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MIAMI -- One of Cuba's top pitchers defected in an undisclosed country so he can begin playing professionally in the United States, a Cuban exile leader said Friday.

 

Maels Rodriguez and another player, Yobal Duenas, were reported missing by Cuban authorities Saturday.

 

The Miami Herald speculated that the pair might be in El Salvador.

 

"They're safe," said Joe Garcia, executive director of the Cuban American National Foundation. He declined further comment.

 

If the players seek political asylum or residency outside the United States, they most likely will be declared free agents by Major League Baseball and be able to sign with any team.

 

The players' Miami-based agent, Henry Vilar, did not return telephone messages Friday.

 

Rodriguez, a 24-year-old right-hander, is one of Cuba's top pitchers and his fastball is said to regularly top 100 mph.

 

"I want to play the best baseball, and that's in the United States," Rodriguez said. "It's a difficult step because you know how things are in Cuba. So when Yobal and I made this decision, it was the most important one in our careers."

 

Rodriguez set the single-season strikeout record in Cuba with 263 in 178 1/3 innings three years ago. This season, he was 8-3 in 113 innings with 117 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.11. Cuban officials left him off the Pan American Games and Olympic qualifying teams, blaming arm and back injuries for the loss of 15 mph off his fastball.

 

"I'm going to demonstrate that I can still throw 100," Rodriguez said Thursday on Miami Spanish-language radio station WQBA-AM. "These are things that they invent to cut a little off the careers of some athletes."

 

Duenas, a second baseman, is a former Cuban stolen base champion. At 31, he is on the down side of a career in which he debuted with the Cuban national league at 17.

 

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

how bout a cuban A.J. Burnett....W O W

They'll both be Yankees.

They'll both be Yankees.

why do you think/ how do you know?

Umm Yankees have po load of money..

Umm Yankees have po load of money..

marlins have the advantage IMO

 

 

large hispanic...cuban population

just won the world series

many hispanic players on the team

 

 

I doubt the yankees would pay the guy THAT much as an unproven MLB pitcher.

 

so he's right in our bullpark, no pun intended

Umm Yankees have po load of money..

marlins have the advantage IMO

 

 

large hispanic...cuban population

just won the world series

many hispanic players on the team

 

 

I doubt the yankees would pay the guy THAT much as an unproven MLB pitcher.

 

so he's right in our bullpark, no pun intended umm no...........

 

no need for more starting pitching and they will be getting pay well.

I don't see them coming to the Fish, in my opinion, but we'll see what happens. If anything, I see the Yankees picking them up too. I don't know why, but that's just the feeling I get.

I doubt the yankees would pay the guy THAT much as an unproven MLB pitcher.

Jose Contreras

i doubt they come to the marlins, we dont need more pitching even though thats always a plus but it wont happen. but the 2nd baseman is a possibility if castillo leaves :shifty well maybe lol

While I don't think the second baseman would be that great of an improvement on Luiy (might be a downgrade, never seen him play), it wouldn't hurt from a PR angle to replace Luiy with a Cuban. Wouldn't hurt at all, and especially if he is 2-4 million cheaper.

i didnt say it would be an upgrade but if we cant afford castillo he could be a nice cheaper replacement.

the 1 player i want to get this offseason is the South Korean player we saw in Spring Training

I doubt the yankees would pay the guy THAT much as an unproven MLB pitcher.

Jose Contreras Contreras went through the minor leagues first, and was proven when he dominated 'american' baseball in AAA, AA and A

the 1 player i want to get this offseason is the South Korean player we saw in Spring Training

Both of them we could sign for little money and get the replacements needed at 1st if Derrek leaves and right in Encarnacion leaves

I doubt the yankees would pay the guy THAT much as an unproven MLB pitcher.

Jose Contreras Contreras went through the minor leagues first, and was proven when he dominated 'american' baseball in AAA, AA and A He was signed BEFORE he played in the minors.

the 1 player i want to get this offseason is the South Korean player we saw in Spring Training

Both of them we could sign for little money and get the replacements needed at 1st if Derrek leaves and right in Encarnacion leaves We already have a RF for next season (SEE: Sig)

I doubt the yankees would pay the guy THAT much as an unproven MLB pitcher.

Jose Contreras Contreras went through the minor leagues first, and was proven when he dominated 'american' baseball in AAA, AA and A He was signed BEFORE he played in the minors. how much was he signed for?and for how long....im just wondering

I doubt the yankees would pay the guy THAT much as an unproven MLB pitcher.

Jose Contreras Contreras went through the minor leagues first, and was proven when he dominated 'american' baseball in AAA, AA and A He was signed BEFORE he played in the minors. how much was he signed for?and for how long....im just wondering I think it was 32 million dollars and four years

I doubt the yankees would pay the guy THAT much as an unproven MLB pitcher.

Jose Contreras Contreras went through the minor leagues first, and was proven when he dominated 'american' baseball in AAA, AA and A He was signed BEFORE he played in the minors. how much was he signed for?and for how long....im just wondering I think it was 32 million dollars and four years yikes....disregard my first post in this thread

Contreras made 5.5 Mil this year, not sure how long his deal is for.....

 

We could sign the pitcher for a pen gig maybe? People that throw 100 out of the pen tend to be effective (SEE: Billy Wagner, Rob Nen)

Contreras made 5.5 Mil this year, not sure how long his deal is for.....

 

We could sign the pitcher for a pen gig maybe? People that throw 100 out of the pen tend to be effective (SEE: Billy Wagner, Rob Nen)

thats what I was thinking too. Many clubs maybe scared off because it rumored he has had some back injuries that made his fastball 15 mph slower.

I thought in the Herald today it said that the pitcher had elbow and shoulder injuries or somtin like that. In either case he'll need some surgery and I don't want to see another Spooneybarger sitting down and making a mil a year and doing absolutely nothing because of injury.

If he is hurt than yeah, feed him to the Red Sox or something. But if other teams think he is hurt but he really isn't then jump on him because he'll come alot cheaper.

Umm Yankees have po load of money..

marlins have the advantage IMO

 

 

large hispanic...cuban population

just won the world series

many hispanic players on the team

 

 

I doubt the yankees would pay the guy THAT much as an unproven MLB pitcher.

 

so he's right in our bullpark, no pun intended Yeah, you'd have to go all the way back to last year to find them doing that. (Contreras). The Yankees are going to lose most of their pitching staff. If they want a free agent pitcher, they are likely to get him.