Yoenis Cespedes Rumors: Details of Dominican Republic Residency
By Editorial Staff
As the offseason’s progressed we’ve watched Yoennis Cespedes’s TOA get pushed back from December to January. Now, with only a week and a half remaining in the first month of the New Year, exactly when Cespedes will hit free agency remains unknown. Now, Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com is reporting that Cespedes and his representation have yet to get the ball rolling in one crucial area that will impact when the Cuban sensation hits the open market.
Most followers of the Cespedes situation know that the 26-year-old’s free agent status depends on his residency. Sanchez reports that, according to new regulations, “Any Cuban defector who wants to do business with an American company must first establish residency outside Cuba and the United States”.
Cespedes has chosen the Dominican Republic as his country and has been working out there while trying to gain residency.
Easy enough; check that off the list, right?
Not so fast says Sanchez. To get that ball rolling in the residency process, one must first complete paperwork declaring your intent. After the paperwork has been filed Sanchez says it can take up to three months for residency to be established.
So what’s the hold up? Apparently, Cespedes has yet to complete this paperwork.
Sanchez goes into details regarding the process and how it is different than past practices, but the main point is that gaining residency is now the most important step for Cuban players such as Cespedes when it comes to joining the free agent market.
Throughout the offseason, Cespedes’s agent and representation have said they expect their player to be in camp with a club come Spring Training. They still have some time, and it’s been said before that this thing could happen at any time. However, if what Sanchez says is true, it would probably have been a good idea for Cespedes to finish up his paperwork before creating his ridiculous workout videos or suiting up for the Dominican Winter League.
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