Report: Cespedes gains Dominican residency

UPDATE: Cespedes has been granted free agency, so let the bidding begin

By Matt Snyder

Now that Prince Fielder has signed, will the pre-2012 free agent talk die a quiet death? Not likely, as we can add one last big-name position player to the mix. Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes will hit the market very soon. He wasn't eligible to be a free agent until he had established residency outside of Cuba, and MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez is reporting that Cespedes has now done so in the Dominican Republic. Cespedes will be a free agent once MLB approves him.

Cespedes, 26, is an outfielder that some scouts have said could possibly have a Bo Jackson-type power-speed combination. According to Baseball-Reference.com, Cespedes hit .333/.424/.667 with 33 homers, 99 RBI, 11 steals and 89 runs in 90 games last season in Cuba.

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"He's a five-tool guy, built like an NFL running back," one scout told Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. "He has tremendous raw power, with all the tools to be a 30-30 guy in the big leagues. His mother pitched on the Cuban national softball team, so he has athleticism in the family."

Recent reports have indicated the Cubs and Marlins are the two most likely suitors for Cespedes, though about a dozen teams have been connected to him in rumors. Considering the Fielder-to-Tigers and Pujols-to-Angels movements we've seen this offseason, all bets are off here.

Here's Cespedes hitting a home run in the Dominican Winter League:

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Team Chunie Reputation: 47 Level: Rookie Since: Apr 9, 2011	Posted on: January 25, 2012 11:01 am Score: 26 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Report: Cespedes gains Dominican residency You are so right about the Cubs line-up. I'ts Castro and a bunch of below average pieces [ Reply to Comment ]
CanyonofHeroes Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Mar 8, 2007	Posted on: January 25, 2012 7:40 am Score: 81 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Report: Cespedes gains Dominican residency Geez after looking at some previous post of the Cubs lineup you guys really need help. This guy and maybe 4 more like him. [ Reply to Comment ]
MLB_DOT_CZ Reputation: 93 Level: All-Star Since: Feb 25, 2009	Posted on: January 25, 2012 7:10 am Score: 101 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Report: Cespedes gains Dominican residency The tigers were also reported to get in on the cespedes bidding war but have to assume that is now a pipe dream. Would love to see him batting 1 or 2 in front of Cabrera and Fielder. Wonder if this still can happen. With Illich, nothing is impossible. Move Young to DH for a season before Victor is back, keep Inge around to help the IF defense (assuming Raburn/Santiago is at 2B) this would be absolutely loaded lineup. [ Reply to Comment ]
dc2499 Reputation: 86 Level: All-Star Since: Aug 4, 2011	Posted on: January 25, 2012 12:09 am Score: 126 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Report: Cespedes gains Dominican residency Comparing Byrd and Soriano, I think you should look at what they actually did. Soriano had 26 more plate appearances than Byrd last season while scoring one fewer run, hitting 17 more HR's and collecting 53 more RBI. And, Soriano doesn't insist on training with Victor Conte who still knew how to beat the old system (lower doses of steroids which will not trigger the positive threshold used with the drug testing system used under the old CBA but which are greatly enhanced by HGH) and has undoubtedly determined a way to beat the new system. Soriano can drive you crazy, but he has always been more of a team player than Byrd. [ Reply to Comment ]
Riegert8 Reputation: 92 Level: All-Star Since: Sep 19, 2011	Posted on: January 24, 2012 9:51 pm Score: 117 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Report: Cespedes gains Dominican residency The Cubs appear to be making a big push to make this happen. It would make sense for their lineup whether Soriano is on the team or not. He would in essence take over Center from M. Byrd and be a better 4 hitter than Soriano. You would then have a Lineup as follows 1. DeJesus (L) 2. Castro (R) 3. LaHair (L) 4. Cespedes (R) 5. Stewart (L) 6. Soriano (R) 7. Soto (R) 8. 2nd Base 9. Pitcher At least a decent lineup and is better balanced than previous regime was able to put on the field. It's a fresh start for fans and a chance to root for the team starting from the minors on up. Once (and if) Soriano is off the team, which will hopefully be by the trade deadline in July, Brett Jackson can take over in Center and Cespedes could then move to Left. Hell, move him to left if Jackson is ready in spring training and move Soriano back to 2nd. It may weaken your defense on the right side but offensively is an upgrade overall. Just something to consider. I agree that Soriano would hurt the team less at 2B, it don't matter where you put Soriano for he is a liability on defense. how I feel right now I rather bench Soriano and play M. Byrd, M. Byrd can play defense and he hit for a higher average then Soriano. Byrd won't hit for an lot of home runs but his higher average would make up for that I do think that LaHair should be lower in the lineup till he prove himself, He only played 20 games for the Cubs and played very well. I rather have Darwin Barney play 2B for he will be a better player next year, He played good on defense [ Reply to Comment ]
jaycarrigan Reputation: 89 Level: All-Star Since: Nov 6, 2006	Posted on: January 24, 2012 8:49 pm Score: 151 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Report: Cespedes gains Dominican residency The Cubs appear to be making a big push to make this happen. It would make sense for their lineup whether Soriano is on the team or not. He would in essence take over Center from M. Byrd and be a better 4 hitter than Soriano. You would then have a Lineup as follows 1. DeJesus (L) 2. Castro (R) 3. LaHair (L) 4. Cespedes (R) 5. Stewart (L) 6. Soriano (R) 7. Soto (R) 8. 2nd Base 9. Pitcher At least a decent lineup and is better balanced than previous regime was able to put on the field. It's a fresh start for fans and a chance to root for the team starting from the minors on up. Once (and if) Soriano is off the team, which will hopefully be by the trade deadline in July, Brett Jackson can take over in Center and Cespedes could then move to Left. Hell, move him to left if Jackson is ready in spring training and move Soriano back to 2nd. It may weaken your defense on the right side but offensively is an upgrade overall. Just something to consider. [ Reply to Comment ]
Muttz Reputation: 47 Level: Rookie Since: Jan 24, 2012	Posted on: January 24, 2012 7:30 pm Score: 19 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Report: Cespedes gains Dominican residency The tigers were also reported to get in on the cespedes bidding war but have to assume that is now a pipe dream. Would love to see him batting 1 or 2 in front of Cabrera and Fielder. [ Reply to Comment ]
Riegert8 Reputation: 92 Level: All-Star Since: Sep 19, 2011	Posted on: January 24, 2012 7:13 pm Score: 74 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Report: Cespedes gains Dominican residency I would love for the Cubs to sign Cespedes, but I have doubt that Cubs will as long as Soriano is still a Cub [ Reply to Comment ]

