Cuban second baseman Andy Ibanez defects

[ace3113]

A younger cheaper alternative to Jose Fernandez?

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/10/second-baseman-andy-ibanez-leaves-cuba.html

 

Andy Ibanez, a 21-year-old second baseman, has left Cuba in pursuit of a Major League contract, Baseball America’s Ben Badler reports. The 5’10”, 183-pound, right-handed hitting Ibanez is believed to have left Cuba sometime before September 21, which was the start of the Serie Nacional season.

 

Baseball America recently ranked Ibanez eighth on their list of the best prospects still in Cuba, with Badler writing that Ibanez “doesn’t have any premium tools or star upside, but his value lies in being steady in all phases while playing in the middle of the diamond.” He posted a .267/.377/.435 line over 280 PA last season and won a Gold Glove in his 2011-12 rookie year. Badler figures that Ibanez would start his Major League career at high-A or Double-A ball.

 

Since Ibanez has only three seasons of experience in Serie Nacional, he’ll be subject to the 2014-15 international bonus pools. If Ibanez can get cleared to sign before the 2014-15 signing period ends on June 15, Badler thinks this could give the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays an advantage in signing him since those clubs have already exceeded their pool limits (and thus they don’t have to worry about spending more on new signings). Those overages will prevent the three teams from signing any bonus pool-eligible players for the next two years, however, so the AL East trio will be out of the running for Ibanez if he isn’t a free agent by that June 15 date.

 

BA ranked him as the 8th best player left in Cuba a few months ago.

 

http://www.bluejaysmessageboard.com/threads/3818-BA-Best-Remaining-Cuban-Players

 

8. Andy Ibanez, 2b, Isla De La Juventud

Age: 21.

B-T: R-R.

Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 183.

Certainty Level: Category 2 (Low).

 

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG

74 232 33 62 13 4 6 32 33 28 6 5 .267 .377 .435

 

Scouts have been tracking Ibanez since he was a teenager on Cuba’s youth and junior national teams. In 2009, Ibanez played shortstop for Cuba in the 16U World Championship in Taiwan, then the next year played in the 18U World Championship in Thunder Bay, Canada, where he teamed with Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler and Guillermo Aviles, another up-and-coming Cuban player. Ibanez was the youngest player on Cuba’s World Baseball Classic roster, though he played sparingly, registering just one plate appearance in five games. At the 2013 World Port Tournament in the Netherlands, Ibanez only started three of Cuba’s seven games but made the most of his playing time, going 9-for-15 (all singles) including a 3-for-5 showing in the championship game to help Cuba win the tournament.

 

Ibanez had a solid year in Cuba but he hasn’t had a breakout season yet, though that’s understandable for a player who just turned 21 in April. Ibanez doesn’t have any premium tools or star upside, but his value lies in being steady in all phases while playing in the middle of the diamond. During his rookie season in 2011-12, Ibanez won a gold glove at second base. He’s an athletic player with good body control, and while he’s also played some third base, his arm strength is better suited for second. While Ibanez did hit well at the WPT last year, scouts aren’t certain how much impact there is in his bat. He shows solid bat-to-ball skills for his age against older pitching with occasional power but is more of a doubles hitter than a home run threat. Ibanez has played three seasons in Serie Nacional, so he would still be subject to the bonus pool until he played two more seasons.

[KingKat]

The more of these guys hit the market, the better the chance the Jays land "somebody" whether a Major Leaguer or an IFA. Keep 'em coming.

[Angrioter]

We have Ryan Goins

[ace3113]

We have Ryan Goins

 

We can have the Cuban Ryan Goins too.