MLB: The Top Ten Biggest Cuban Busts
As the next wave of Cuban players get ready to play in MLB, here are ten that came with lofty expectations but never panned out.
The Los Angeles Dodgers demotion of Yasiel Puig earlier this month was the latest Cuban player that has disappointed after being a high level prospect with potential to become a superstar in MLB. The trend has been to sign the Cuban defectors to large contracts. The reality is that their experience in Cuba is equivalent to AA or AAA in the U.S. minor leagues.
The Dodgers have been particularly stung by the lack of success of the Cuban signings. Puig, third baseman Alex Guerrero and shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena have all been disappointments at Chavez Ravine. Those three contracts combined cost the Dodgers $95 million.
The failures of the Cuban projected superstars outweighs the successes. American players have to adjust from amateur to professional baseball. The Cuban players have far greater adjustments to make in addition to becoming a professional baseball player.
Lisa Carney of Sons of Sam Horn examined the totality of the changes the Cuban players must make. The analysis was spot on when she said:
“Transitioning through MLB is challenging enough; throw in learning a new language and assimilating to a democratic/capitalist society, all while constantly fearing for the health and safety of the loved ones left behind, and it is downright amazing that these players are even able to stick at the major-league level, never mind excel.”
This Cuban phenomenon goes back to the late 1990’s. Livan and Orlando “El Duque” Hernández along with Jose Contreras were the beginning of a flood of Cuban players to the States.
The risks are great for signing an unproven player. Many of the Cuban signees are older than the drafted players. The failures of the Cuban players with exorbitant contracts should make the teams more fiscally conservative. The likelihood is that as long as the demand is there and a player has perceived immense potential, the teams will continue to bid high for Cuban defectors. The contracts for Cuban players has gotten out of control.
Next: #10
10) Leslie Anderson Four years, $3.75 Million
The Tampa Bay Rays signed the then 27 year old Anderson to a four year $3.75 million contract in 2009. Anderson was a centerfielder with speed who hit .381 in his final season in the Cuban National Series. The Rays released him in December of 2013 after he was unable to earn a promotion to the Rays in four minor league seasons.
In the four seasons in the minors, Anderson hit .295 with 52 home runs and 244 RBIs. He had a .350 OBP, .441 slugging percentage and a .790 OPS. He is currently in his third season with the legendary Yomiuri Giants in the Japanese Central League.
Next: #9
9) Yunesky Maya four years- $6 million
Maya signed with the Washington Nationals on July 31, 2010 and was brought up five and a half weeks later. He pitched only 21.1 innings in three minor league stops before moving up in September. Maya had a 3.38 ERA, 19 strikeouts and ten walks in the minors. In his last stop at AAA Syracuse, Maya had a 0.87 ERA in two starts.
He couldn’t translate the success from Cuba and the minor leagues to the major leagues. Maya had a 5.88 ERA in the five 2010 September starts. He followed that up with a 5.23 ERA in ten appearances in 2011. Maya spent 2012 with Syracuse, going 11-10 with 3.88 ERA in 28 starts.
He gave up two unearned runs with the Nationals in a third of an inning in his only 2013 appearance. The Nationals released Maya following the 2013 season. Maya signed with the Braves in February 2014 and was released that July. He had an 8.17 ERA in 13 starts with the Doosan Bears of the Korean league last season.
Maya was signed by Anaheim in February. He is currently pitching with the Angels AAA team in Salt Lake. In five starts with the Bees this season, Maya has a 5.92 ERA.
Next: #8
8) Dayan Viciedo Four years- $10m
The White Sox signed Viciedo in December 2008 as a 19-year-old. The “Tank”was recalled in June 2010 as a 20-year-old. He played 38 games in 2010 and 29 games in 2011, before making the big league roster out of spring training in 2012.
In his first full big league season, Viciedo hit 25 home runs and drove in 78 in 147 games. He followed that up with a .255 average, 14 and 78 in 2013 in 124 games. He fell out of favor in 2014. Viciedo hit 21 home runs and drove in 55 in 145 games in 2014, but only hit .231 with a .281 OBP, .405 slg%, and a .696 OPS.
He was released by the White Sox in February 2015. He signed with Toronto but was unable to make the team out of spring training and was released by the Blue Jays at the end of spring training. After attempted comebacks with Oakland and a second stint with the White Sox, Viciedo left for Japan this season.