The tigers were also reported to get in on the cespedes bidding war but have to assume that is now a pipe dream. Would love to see him batting 1 or 2 in front of Cabrera and Fielder.

Wonder if this still can happen. With Illich, nothing is impossible. Move Young to DH for a season before Victor is back, keep Inge around to help the IF defense (assuming Raburn/Santiago is at 2B) this would be absolutely loaded lineup.

Report: Cespedes gains Dominican residency

Comparing Byrd and Soriano, I think you should look at what they actually did. Soriano had 26 more plate appearances than Byrd last season while scoring one fewer run, hitting 17 more HR's and collecting 53 more RBI. And, Soriano doesn't insist on training with Victor Conte who still knew how to beat the old system (lower doses of steroids which will not trigger the positive threshold used with the drug testing system used under the old CBA but which are greatly enhanced by HGH) and has undoubtedly determined a way to beat the new system. Soriano can drive you crazy, but he has always been more of a team player than Byrd.

Report: Cespedes gains Dominican residency

The Cubs appear to be making a big push to make this happen. It would make sense for their lineup whether Soriano is on the team or not. He would in essence take over Center from M. Byrd and be a better 4 hitter than Soriano. You would then have a Lineup as follows
1. DeJesus (L)
2. Castro (R)
3. LaHair (L)
4. Cespedes (R)
5. Stewart (L)
6. Soriano (R)
7. Soto (R)
8. 2nd Base
9. Pitcher

At least a decent lineup and is better balanced than previous regime was able to put on the field. It's a fresh start for fans and a chance to root for the team starting from the minors on up. Once (and if) Soriano is off the team, which will hopefully be by the trade deadline in July, Brett Jackson can take over in Center and Cespedes could then move to Left. Hell, move him to left if Jackson is ready in spring training and move Soriano back to 2nd. It may weaken your defense on the right side but offensively is an upgrade overall. Just something to consider.

I agree that Soriano would hurt the team less at 2B, it don't matter where you put Soriano for he is a liability on defense. how I feel right now I rather bench Soriano and play M. Byrd, M. Byrd can play defense and he hit for a higher average then Soriano. Byrd won't hit for an lot of home runs but his higher average would make up for that

I do think that LaHair should be lower in the lineup till he prove himself, He only played 20 games for the Cubs and played very well.
I rather have Darwin Barney play 2B for he will be a better player next year, He played good on defense

Report: Cespedes gains Dominican residency

The Cubs appear to be making a big push to make this happen. It would make sense for their lineup whether Soriano is on the team or not. He would in essence take over Center from M. Byrd and be a better 4 hitter than Soriano. You would then have a Lineup as follows
1. DeJesus (L)
2. Castro (R)
3. LaHair (L)
4. Cespedes (R)
5. Stewart (L)
6. Soriano (R)
7. Soto (R)
8. 2nd Base
9. Pitcher

At least a decent lineup and is better balanced than previous regime was able to put on the field. It's a fresh start for fans and a chance to root for the team starting from the minors on up. Once (and if) Soriano is off the team, which will hopefully be by the trade deadline in July, Brett Jackson can take over in Center and Cespedes could then move to Left. Hell, move him to left if Jackson is ready in spring training and move Soriano back to 2nd. It may weaken your defense on the right side but offensively is an upgrade overall. Just something to consider.

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