Cuban Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez Declared A Free Agent

[Angrioter]

cuban standout miguel alfredo gonzalez has been officially declared a free agent, according to ken rosenthal of fox sports (via twitter). However, the hurler does not have u.s. Treasury clearance yet to negotiate with mlb teams yet, tweets bill shaikin of the los angeles times.

 

Late last week, gonzalez threw for teams in tijuana and ben cherington was reportedly the only gm in attendance. However, the red sox aren't the only team interested in the right-hander. Several other clubs are said to be in the mix, including the dodgers, who sent their three top scouts to watch the audition on thursday.

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/06/miguel-alfredo-gonzalez-declared-a-free-agent.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

 

jhjji

[Deadpool]

He's going to be really, really expensive.

[Angrioter]

Vs Gerrit Cole

[GD]

He'll be a Red Sox (Sock?).

[BabbaGanoush]

This guy any good?

[Angrioter]

Boston, texas, dodgers and cubs interested

[imsorry4beatinU]

Boston, texas, dodgers and cubs interested

 

No Jays?

[Angrioter]

No Jays?

 

AA and I hate cubans

[imsorry4beatinU]

AA and I hate cubans

 

That's a lie. JPA is still on the team..

[Deadpool]

No Jays?

 

Wait until he's on waivers

[Angrioter]

Wait until he's on waivers

 

lol

Bro, he isn't a RP

[ace3113]

The Dodgers will offer him an insane amount of money, so that's where he'll probably go. Not that Gonzalez isn't good, but I'd probably be more interested if he was one of their position players.

[KSaw]

To answer the question of the day-- yes, the Jays scouted him and are interested. At last count 17 MLB clubs have scouted him and the list should grow to over 20.

 

Now here's the issues. (1) It'll be a over weeks before he's cleared to play. (2) He will be expecting to be on a 25-man roster in under 3 weeks. (3) He'll probably cost 5-years/$70mm, though this year would be a short one. (4) He'll want a signing bonus and back ended money because this year will be pro-rated.

[KSaw]

Boston, texas, dodgers and cubs interested

 

Everyone aside from Oakland, Miami, Tampa Bay, Minnesota and the Yankees are probably interested.

[Angrioter]

[Angrioter]

Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez and his array of stuff that wowed scouts at a showcase this week in Mexico. The 26-year-old Cuban defector's fastball sat at 94-95 mph, topping out at 97, according to one official in attendance. The right-hander also threw a 91-mph cutter and mixed in a curveball, changeup and splitter for good measure, striking out six in three innings against Ensenada in a Mexican League game.

 

Once Gonzalez gets unblocked by the Office of Foreign Assets Control – something expected to happen within the next two weeks but always at the whim of strict government regulations – the bidding for Gonzalez will ramp up fast and could thrust into Aroldis Chapman, Yoenis Cespedes and even Yasiel Puig territory.

Not only does Gonzalez represent a potential season-changing arm, he does so with a singular cost: money. No prospects. No worries about losing him to free agency. Because of his experience and success internationally – he outdueled Gerrit Cole in the gold medal game of the World University Championship in 2010 – Gonzalez could argue he is more like a seasoned Japanese star coming to MLB than an unproven Cuban. And seeing as Fidel Castro isn't taking any posting fee, it's conceivable Gonzalez could land the biggest contract ever for a Cuban.

 

Remember, with the limits on draft-pick spending and international amateurs, the market for veteran international free agents better resembles free agency. And considering the teams involved – the Dodgers, Red Sox, Giants and another half-dozen serious suitors – the price will be high. It won't just be the contenders, either. Even a team like the Cubs could sneak in a bid while trying to offload their best trade candidate …

 

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