He is currently leading the last place Chunichi Dragons of the Japan League in home runs and RBIs this season.
Next: #7
7) Yoan Lopez $8.27 Million Signing Bonus
Lopez might be the strangest story on this list. His $8.27 million signing bonus was the largest ever for a Cuban amateur when he signed in January 2015. Lopez began that season with the Diamondbacks team in the Arizona rookie league. He was promoted to the AA Mobile Baybears after one start.
At Mobile, Lopez was 1-6 with a 4.69 ERA and 1.459 WHIP. He pitched with the Salt River Rafters in the 2015 Arizona Fall League and continued to struggle with a 2-3 record, 5.24 ERA and a brutal 1.849 WHIP in seven starts over 28.2 innings.
Lopez continued with Mobile to begin the 2016 season. In 14 starts with the BayBears, Lopez was 4-7 with a 5.52 ERA. After leaving the organization for a second time earlier this season, Lopez returned last week with the Diamondbacks’ team in the Arizona Rookie League. He started and pitched one inning without allowing a baserunner and striking out two.
He was assigned to the ARL in July. There is not much of an indication of where the Diamondbacks plan to go with Lopez in the future. His problems seem to be more than adjusting to American baseball.
Arizona’s General Manager Dave Stewart said “We’re trying to get him back on track…Emotionally, he just has not smoothed out.”
Next: #6
Herrera signed with Pittsburgh in December 2006. In January 2007, he was rated as the Pirates fourth-best prospect by Baseball America. Their top two prospects at the time were Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker.
Herrera debuted with the Pirates in 2008, making five starts in July and August. In his first two outings, Herrera gave up 13 runs in six innings. He finished the season with a 9.82 ERA and 2.56 WHIP. Those would be his last Major League Appearances until 2014.
He bounced around a few organizations before Anaheim recalled him in April 2014. Herrera pitched in 20 games for the Angels that season. He had a 2.70 ERA in 16.1 innings, but a 1.86 WHIP.
He was released by the Angels the following January. He pitched last season with Yokohama in the Japanese League. It’s unknown if he retired this year, but he is not listed as playing on his Baseball Reference profile.
Next: #5
5) Erisbel Arruebarrena Five years $25m
Arruebarrena signed a five-year $25 million contract in February 2014. Then Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti said of Arruebarrena at the time of the signing “We think it definitely wouldn’t be a surprise if he could affect our club this year” He played 25 games that season. In 41 at-bats, the shortstop hit .195 with just one extra-base hit.
The Dodgers designated him for assignment in January 2015. He was suspended for the year for the second straight season this May. He was reinstated last season after filing a grievance. He has not returned from his suspension this year. Dodgers Farm Director Gabe Kapler said that Arruebarrena was suspended for failure to comply with unspecified team rules.
Next: #4
4) Alex Guerrero (released) Four years, $28m
About six weeks after the Arruebarrena suspension, Guerrero was designated for assignment. The third baseman/left fielder signed a four-year $28 million contract in October 2013.
Guerrero made the Dodgers 25 man roster out of spring training at the beginning of the 2014 season. He played in the two games the Dodgers played against Arizona in Australia. After the Dodgers trip down under he was optioned to Albuquerque. He wouldn’t return until he played 13 games after being called up in September/October when the rosters expanded from 25 to 40.
when the rosters expanded from 25 to 40.
He made the Dodgers 25 man roster out of spring training in 2015. He got off to a great start last season. Guerrero hit .423 with five home runs and 13 RBIs in 28 at-bats in April. He had a .429 OBP/1.077 SLG/1.505 OPS. His average started to fall in May, but he still hit four home runs and drove in eight. Nine home runs and 25 RBIs through the first two months of the season were encouraging for the rookie. He seemed to be living up to his high priced contract.
The next three months were abysmal, especially July and August. He hit .091 in July and followed that up with a .148 August without any RBIs or extra base hits. He rebounded a bit in October, but that was likely the end of Guerrero in a Dodgers uniform.
After batting over .300 the last two years in spring training, Guerrero hit .238 with no home runs and two RBIs in exhibitions this season. Guerrero cemented his fate with his performance at three minor league stops in the first two months this season. Splitting time between Rancho Cucamonga, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City, Guerrero hit .136 with one home run and four RBIs over 68 at-bats in 16 games.
