$68-million is a lot of money to pay for a struggling Triple-A bat and a third baseman very rough around the edges. Perhaps that is why the Arizona Diamondbacks recalled their Cuban investment a mere five days after sending him to the Reno Aces of the Pacific Coast League.
#Dbacks recall outfielder Yasmany Tomás from the Triple-A Reno @Aces and option pitcher A.J. Schugel.
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) April 15, 2015
The past year has seen Major League baseball teams pan out millions of dollars to the Cuban market, and little of them are showing to be worth it right now. Most, like Hector Olivera, Yoan Moncada and Yoan Lopez are not even on big league rosters but instead are at extended spring training or in the Minor Leagues. Rusney Castillo of course made news when he was first demoted to Triple-A after expected to beat out Shane Victorino, and then injured himself while with Pawtucket.
More from MLB Prospects
- Is Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Ivan Melendez the next Pete Alonso?
- Los Angeles Dodgers prospect talk: Catching up with Hunter Feduccia
- MLBPA secures major victory for Minor League Baseball players
- Phillies: Breaking down the prospects fighting for an Opening Day spot
- What the XFL can learn from minor league baseball
Sure, you can make the case that some of these prospects are long term investments. Yes it is true that since they had to defect from Cuba in order to play baseball stateside, they are a bit rusty and haven’t played professionally in some time. That’s a nice sentiment for a college player, who is making the league minimum and has time to develop. Once a nearly $100-million contract is extended to a player, I would expect instead returns on my investment. Not what the Phillies are dealing with in terms of bust Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez.
The Diamondbacks are now in the same position, and yesterday’s decision to bring back Tomas is a curious one. Tomas was sent to Triple-A at the close of spring training for several reasons. First and foremost, describing his fielding at the hot corner as subpar is being generous. Secondly, his bat did not appear to be caught up with big league pitching. And lastly, in order to improve, Tomas clearly needed to take everyday punches, both in the field and at the plate, and there wasn’t room for him to do that in Arizona. While it wasn’t greeted with a standing ovation that general manager Dave Stewart demoted Tomas, it was understandable.
That’s why yesterday’s move to bring him back so quickly makes little sense. There is still no room in Arizona, and he did nothing in Reno to merit the call-up. A small sample size, yes, but over five games, Tomas was slashing .190/.261/.381 with only two extra base hits. He was playing right field and had yet to field an inning at third base. It simply doesn’t appear that Tomas received the seasoning that Diamondback fans were told he was being sent down to receive.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
And now the Diamondbacks have a $68-million pinch hitter. Rookie third baseman Jake Lamb is Arizona’s best hitter right now. Despite Mark Trumbo’s power outage early on this season, he will not be replaced anytime soon in the outfield and clearly all-world Paul Goldschmidt is not being replaced at first base anytime soon.
There is still little room for Tomas in the starting lineup and now, the promotion to The Big Show may be the point of no return. It doesn’t seem logical to keep yo-yoing Tomas between the bigs and the Minors, so have the Diamondbacks made a mistake early on with the 24-year old Cuban prospect? Hopefully a few pinch hit home runs will prove they have not.