 5 yrs to develop by the time they are ready the Cubs will have traded them and they will become superstar players. Then again Hendry isn’t the GM anymore either.
firealyellon
And you in dire need of spell-check…
stewie75
Just more lottery tickets, don’t get excited but lottery tickets nonetheless. now let’s focus on the real prize from cuba… just consider his salary what you’d have paid garza anyways.
Rick Springer
Hopefully the Cubs didn’t pay too much for these inspiring examples of major league ready talent.