Top Cuban slugger Jose Dariel Abreu defects
Matthew Pouliot Aug 11, 2013, 10:21 PM EDT
A pair of agents told El Nuevo Herald that first baseman Jose Dariel
Abreu has defected from Cuba and is somewhere in the Caribbean, with
separate reports placing him in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
If the news is true, Abreu would rate as biggest Cuban free agent ever.
Arguably the country's best hitter, Abreu is just entering his prime at
26 and he tied for the league lead in homers last year, hitting 19 in
264 at-bats. He finished the season batting .345 with a 39/54 K/BB
ratio. In the World Baseball Classic, he went 9-for-25 with three homers
and nine RBI.
Particularly in light of the success of Yoenis Cespedes and Yasiel Puig
in the majors, Abreu will likely set off quite the bidding war if he's
made a free agent. Given that the Dodgers, Yankees, Tigers and Angels
already have huge commitments at first base, the Red Sox and Rangers
would seem to be in the best position to land him, with the Mets, Blue
Jays, White Sox and Mariners rating as longer shots.
Personally, I think Abreu would immediately emerge as an All-Star
candidate at first base. A contract exceeding $70 million-$80 million
would hardly come as a surprise.
Source: "Report: Top Cuban slugger Jose Dariel Abreu defects |
HardballTalk" -
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/08/11/report-top-cuban-slugger-jose-dariel-abreu-defects/
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