Remember this guy? There was an article on the Sentinel a few weeks back about his defection and the fact that the Marlins were interested in signing him. I think he just became a FA but I am not sure if he is signed already or how much he is asking. It seems like a more viable option for the MArlins than to sign Delgado (pricey), trade for Ward (too much hype, too few results), and a possible sucessor to Conine at 1B. The guy is a switch power-hitter and has broken every rookie hitting record in Cuba. I know that signing a Cuban player is a risky business, but I find this one intriguing. He is supposed to be the equivalent of Cabrera in cuban baseball. He can play the OF, 1B or pitcher, hits HRs at both hands, and has even expressed a desire to be a catcher...

 

Attached, please find a few articles on the guy... Let us know what you think in your best constructive manner... :whistle

 

Morales gets citizenship in Dominican Republic

 

Associated Press

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- Cuban slugger Kendry Morales obtained residency in the Dominican Republic, making him eligible to negotiate a free-agent contract with any major league team, he said Thursday.

 

Morales, a 21-year-old switch-hitting outfielder and first baseman, left Cuba in June on a boat with 18 others, a few weeks before the wife of White Sox pitcher Jose Contreras defected.

 

Morales landed in Miami and was granted asylum in the United States. He later left for the Dominican Republic, where authorities granted him residency earlier this week.

 

The move allows him to avoid a special U.S. baseball draft for Cuban players that would have prevented him from negotiating contract terms. A Cuban player that acquires residency in a third country is eligible for free-agent status.

 

"I'm so happy that I finished this step in the process to get to the major leagues in the United States," Morales told The Associated Press. "Now that I have Dominican residence, I will begin hearing offers."

 

Morales became a sensation in Cuban baseball two years ago. He played in Havana for the highly successful Industrialists, batting .324 with 21 home runs, 82 RBI and 60 runs scored. He was immediately called up to the national team.

 

Cuban authorities, however, later cut Morales from both the national team and the Industrialists because they suspected he wanted to defect during a pre-Olympic tournament in Panama last year.

 

They also did not select him to be on the team that competed in the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo in 2003.

 

"I only want to play baseball -- something they were stopping me from doing in Cuba," Morales said. "In Cuba, I never dreamed of the major leagues as a possibility. My dreams were to play for the national team. When I fulfilled those dreams, they shattered them for me."

 

Morales joins several other Cubans who chose to establish residence in this Spanish-speaking Caribbean nation. In 1996, Osvaldo Fernandez and Livan Hernandez became Dominican residents before signing contracts with major league teams.

 

 

Kendry Morales: ?I?d like to be a catcher?

 

Only 18 years old, Cuban baseball?s new gem is playing for Industriales this season ? He dreams of joining the island?s national team

 

BY ANNE-MARIE GARCIA (Special for Granma International) FOTO: Ahmed VELAZQUEZ

 

HITTING homeruns left-handed and right-handed, this winning pitcher is equally at home in the infield and the outfield. But new Cuban baseball gem Kendry Morales is frustrated because he wants to be a catcher!

 

Many players fear when it?s Kendry Morales? turn to bat ? he can hit a homerun either right- or left-handed.

 

He will be 19 years old on June 20, 2002. He speaks deliberately, in an unperturbed way, despite the hullabaloo of the almost 25,000 people gathered in the Latin American Stadium to watch Industriales vs. Mexico?s Diablos Rojos.

 

He smiles when we find this strange, explaining: "Sure, I?m a bit matter-of-fact. It?s a quality that helps me avoid putting pressure on myself during the game. And off the field, it helps me to deal with the bit of fame that has come my way so quickly."

 

The Diablos Rojos game was the first time he?d faced a professional squad. His team, Industriales, won 7-3, and Kendry Morales connected in the 7th inning, batting the night?s only homerun right-handed, and pitching without allowing any runs in the game?s last inning.

 

A VERSATILE PLAYER

 

He shrugs his shoulders and explains that it was logical for him to begin playing baseball. "I was nine years old and did what all Cuban children do, as baseball is our national sport."

 

He crosses his arms with the sureness of a man who is 1.84 meters tall and weighs 94 kilograms.

 

Kendry continues his reminiscences: "My dad was a catcher and he wanted me to play that position too." Is this where his frustration at not being a catcher comes from? "I really don?t know. My father always wanted me to play baseball and saw a lot of possibilities for my development in the game."

