The Braves made a big plunge into the international market today when they signed Cuban outfielder Yasser Gomez, who had defected from Cuba in late 2008. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Gomez will not receive a big bonus, but is considered by some to be very close to the major leagues.
He is apparently a player who hits for a high average and has good speed. Because of that combination the Braves may look at him as a future leadoff hitter. He is older, at 30 years old, so he should be a very polished player. The Braves will likely stick him in the high minors.
0 recs | 70 comments
Is he right handed? Lord knows we need a good righty bat in our lineup, especially versus the lefty starters.
Pavy848 - May 26, 2010 via mobile
lefty
was385 - May 26, 2010
darn
Pavy848 - May 27, 2010
dang he’s old,
may be he can take over for Nate by next year.
Trade Melky and Nate for a prospect or something.
Outfield of Heyward, Hinske and Gomez with Diaz as backup or platoon with Hinske
jaypatel - May 26, 2010
?????????
I’ve read that he’s fast and can hit for average,but I haven’t read in any clips about his power numbers?Do you have any video clips of him in action or something we can get a look at him like you guys did for Salcedo.By the way when is he due to get to Rome?
LakersMania - May 26, 2010
Don’t think you’ll be seeing any 30 year olds at Rome.
Doz - May 26, 2010
I think he was referring to Salcedo
RaymondBatista - May 27, 2010
See below
Got that cleared up.
Doz - May 27, 2010
Na
Not Gomez but I was talking about Edward Salcedo the SS we sign during the off-season.When is he due in Rome I know Gomez won’t head there.
LakersMania - May 26, 2010
My apologies
Didn’t catch that. Last I read, he was still in extended Spring Training. Haven’t had any luck in finding much info about him.
Doz - May 26, 2010
Salcedo
is going to be a 3B. While we signed him as a SS, he’s VERY big for the position and projects to be a very good defensive 3B (not to mention his bat, which, from what I remember, some scouts say is PLUS).
apoxonbothyourhouses - May 27, 2010
I heard he’s got a Hanley Ramirez-type ceiling, which if true means that his bat can certainly play at 3B…great defense would be an added bonus.
Smoltz's Beard - May 27, 2010
Love it. If you don’t have a first round pick this is a great way to utilize that money, by signing guys like Gomez and Salcedo, top international talents. I wonder if he’s going to something like Yunel Escobar did, where he plays a little at the low minors to get him acclimated to the US game for a bit. If he’s already 30 I’d say there’s a good bet he ends up at least as high as Mississippi this year.
cbwilk - May 26, 2010
i was waitin’ for the cb stamp of approval. sweet.
Bravely going forward - May 27, 2010
wait
are you being serious?
drumzalicious - May 27, 2010
why wouldn’t he be?
Bravely going forward - May 27, 2010
the whole part about making up for losing a 1st rounder by signing a 30 year old outfielder.
Signing Salcedo yes but not this guy
drumzalicious - May 27, 2010
why write him off so fast just because he's 30?
if scouts think he could be “very close to the major leagues,” isn’t that comparable to a high draft pick, considering how many prospects fail to make it to the bigs?
Bravely going forward - May 27, 2010
not
when we have a player already in our system that can hit for average and speed and is right down the highway.
drumzalicious - May 27, 2010
i guess the point is we don’t know what this guy’s got until we give him a chance. he’s not blocking anyone right now.
Bravely going forward - May 27, 2010
Not 100% sure who you are referring to but our current system really has nothing to do with whether Gomez is a legit prospect or not. We may or may not need him depending on who you ask but he’ll certainly be an asset to the organization.
ajones2522 - May 27, 2010
You talking about Matt Young? Really? I love the guy, but come on.
cbwilk - May 27, 2010
im looking
more at the age factor i guess and how many years we could get out of him
drumzalicious - May 27, 2010
Matt’s only a few years younger and if this Gomez guy is more talented that wins out. For most guys you only get a 3 to 5 good years anyway.
cbwilk - May 27, 2010
This.
If we get 4 decent years out of Gomez it’ll end up being a win. Should have a year or two until he hits the perceived decline phase.
Smoltz's Beard - May 27, 2010
I mean, we’ve got this kid Schafer, too. Are we signing a guy who, in the major leagues, is basically another Gregor Blanco?
Bronn - May 27, 2010
We don't know that yet...
he could be Blanco, he could be Nyjer Morgan or Michael Bourn. Only one way to find out. And if he’s cheap, I don’t see the harm. At worst we added needed filler for the minors, and a guy who can be helped here with Linares in AA, Canizares in AAA, or Esco in the bigs, among others.
Mr. Sanchez - May 27, 2010
eh
all doesnt matter now that the word is out that he signed for only 20k
drumzalicious - May 28, 2010
I thought he meant Schafer
Mr. Sanchez - May 27, 2010
Trade Heyward for Cliff Lee and Milton Bradley.
Let Bradley, Cabrera, and Gomez play outfield.
Tim Goad - May 26, 2010
lol
Zeus12888 - May 27, 2010
haha
get swoll yunel - May 27, 2010
What
Man U can’t b serious NO WAY
LakersMania - May 26, 2010
Im totally serious.
Then trade Hanson for Dallas Braden, because we need perfect game stuff on our pitching staff.
Tim Goad - May 26, 2010
We would return to being an absolute DYNASTY. Don’t think Billy Beane bites, however.
Doz - May 27, 2010
Yea.
