MLB Free Agents Rumors: Yoan Mocada, Hector Olivera & Andy Ibanez Drawing Interest From New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers
The 2015 Major League Baseball regular season doesn't begin until April 5, but scouts and general managers are extremely busy trying to improve their rosters.
Cuba has multiple notable players who are gaining recognition and will most likely be playing in the majors eventually.
Teams across the league have their scouts overseas holding private workings with these players. The three big name Cuban players who teams have their eyes on are Yoan Mocada, Andy Ibanez and Hector Olivera.
Latin Post.com takes a look at these three Cuban wonders:
Yoan Moncada
Moncada has gained the most interest and recognition this offseason from teams. Moncada was allowed to become a free agent after MLB made a rule change on Feb. 3 for international players. The New York Yankees have showed a lot of attention toward Moncada going back to Nov. 12, 2014, when they held workouts with him in Guatemala. Moncada is just 19 years old, and he is free to sign with an MLB team.
He doesn't possess the greatest hitting power, but with his young age he will only improve over time. The Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers have also shown interest in Moncada. According to multiple reports, the Yankees recently held a third private workout with Moncada to see more of his defensive skills.
Unfortunately for the Yankees, the Boston Red Sox have agreed in principal to terms with Moncada.
Hector Olivera
Another big Cuban name who is garnering a lot of interest from numerous teams is infielder Hector Olivera. Most MLB scouts believe Olivera is far more MLB ready than Moncada having a superior batting average, slugging percentage and more experience on the field. There's only two issues; Olivera is 29 years old, and he is not (yet) an MLB free agent. Because of his great skill set, especially on offense, he will also come at a much higher price tag than Moncada will.
Teams that will make a serious run for Olivera will more than likely be teams who are already playoff caliber squads because of Olivera's age and price tag. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics and San Diego Padres are also interested. The Dodgers are the front-runners to land Olivera because they are one of the best National League teams, and they are no strangers to adding international talent. Olivera will more than likely become a free agent eventually.
Andy Ibanez
Andy Ibanez is a 21-year-old second baseman who has played his last three seasons for the Isla de la Juventud. Just like Moncada, Ibanez is a contact hitter who has good defensive skills, and he has also become a free agent. In October 2014 Ibanez defected from Cuba to pursue his professional baseball career.
Ibanez is listed at just 5-foot-10, 183 pounds. That's four inches shorter than Moncada and three inches shorter than Olivera, but he is very athletic and can play defense. He won't give a team nearly the identical power and strength that Olivera has or pure all around talent that Moncada possesses, but he is a better defender.
As usual the Yankees are keeping an eye on the young Cuban infielder, but so are the Arizona Diamondbacks, Giants, Seattle Mariners and Milwaukee Brewers.
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