 

And the boy developed; he can now pitch and bat, a combination that is not very common.

 

"I remember when I pitched in the junior team in 1998, I was the most valuable player and played on the all-star team at the Pan American championships.

 

"It?s not easy being a versatile player in Cuban baseball. I really prefer to be a pitcher, but coaches have always used me in offense, because of my batting strength. both left- and right-handed."

 

He adds, "I feel sure of myself batting on either side, but I?m more comfortable left-handed."

 

Kendry isn?t afraid of any pitcher he might face. "This is my first season with a major team and I don?t have much experience. I don?t care if the pitcher is left- or right-handed, but I?ve never actually faced a super-class pitcher," he acknowledged.

 

After 41 games in the current national series, Kendry Morales has scored 11 homeruns, meaning he?s second in the league, has a .310 average, and has hit 38 runs, taking him into the lead for this series.

 

But in spite of all those achievements, he points out: "I?ve hardly been used as a pitcher, but I think the batter I fear the most is Antonio Pacheco, because of his power and experience."

 

Kendry is a bit surprised when asked about his defects. "I don?t know," he replies, adding "I think it?s important to work and practice a lot to improve. I like to spend a lot of time on the baseball field and train in all the positions ? fielding, batting, pitching, running... everything."

 

IGNORING THE FAME

 

Kendry Morales finished 12th grade and is working on a sports and physical education degree. He likes romantic music and listens to it at home to relax.

 

"I devote all my time to baseball, so when there?s no game or training sessions I stay at home and rest. I felt pretty tired after a game, because I like to give my all on the field."

 

His excellent playing in last season?s Pan American Junior Championships, held in Cuba, was very impressive, which is why fans had high hopes for Kendry?s debut in the series this season.

 

Nowadays, many players wait impatiently, while others fear the batting turn of this rare bird, who quickly stands to the catcher?s left or right.

 

He knows that all the baseball commentators are reporting on him and accepts it with a certain nonchalance.

 

"I try to behave professionally and not take much notice of what people say. I?m not saying that I don?t care what they think, but it?s not necessary to take what other people say too seriously. The most important thing for me is paying attention to my coach and team."

 

But Kendry doesn?t deny that being famous isn?t easy. "It?s all come to me very quickly," he recognizes almost with resignation. And he wonders, "What can I do? I have to get used to it, I?ve just started my career. I?m lucky to have the help of my coach, my trainer, my teammates and above all my mom."

 

He tells how people recognize him on the street and want to talk to him: "The good thing is they acknowledge my sacrifice. The bad thing is that sometimes I don?t even have time to talk to my friends. If they stop me for a chat and I say no, they say I?m arrogant and grouchy."

 

The 18-year-old who has become an indispensable player in his first season with Industriales adds, "My dream is to play for the Cuban national team one day and win a great title."

 

 

Indians still interested in Morales

 

Thursday, October 28, 2004

St. Louis - Negotiations between the Indians and Cuban defector Kendry Morales are becoming more serious.

 

John Mirabelli, Indians director of scouting, will go to the Dominican Republic in the near future to evaluate the switch-hitting Morales in a private workout.

 

When asked how negotiations are going, Mirabelli said, "Parameters have been discussed."

After Major League Baseball declared Morales a free agent late in the regular season, it was speculated he would quickly sign a big contract. That has not happened.

 

The Indians, however, have remained interested in Morales, if the price is right. Mirabelli saw Morales in the Olympic trials in Panama and calls him a "polished hitter."

 

- Paul Hoynes

Well, everything I've heard about this guy is that he's a two-way player in the mold of Guerrero, but I've also not heard any talk of how much he can expect to get from a team. The thought is that he'd still need a year of development in the minors...he wouldn't be a Jose Contreras who steps right in.

 

If the price is right, he'd be an amazing addition, but what quality player can't you say that about?

The Marlins would get him if there isnt a bidding war, otherwise no way he ends up here. He doesn't seem ready for the majors this year, and perhaps even next.

I would honestly jerk off if we get this guy...he's the real thing people...he's like the Barry Bonds of Cuban baseball...if he comes at a reasonable price, let's sign him. It would also help bring cuban fans to the stadium...

I've been excited about the possibility of us signing him since he defected from Cuba last spring. Let's hope we can get this done....to have Cabrera and Morales as two young stars would be tremendous.