aboz56 Posted January 16, 2004 Share Posted January 16, 2004 From Baseball America: Cuban Defectors Declared Free Agents January 8, 2003 Cuban defectors Maels Rodriguez and Yobal Dueñas were declared free agents by Major League Baseball late Wednesday, making them eligible to negotiate with all 30 big-league organizations. Rodriguez, a 24-year-old righthander, and Dueñas, a 31-year-old second baseman/outfielder, left Cuba by boat in October and have spent the past two months establishing residency in the Central American nation of El Salvador. The players' Miami-based agent, Henry Vilar, said the pair would work out for scouts on Jan. 22, and he hopes to have them sign in time for the opening of spring training in mid February. Rodriguez holds the single-season Cuban strikeout record, having fanned 263 in 178-1/3 innings three years ago and he is the only pitcher in post-revolution Cuba history to throw a perfect game. Vilar said a half-dozen teams, including the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, Mariners and Rangers, are interested in him. Vilar has used the four-year $32 million contract the Yankees gave fellow defector Jose Contreras in December 2002 as a measuring stick for Rodriguez' asking price. Dueñas, a Cuban stolen base champion who hit .321 in 14 seasons, is expected to be wooed by the Cubs. The Marlins and Mets are also interested. ------ Guess we can forget about either of these fellas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hex Rudler Posted January 16, 2004 Share Posted January 16, 2004 Lite Bud Selig had a chance to fix this situation by subjecting these players to the draft, but noooooooooooooo, he had to concentrate on the steroid issue and nothing else, and, of course, he was soundly out negotiated by the MLPA. This should have been a major issue, and Bud Lite turned it into a non issue. If I didn't know better I would athink that he is an ex-owner or something like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soxfan420 Posted January 16, 2004 Share Posted January 16, 2004 Lite Bud Selig had a chance to fix this situation by subjecting these players to the draft, but noooooooooooooo, he had to concentrate on the steroid issue and nothing else, and, of course, he was soundly out negotiated by the MLPA. This should have been a major issue, and Bud Lite turned it into a non issue. If I didn't know better I would athink that he is an ex-owner or something like that. he is an ex-owner of the brewers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted January 16, 2004 Share Posted January 16, 2004 he is an ex-owner of the brewers. I think there's just a hint of sarcasm in his closing remark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soxfan420 Posted January 16, 2004 Share Posted January 16, 2004 I think there's just a hint of sarcasm in his closing remark. yea im a little slow right now the doc perscribed me to many pain killer/ muscle relaxers until i go and see the spinal surgen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted January 16, 2004 Share Posted January 16, 2004 yea im a little slow right now the doc perscribed me to many pain killer/ muscle relaxers until i go and see the spinal surgen. Sorry to hear you're having back problems. I hope those pain killers are helping. Good luck to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soxfan420 Posted January 16, 2004 Share Posted January 16, 2004 Sorry to hear you're having back problems. I hope those pain killers are helping. Good luck to you. the only thing im worried about is never having sex again if they f*** up and im paralized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted January 16, 2004 Share Posted January 16, 2004 the only thing im worried about is never having sex again if they f*** up and im paralized. Ouch. Let's hope nothing quite so drastic happens. You'll be in my prayers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted January 16, 2004 Share Posted January 16, 2004 The world wide draft is another one of those issues that could go a long way towards rebalancing baseball, that the players union will never let happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxbadger Posted January 16, 2004 Share Posted January 16, 2004 The MLBPA is not as strong as everyone thinks, just the owners are so weak and petty that they never will take it to them. The best way to get the goals of world wide draft, etc are to be accomplished would be to get agents such as Boras mad that his clients are subject to a draft, but foreign players who usually have foreign agents are not. So MLB is lining the pockets of foreign agents while restricting US agents. Not to mention US players are screwed over because they are subject to a draft and can not sign with any team, unlike foreign players. Gotta make the players union turn on itself, perhaps say if there is a foreign draft, then they will allow draft picks to be traded, or another concession. Baseball has to many antiquated ways, look at the NBA, all players are subject to the draft, whether they are from New York or Yugoslavia. Selig is just a puppet with strings being pulled by to many masters. SB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 They couldn't even get a majority of the owners to go along with the worldwide draft. Forget the MLBPA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Critic Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 the only thing im worried about is never having sex again if they f*** up and im paralized. Maybe I'm just getting old, but I'd be more worried about having to sit in a wheelchair for life and how it would affect my everyday life, rather than bustin' a nut... But regardless, I hope it all works out for you, and maybe surgery can be avoided? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWSOX45 Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 Last I checked the White Sox were mentioned as one of the teams that were interested in Maels Rodriguez.....than again so were eight other teams on the ESPN Site. Than again if he's asking for Contreras type numbers there is no way we sign him. CWSOX45 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSteve Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 Last I checked the White Sox were mentioned as one of the teams that were interested in Maels Rodriguez.....than again so were eight other teams on the ESPN Site. Than again if he's asking for Contreras type numbers there is no way we sign him. CWSOX45 We won't touch him. There are questions about if he can still hit 100 mph, and he is asking for way, way too much money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 Supposedly the Angels are pretty interested in him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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