MLB International Free Agents 2014: Projecting Landing Spots for Biggest Names

With the 2014 Major League Baseball season set to end Wednesday night with Game 7 of the World Series, teams will soon direct their focus toward the free-agent market.

Even though this year’s class features top-tier pitchers such as Max Scherzer, Jon Lester and James Shields, as well as a few middle-of-the-order hitters such as Hanley Ramirez, Victor Martinez and Pablo Sandoval, organizations may be more interested in what the international market has to offer.

As of now, Yasmani Tomas is expected to be the most coveted player. Teams have flocked to see the Cuban outfielder in various showcase events over the last two months. However, he is only one of numerous international players who are capable of making an impact in the major leagues as early as the 2015 season.

But which teams are most likely to make a run at this year's top international talents?

Here’s an early look at the projected landing spots for five international players currently pursuing a major league contract. Please keep in mind that this article only features players who have officially defected from Cuba or expected to be posted this offseason by a Japanese or Korean league.

Therefore, there won't be any mentions of guys such as Jose Fernandez and Lazaro Herrera, who reportedly defected from Cuba but can't be located at the present, or Kenta Maeda, who might or might not be posted this offseason by the Hiroshima Carp, according to Jeff Todd of MLB Trade Rumors. 

Yasmani Tomas, OF

Back in late June, we learned outfielder Yasmani Tomas had defected from Cuba with the hope of signing with a major league team, but it would be several months until he was cleared by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and granted free agency by Major League Baseball.

Tomas was eventually cleared to sign on Sept. 10 by OFAC, and less than a month later (Oct. 2), the soon-to-be 24-year-old was officially declared a free agent by MLB, per a tweet from his agent, Jay Alou (h/t Jeff Todd of MLB Trade Rumors).

Tomas didn’t emerge as one of Cuba’s more prolific hitters until the 2011-12 season, when the then-21-year-old batted .298/.340/.581 with 20 home runs, 15 doubles, 50 RBI and a 57-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 272 at-bats (83 games).

In his final year (2013-14) with the Industriales, Tomas’ playing time and production both were limited due to a wrist injury, but he still managed to turn in a solid offensive campaign, with a .291/.348/.452 batting line, 23 extra-base hits (six home runs) and 35 RBI in 230 at-bats.

According to ESPN Insider Keith Law (subscription required): “Tomas is a stout center fielder who'll have to move to a corner outfield spot, as he's a below-average runner with a stiff body who could probably stand to shed some weight before he signs.”

Overall, Law contends that a reasonable projection for Tomas would be an “average to slightly above-average regular in left field, with 25 to 30 homers, a low OBP and below-average defense.”

In the wake of Boston signing 27-year-old Rusney Castillo to a seven-year, $72.5 million contract, Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe posited that Tomas could receive a deal north of $100 million based on a conversation he had with an international scout.

Meanwhile, Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors also believes Tomas will sign a monster contract, even going so far as to predict the outfielder will receive $105 million over seven years, with an $80 million floor and $110 million ceiling.

Projected Landing Spot: Philadelphia Phillies

According to Baseball America’s Ben Badler, “hundreds of scouts” attended Tomas’ September open showcase in the Dominican Republic, and the outfielder has since participated in private showcases for the Phillies and Rangers. Meanwhile, Andy Martino of the New York Daily News pegs the Phillies as the early favorites to sign Tomas.

Andy Ibanez, 2B

Koji Watanabe/Getty Images

Twenty-one-year-old second baseman Andy Ibanez has left Cuba to pursue a career in the major leagues, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America (h/t Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors). Ibanez won a Gold Glove in Cuba’s Serie Nacional as a rookie in 2011-12, and he batted .267/.377/.435 in 280 plate appearances in his last season with Isla De La Juventud.

Badler notes that the 5’10”, 183-pound Ibanez “doesn’t have one standout tool but he’s an athletic player” and would begin his stateside career in the minor leagues, likely in High- or Double-A.

Ibanez will be subject to MLB’s international bonus pools due to his age and the fact he played only three seasons in Cuba, though he’ll first need to establish residence in a new country and be cleared to sign by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

With that in mind, Badler believes the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays are in the best position to make a run at Ibanez, as all three teams have already exceeded their respective bonus pools and face overage taxes as well as signing restrictions in future years.

Projected Landing Spot: New York Yankees

The Yankees already have made a haul during this year’s international signing period, and it makes even more sense for the organization to go after Ibanez given his age and potential proximity to the major leagues.

Jorge Despaigne, RHP

It appears as though Jorge Despaigne will be the next Cuban pitcher to sign with a big league club, as the right-hander was officially declared a free agent by MLB back in mid-September, per Ben Badler of Baseball America.

