Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas has been granted free agency by Major League Baseball, according to a his agent, Jay Alou. He is now free to sign with any club.
Unfortunately, his potential $100 million deal takes the Mets out of the picture.
Tomas has already had private workouts with the Phillies, Rangers and Giants who are each considered to be heavy favorites.
(Joe D.)
September 25
According to Marc Carig of Newsday, the Mets have not yet decided on whether they will invite Cuban free-agent slugger Yasmany Tomas in for a private workout.
Invite him for what? For show? For tea and crumpets?
Meanwhile, Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors did a nice profile on Tomas.
“Tomas’ best attribute is his power, a trait that is in short supply in today’s game. Only 14 players hit 30 or more home runs in 2013, and fewer might reach that threshold this year. Tomas has 70 raw power on the 20-80 scale, wrote Baseball America’s Ben Badler in June, so he profiles as one of those rare 30+ home run bats.”
“He’s a pure power guy, a really good hitter,” one international scouting director told Peter Gammons. The early favorites are the Giants, who were in hard on both Jose Abreu and Rusney Castillo, the Phillies, Padres, Rangers and the Tigers. But that can change, in a hurry.
The Giants and Phillies have already had Tomas in for private workouts. He is expected to be officially be declared a free agent after the regular season, at which point he’ll be able to sign with any major league team.
September 22
Cuban slugger Yasmani Tomas held his showcase in the Dominican Republic on Sunday, and by all accounts every major league team including the Mets had scouts in attendance. The most serious potential suitors had their front office brass there. Now the pretenders can go home and return to their regularly scheduled programming, while the contenders ask Tomas to attend their private workouts.
For many teams, including the Mets, this latest Cuban talent won’t fit into their financial equations. With his price tag expected to be as high as $100 million, only the Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, Giants and Rangers will be in hot pursuit.
According to Ben Badler of Baseball America, the Phillies are already the first team to have Tomas participate a private workout. That will take place today in the D.R. and general manager Ruben Amaro will be in attendance.
As I mentioned a few times in the last two weeks, with Mets payroll expected to remain at $85 million and the team facing $22 million in raises for 2015, there’s no room at the inn for a player like Tomas – even though the 23-year old slugger likely has the power that they desperately crave.
It’s a shame really…
Is Tomas a risk? Of course he is, but he’s exactly the kind of risk a team playing in large market should take. Especially with a free agent market that is devoid of power hitters this winter and a front office that’s reluctant to unload any of their precious arms to trade for one.
Tomas’ power was rated a 70 on the scouting scale by Baseball America, or in other words – elite level. His power is most often compared to Jose Abreu by most of the scouts that have seen him.
He would fit perfectly in the cleanup spot of the Mets lineup in 2015 while replacing 5+ years of poor production in left field.
Tomas would be the difference maker Sandy Alderson keeps saying he’s going to acquire but never does, and his addition would inject some life and excitement back into one of the worst ranked offenses in the majors this season.
Not to mention that it would give an apathetic fan base a clear message that the front office is finally dead serious about winning.
And some people want to know why I keep ragging on Fred and Jeff Wilpon everyday… SMH…
