Agent: Ramirez to file for residency in Dominican Republic, come to MLB

 

By Willie Weinbaum

ESPN.com

(Archive)

 

Updated: September 19, 2007, 7:11 AM ET

 

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Baseball agent Jaime Torres told ESPN that Alexei Ramirez, who led the Cuban league in home runs this season as an infielder/outfielder for Pinar del Rio, has left Cuba and intends to file for residency in the Dominican Republic.

 

Torres, who also represents White Sox pitcher Jose Contreras, said Ramirez expects to apply to Major League Baseball for free agency.

 

Ramirez, who turns 26 on Sept. 22, played second base for Cuba at the Pan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro but is primarily a shortstop and centerfielder.

 

According to Torres, Ramirez has been in the Dominican Republic for less than two weeks and is already attracting attention from scouts. Ramirez's wife is a Dominican citizen who recently completed medical school in Cuba, Torres said, and her citizenship allowed Ramirez to enter the country legally and makes him eligible for Dominican citizenship. The couple has two children.

 

Ramirez, says the agent, is comparable to Contreras as far as being "major league-ready" immediately after leaving Cuba. "Right out of spring training, Ramirez will make a major league club," Torres said.

 

Torres said that he and Ramirez would address the media at a Thursday news conference in Santo Domingo.

 

Willie Weinbaum is a producer for ESPN's "Outside the Lines."

 

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3026151

 

 

 

 

He is a SS/CF, either of the two positions would be interesting to me. If he can play one then Hanley at the other (specially if he can play CF. Plus a Cuban refugee in our city and home of south florida I think is fitting. If there is anywhere in the country he could feel at home it would be here.

 

 

I dont know enough on this guy perhaps godfather, ramp or another individual better with this stuff could say. But if this could be a win win situation for the marlins (PR and pick up potential of a nice young player of need), why not go for it? Thoughts all?

 

 

I figured some perhaps positive debate for once might make people come out of hiding

that would be awesome...power hitting CF to go with our power hitting lineup....if he is what he says he is...and how old he says he is...that would definetly help out in filling a hole

Kendy Morales was meant to be huge, too.

 

I don't buy into these Cuban super-players anymore, and given our comically limited resources, it's not a worthwhile investment to find out how legit he is. If we're spending money, Mike Cameron or Aaron Rowand make a ton more sense (and probably equally if not less costly). Plus, I really believe we don't need more power, we need a capable leadoff/2 or 7-hole option. Ramirez, Hermida and Cabrera are going to be monsters for us next season, however they shake out 1-4. We need to find a guy who can go with them at the top.

the only position player that would excite me is Yulieski Gourriel

I don't buy into these Cuban super-players anymore

This.

 

I read something recently about Cuban defectors in the majors. 135 Cubans in the last 16 years have entered minor league ball, only 24 have made it in to the majors and only a handful of those guys had any sort of success ()Orlando Hernadez, Rey Ordonez, Yuniesky Betancourt, etc.)

Kendy Morales was meant to be huge, too.

 

I don't buy into these Cuban super-players anymore, and given our comically limited resources, it's not a worthwhile investment to find out how legit he is.

exactly what I was thinking

Kendy Morales was meant to be huge, too.

 

I don't buy into these Cuban super-players anymore, and given our comically limited resources, it's not a worthwhile investment to find out how legit he is.

exactly what I was thinking

 

 

Morales hit .341 with 5 homers in 255 ABs this year after hitting .320 with 12 homers in almost the same ABs and is hitting .314 with 3 HR in 102 AB with the angels. with him i think he was way overhyped and not major league ready. plus he plays behind kendrick who has really stepped up

 

the only issue i have with cuban born players is their age. i know this is an issue in a lot of latin countries but with cuba i tend to have a bit more suspicion just because of their situation

Kendry Morales is like 23 years old still, and last time I checked he was playing well for Anaheim. Give him some time and the kid will be at least a decent major leaguer.

Kendry Morales is like 23 years old still, and last time I checked he was playing well for Anaheim. Give him some time and the kid will be at least a decent major leaguer.

 

 

i think he turned 24 in june but close enough...way too early to give up on him...to think he was major league ready when he defected at i think 21 or 22 was just hype to drive interest

Anybody else seen our current CFer's numbers?

I don't buy into these Cuban super-players anymore

This.

 

I read something recently about Cuban defectors in the majors. 135 Cubans in the last 16 years have entered minor league ball, only 24 have made it in to the majors and only a handful of those guys had any sort of success ()Orlando Hernadez, Rey Ordonez, Yuniesky Betancourt, etc.)

 

That's actuallly a damn good ratio. 24/135 is really good. What are the stats for all players that have entered minor league ball?

Anybody else seen our current CFer's numbers?

wait... you mean Cody Ross is pretty freakin awesome?

I don't buy into these Cuban super-players anymore

This.

 

I read something recently about Cuban defectors in the majors. 135 Cubans in the last 16 years have entered minor league ball, only 24 have made it in to the majors and only a handful of those guys had any sort of success ()Orlando Hernadez, Rey Ordonez, Yuniesky Betancourt, etc.)

 

That's actuallly a damn good ratio. 24/135 is really good. What are the stats for all players that have entered minor league ball?

That's like the creme de la creme though, and just getting a cup of coffee in the big leagues isn't what I'd consider success for what some of those kids get paid to sign and their subsequent hype.

 

Plus, I don't feel Cuba producing 24 players that play a single game in the major leagues over 16 years to be that impressive.

It's hard to know whether it's impressive without also knowing the numbers for non-Cuban players.

Anybody else seen our current CFer's numbers?

wait... you mean Cody Ross is pretty freakin awesome?

 

 

I love Ross, expecially since he's 26, just entering his prime...I really wouldn't be surprised if he could hit 35+ HRs next year if given 650+ PA. He also has a nice eye...walks 10% of the time, takes roughly 4 pitchers per pa....But he his range in CF is just really really sub-par. His bat would make up for his deffense, yeah, but still, his range would cost us, expecially considering the ballpark where we play.

 

Moving him to left and Willingham to first sounds classy though. If we don't sign Bonds. :mischief

 

You ofcoarse have to expect regression to the mean but I wouldn't be surprised if he could put up a .270/.350/.530 line.

Anybody else seen our current CFer's numbers?

wait... you mean Cody Ross is pretty freakin awesome?

 

 

I love Ross, expecially since he's 26, just entering his prime...I really wouldn't be surprised if he could hit 35+ HRs next year if given 650+ PA. He also has a nice eye...walks 10% of the time, takes roughly 4 pitchers per pa....But he his range in CF is just really really sub-par. His bat would make up for his deffense, yeah, but still, his range would cost us, expecially considering the ballpark where we play.

 

Moving him to left and Willingham to first sounds classy though. If we don't sign Bonds. :mischief

 

You ofcoarse have to expect regression to the mean but I wouldn't be surprised if he could put up a .270/.350/.530 line.

 

 

i could see that and i do like his style of play..gutsy and plenty of hustle...so eventhough i said earlier that trying to get this other guy would be awesome...i would like to see how cody could do full time in CF....also does anyone think that even if the fish was interested that they would be outbid by other teams.?

the only position player that would excite me is Yulieski Gourriel

 

That guy tore it up in the WBC, most impressive Cuban glove I can recall.

I would imagine once he has established his DR residency he'll probably play the first half (at least) of the winter leagues as well as doing tryouts for any number of Latin American scouts, including our own.

 

I remember there were a couple of people here who followed Cuban baseball religiously, perhaps we'll hear from them.