Yoenis Cespedes to Meet with Red Sox
The Yoennis Cespedes show is set to continue, with the Boston Red Sox being the next club to confirm their intention to travel to the Dominican to get a better look at the Cuban-defector. Boston’s general manager Ben Cherington told ESPN.com that he and other front office members will head to the DR where Cespedes will conduct another private workout.
Cespedes has already worked out for a contingent of Miami Marlins brass including the club’s president, GM and hitting coach. Monday we reported that Cespedes would next be hosting the Chicago Cubs.
It’s unknown when the Cubs plan on venturing to the Dominican Republic, where Cespedes is currently stationed, to preview the five-tool center fielder. But, Cherington said today that he is hoping to travel down Friday.
Cherington’s comments fall in line with those of others who have been asked about Cespedes. According to Cherington, Cespedes is “an intriguing talent”. Boston like what they saw of Cespedes in Cuba and consider him to be “a right-hander hitting outfielder with tools and power”. Though the Red Sox know Cespedes has been impressive in workouts, Cherington says Boston needs “to get to know him a lot better”. The GM thinks his upcoming trip to the DR will help him accomplish this desire.
In an interview with Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus, Cespedes’s manager said that he expected the 26-year-old to be with a major league club in spring training 2012. Earlier this week, it was reported that Cespedes may have to wait a few months before he becomes eligible to hit the free agent market.
Today, FOX Sports is reporting that Cespedes could look to take matters into his own hands. Cespedes would look to establish temporary residency in the Dominican within the next two weeks. At that point, Cespedes’s representatives would petition Major League Baseball to declare him a free agent. If Cespedes is able to establish residency in the DR, FOX Sports expects MLB to approve his free agency status fairly quickly.
Whenever he does hit the market, Cespedes will be one of the most highly coveted players out there. Besides the Red Sox, Cubs and Marlins, the Phillies, Indians, Blue Jays, Pirates, Rangers, Tigers, Nationals, A’s and Yankees have all been linked to Cespedes.
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