Next: #3
3) Yasiel Puig Seven Years, $42 million
The Dodgers signed Yasiel Puig to a seven-year, $42 million contract in June 2012. The sentiment throughout most of baseball was surprise if not shock. Puig had not played in a year at the time of his signing.
Puig crushed minor league pitching in 2012. He hit .354 five home runs and 15 RBIs in 23 games. He had a slash of .442/.634/1.076.
He began the 2013 season with the AA Chattanooga Lookouts. Puig was recalled on June 3 after hitting .313 with eight home runs and 37 RBIs in 40 games.
Puig had what was possibly the greatest first month of an MLB career. He hit .436 with seven home runs. 16 RBIs and four stolen bases in June. That incredible performance earned him the player of the month for June.
He followed that up with solid a July and August. At the end of August. Puig was hitting .349 with 13 home runs,31 RBIs and had ten stolen bases.
Puig somewhat struggled in September. From September 1 through the end of the season, he hit just .213. He was able to maintain his power with six home runs and drove in 13.
The Dodgers finished 92-70 and won the NL West. Puig scorched Atlanta in a four-game series win by the Dodgers in the NLDS. He hit .471 and scored five runs. The Cardinals were able to control Puig as they beat the Dodgers in a six game NLCS series win.
The problems with Puig go back a few years. His antics wore thin first with his teammates and the Dodgers coaching staff and now the front office. Yahoo’s Jeff Passan wrote about the book “The Best Team Money Can Buy” that was a look at the climate of the Dodgers Clubhouse by ESPN’s Molly Knight.
The Dodgers have been to the postseason in each of Puig’s first three seasons. They are in the race for a fourth straight season. He reported to the Dodgers AAA team in Oklahoma City and met with reporters on August 12. Jon Heyman reported Puig is unlikely to return to the majors this season.
He has shown he can still rake. Puig has been tearing up AAA pitching since rejoining Oklahoma City. He is hitting .419 with three home runs and 11 RBIs with OKC this season.
The Dodgers sent Puig down after acquiring Josh Reddick from the A’s at the trade deadline. He will get another chance, whether it’s with the Dodgers or another team will be determined in the offseason,
An anonymous teammate said in the “The Best Team Money Can Buy” that he is a top three or four talent.
Next: #2
2) Hector Olivera Six years $62.5 million
Olivera was signed to a six-year, $62.5 million contract in March 2015 by the Dodgers. He lasted half a season in the Dodgers organization. Olivera was sent to the Braves as part of a three-team trade just before the trade deadline.
Olivera was called up by the Braves when rosters expanded September 1. He hit .253 with two home runs and 11 RBIs in 87 plate appearances in 24 games. Olivera lasted six games with the Braves this season. He hit .211 with no home runs he was placed on the restricted list on April 13.
Olivera was charged with assault in Arlington, Va after the Braves played the Nationals in Washington D.C. On May 26, it was announced that Olivera was being suspended 82 games for the incident. It was the largest suspension for a domestic violence case in league history.
The Braves were able to move Olivera at the trade deadline to San Diego for Matt Kemp. The Padres 2014-15 offseason of trying to build a winner failed. The trade made sense for the Padres. They moved Kemp to save $25.5 million in salary.
The Padres designated Olivera for assignment on August 2. On August 10, he was released. At 31 years old and with no proven Major League Success, it’s unlikely that he gets another chance.
Next: #1
1) Rusney Castillo Seven Years $72.5 million
The Boston Globe called Castillo the “Biggest bust in franchise history.” Castillo’s seven year $72 million contract was the biggest ever given to an international player. Castillo made his MLB debut on September 17 and played in ten games during the remainder of 2014.
He rejoined the Red Sox on May 23, 2015. In 80 games last season, Castillo hit .253 with five home runs and 27 RBIs. He added only a .288/.359/.647 OBP/SLG/OPS slash line to that.
Castillo lasted until April 14 before the Red Sox sent him to AAA Pawtucket this season. He would be sent up and down five more times this year before the Red Sox placed him on Waivers in June.
Next: Los Angeles Dodgers:Yasiel Puig Unlikely to Return to Majors this Year
Castillo has been in Pawtucket since his demotion. He is hitting just .262 in AAA this season. He could be one of the most expensive journeymen players over the remainder of his contract. Like Puig, the off-season will determine where Castillo plays next. Unlike Puig, Castillo hasn’t shown he can succeed at the major league level.