Despaigne, 23, spent the last three seasons playing for Isla de la Juventud in Cuba’s Serie Nacional but didn’t receive the same level of exposure as other highly touted prospects from the island because he didn’t play for the Cuban national team.

Despaigne posted a 4.33 ERA over 20 appearances (11 starts) in his final season in Serie Nacional, but he also walked 56 batters against 54 strikeouts in 70.2 innings. This was a common theme during his three years in the league, as the right-hander issued 114 walks in 151.1 innings compared to 105 strikeouts.

Though reports on Despaigne are few and far between, they do offer insight about his control problems. Badler stated that the 6’3”, 225-pound right-hander was “more notable for his arm strength than his polish” prior to defecting, and that he features a “plus fastball he can run into the mid-90s.”

In regard to the control problems, Badler's sources tell him that Despaigne “struggles to keep his mechanics in check and in turn has trouble throwing strikes.”

However, as the cousin of Padres right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne, the fact that Jorge has a favorable bloodline to back his big league arm strength might ease some of the present concerns about his strike-throwing ability.

Despaigne will not be exempt from international spending restrictions because he’s 23 and played only three seasons in Cuba, which in turn makes him less desirable to clubs that have already used their bonus pools.

Projected Landing Spot: New York Yankees

Badler reported that the right-hander was scheduled to participate in a showcase on September 23 at the Los Angeles Dodgers’ complex in the Dominican Republic, but, unfortunately, there hasn’t been any follow-up information regarding his performance or the teams that attended the event.

Despaigne likely will go to one of the few teams that have already blown past their bonus pools, and if that's ultimately the case, it wouldn't be surprising if the Yankees added him to their long list of 2014-15 international signings.

Yasmany Hernandez, LHP

Gerry Broome/Associated Press

According to Diario De Cuba, pitcher Yasmany Hernandez left Cuba in mid-September to pursue a career in the major leagues (h/t Ben Badler of Baseball America).

The 23-year-old left-hander led Cuba’s Serie Nacional with a 1.66 ERA last season, also posting a 67-34 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 114 innings over 19 starts.

Per Badler:

"

At 5-foot-10, 200 pounds, Hernandez stands out for his pitchability, but by major league standards he has below-average stuff and is at best a modest prospect. From having watched him pitch in Cuban games this past season, Hernandez’s fastball sits at 84-88 mph and touches 89.

He also throws a soft, sweepy breaking ball that he adds and subtracts from, ranging from 73-78 mph. Like many Cuban pitchers, he manipulates his arm angle intentionally, often throwing from a three-quarters arm slot but at times dropping down to throw sidearm.

"

With five years of playing experience under his belt, Hernandez won’t be subjected to international bonus pools, though Badler doesn’t believe there will be widespread interest in the southpaw.

Projected Landing Spot: San Diego Padres

The Padres haven’t been linked to Hernandez, at least not to my knowledge, but he fits the same mold as Odrisamer Despaigne, who signed a minor league contract with the Padres last May and finished the season in the major leagues.

Hector Olivera, 2B

Gregory Bull/Associated Press

Baseball America’s Ben Badler reported on Sept. 24 that second baseman Hector Olivera had defected from Cuba in pursuit of a career in Major League Baseball.

After missing the entire 2012-13 Serie Nacional season due to thrombosis in his left biceps, per Badler, the 29-year-old Olivera returned strong in 2013-14 to bat .316/.412/.474 with seven home runs, 38 walks and 25 strikeouts in 273 appearances for Santiago De Cuba.

More from Badler:

"

At his best, Olivera (listed at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds) had been one of the most well-rounded players in Cuba, showing a combination of hitting ability, power, speed and size.

[…]

He also won the home run derby at the 2012 all-star game and has displayed impressive power for a middle infielder. He showed his hitting ability with a batting average .315 or better in nine of his 10 seasons in Cuba and recorded more walks than strikeouts in his last eight seasons. During the 2007-08 season, Olivera stole 21 bases in 22 attempts, although he hasn’t been much of a threat on the bases since then, even before he was sidelined.

"

Olivera still has to establish residency in a third country and be cleared to sign by OFAC, but age and five seasons playing in Serie Nacional will make him exempt from international bonus pools once he’s officially declared a free agent.

Projected Landing Spot: Miami Marlins

While the Marlins have a lot of nice pieces in place for the foreseeable future, the team has featured a glaring hole at second base since trading away Omar Infante in late 2012. Considering the dearth free agents at the position this year, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Marlins “definitely have interest” in Olivera, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.

All stats from Cuba's Serie Nacional are courtesy of ESPN's Cuban-Play.com unless otherwise noted.