Cuban Defectors

[love_that_reefer]

ESPN - Yadel Marti and Yasser Gomez defect from Cuba

Right-hander Yadel Marti, Cuba's best pitcher in the first World Baseball Classic in 2006, and outfielder Yasser Gomez left the island and are in an unknown location before attempting to reach the Dominican Republic to seek an MLB career, sources told ESPNdeportes.com.

Players' relatives and friends in Cuba confirmed their departure, without disclosing details of the planned route.

Marti and Gomez, members of the popular team Industriales de la Habana, were kicked off the team's payroll for the current National Series tournament "for having committed a serious [infraction]," according to the Cuban baseball authorities.

Sources informed ESPNdeportes.com last month that Marti and Gomez were punished and banned from Cuban baseball after being caught with others while trying to board a boat to leave the country illegally.

A talent scout who has seen Marti and Gomez playing at international events told ESPNdeportes.com that both are ready to play in the majors.

Marti, 29, was the best of Cuba's pitchers in the 2006 WBC. The right-hander went 1-0 with two saves and led the tournament in ERA (0.00) after not allowing a single run in 12 2/3 innings. He was elected to the WBC All Star team.

Marti won 67 games with a 3.23 ERA in his career with Industriales but participated in a limited capacity last season (4-2, 3.12 ERA in 15 games).

Gomez, 28, is a fast outfielder who was Rookie of the Year in 1997 and hit .394 with 51 runs scored and 41 RBIs in 66 games in the most recent National Series tournament. He has a .331 career average with Industriales.

He was left off the Cuban National Team in the 2006 WBC and the 2008 Olympic Games.

Some hungry teams will be looking at Marti. Likely the Dodgers, Mets, Cardinals and White Sox will have a lot of interest. Gomez could interest teams like the Mets, Yankees, White Sox, Braves, Rays, Dodgers, Orioles and Angels.

[Dam8610]

Getting both might fill 2 large holes for the White Sox, who already have some Cuban presence on the team (2-3 players). If they're competing against those teams, however, I doubt they get either.

[ljshorty89]

Not sure if they fit the Mets aim right now. Marti sounds like a damn good reliever, but they aren't looking to add another of those yet. Gomez sounds good, but they may be looking for more of a power righty bat.

[realmofotalk]

Of course they fit what the Mets are looking for. They all have Spanish last names.

[ljshorty89]

Lets be fair, most of the hispanic guys that Omar signed were the best players available at their positions. Pedro was a risky signing, but not based on race. Beltran was a must have, Reyes was signed by Duquette, not Omar, Alou was a veteran presence, K-rod was a must have, Delgado was a trade where we gave up nothing, Feliciano was already here, Duaner Sanchez was another trade where we gave up almost nothing, Castillo was a bad contract, but only because we needed a 2B, and there were few other options, and Omar wanted to just sign a 2B asap, so he could get Johan(another no brainer). Where do you see race coming in?

[realmofotalk]

And what about Luis Ayala? Which position was he best at blowing mountain goats?

[ljshorty89]

But look at what we gave up for him. Anderson Hernandez. It's not like Omar went out of his way to get Ayala, it was a zero risk trade for a veteran reliever to try to fill a hole. What other solid reliever were we going to get for Anderson ****ing Hernandez?