According to the multiple members of the international scouting community, the world champions will be serious bidders on Cuban defector Adeinis Hechavarria when the Office of Foreign Assets Committee (OFAC) allows him to sign with MLB clubs.King also mentions that "industry sources" expect Hechavarria to command a $7 to $8 million signing bonus based on the $8 million the Red Sox gave 19-year old shortstop Jose Iglesias, but one scout did say “Maybe more because his bat is better than Iglesias’.”
MLB sent a letter to teams on Jan. 22 telling them Hechavarria and other Cuban defectors have not been "unblocked" by OFAC. OFAC has to verify his age, identity and residency -- in this case, Mexico. It is believed OFAC might have everything done next week.
"The Yankees have been on him for a while," said a scout who saw the 21-year-old shortstop work out recently in the Dominican Republic. "Two weeks ago, about 50 scouts watched him work out and the Yankees were there. They also have seen him in smaller workouts."
...
Though the Yankees view the 6-foot, 170-pounder strictly as a shortstop, others believe he could travel the same path the Rays' B.J. Upton took: shortstop to impact center fielder.
"He is a very good athlete and runs real well," the scout said. "I don't see him as a shortstop, I think he has a chance to be a center fielder in the mold of B.J. Upton. His throwing actions at short are kind of long."
I don't know anything about Hechavarria, but he sounds interesting. I'm rarely against signing international free agents. The risk is generally worth the reward, especially for teams like the Yankees who can risk a few million here and there and never really notice it.