We probably could get Ray King and Bob Wickman back for cheap. Probably for only McCann and Prado.
Tim Goad - May 27, 2010
Solidifying the 'Pen
I like where your head is at.
Doz - May 27, 2010
Always.
Eddie Perez can come back and catch too, veteran presence is too valuable.
Tim Goad - May 27, 2010
Not if this guy has anything to say about it...
-C
cthabeerman - May 27, 2010
nice.
i always remember berryhill for being the first i ever saw to launch his bat into the stands, nailing an old woman, if i remember correctly.
Bravely going forward - May 27, 2010
Dude
not with like, all that tape, and stuff.
Tim Goad - May 27, 2010
I love the batting gloves
look like they were patched together with surfer wetsuit material
Qtips - May 27, 2010
no no...THIS guy
apoxonbothyourhouses - May 27, 2010
Pfft
Claudell would be a horrible catcher…
However, if we could just mix and match, Claudell Berryhill would be one badass name.
-C
cthabeerman - May 27, 2010
What did I miss? What shenanigans is Manchester United up to now?
J-Freak - May 27, 2010 via mobile
Reply button.
Smoltz's Beard - May 27, 2010
isnt he
the guy that defected last year with a pitcher? i thought they had signed already . . .
im hoping this is minor league depth because i would rather give a chance to a guy like Matt Young than this fellow
drumzalicious - May 27, 2010
yeah right
you don’t know anything about this guy other than he’s 30 years old.
just because he doesn’t fit into the typical mold of an american born “prospect” doesn’t mean he can’t play baseball at a high level right now.
get swoll yunel - May 27, 2010
Were you one of the guys ripping on the mike minor pick?
where did all of those guys go?
get swoll yunel - May 27, 2010
Still waiting to see if Minor ever amounts to anything more than a back end starter.
Lennox - May 27, 2010
And you'll likely be waiting longer to see if those...
high school, “upside” arms ever amount to anything.
Mr. Sanchez - May 27, 2010
Yeah, that’s pretty much how things work with prospects …
Lennox - May 27, 2010
Meaning...
Minor may not have their ceiling, but he has a much better floor, and his ceiling looks like it may actually be pretty high. With guys so far out, this isn’t a debate to be had for at least 5 more years, although as of right now Minor is looking like a damn good choice.
Mr. Sanchez - May 27, 2010
no
I didnt rip it the only thing i said about it was that i was surprised we picked minor over Matzek
drumzalicious - May 27, 2010
That's just great!
Shirley you can’t be serious! Yasser I am and you can stop calling me…! Well maybe he can help remind his fellow countryman Yunel how many outs there are!
Seeer - May 27, 2010
Don’t act like Yunel is the only one who does that…Prado fucked up the number of outs too.
Smoltz's Beard - May 27, 2010
I think it was more of a play on words with Yunel’s name.
Gage23 - May 27, 2010
Word.
Smoltz's Beard - May 27, 2010
The "reply" button is your friend
a few of you forgot that.
Scott Coleman - May 27, 2010
He sounds a bit like Blanco. I certainly like the comment of it not taking a big signing bonus to bring him in, maybe he saw a quick path to the bigs with us and our need in LF and at the top of the order.
From what I can find off a simple google search…
The 28-year-old (article dated Nov. 2008) Gomez is a left-hander who batted third slot in the Industriales’ lineup and hit .394 in 2007. He began playing in Cuba’s top league as a teenager and was part of the Olympic team at the Sydney Games in 2000, which took the silver medal. He was left off Cuba’s 2006 WBC squad.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3717873
Mr. Sanchez - May 27, 2010
From Mark Bowman...
MIAMI — The Braves have confirmed that they have signed Yasser Gomez, a Cuban outfielder who has been in the Dominican Republic since defecting in 2008.
Terms of the agreement weren’t revealed. Via Twitter, Jorge Ebro of El Nuevo Herald revealed that he didn’t believe that Gomez received a significant signing bonus.
Gomez, who has been reported to be 30 years old, was once considered a promising young outfielder in Cuba. He debuted for the national team at the age of 19 and was his country’s starting center fielder the following year during the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Reports have indicated Gomez is a solid defensive outfielder who has been limited offensively by a lack of power.
Once Gomez obtains his visa, he is expected to travel to the United States. The Braves have not revealed where they will assign him. Their Triple-A Gwinnett club has seen its outfield depth reduced over the past two weeks due to injuries suffered by Atlanta’s outfielders.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100527&content_id=10485210&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
Mr. Sanchez - May 27, 2010
i could see him in
AAA to start. I bet he’s in the Majors by August.
apoxonbothyourhouses - May 27, 2010
AA tops to start.
10-4 - May 27, 2010
If he’s not too rusty he might get the Majors this year, he’s been playing for a while. Hope he’s as good as I’m imagining.
bighop - May 27, 2010
Interesting 11/08 article from the Havana Journal here.
fandave - May 27, 2010
Interesting read, thanks. Sounds like the Industriales are the shit down there. Thrown off the team for trying to defect, good for him, let’s welcome him to freedom. He “had the right” to buy his own car, he’ll be way better off as a Brave.
bighop - May 27, 2010
Also found the following info in this 1/09 article at bleacher reporter:
fandave - May 27, 2010
More Cuban B!
10-4 - May 27, 2010
Yes…Cuban B.
BrockSamson - May 27, 2010
Nice name Brock...
but Cuban B is already taken around here—Barbaro Canizares.
Mr. Sanchez - May 27, 2010
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