Report: Rays Sign Cuban First Baseman/Outfielder Leslie Anderson
by Steve Slowinski on Mar 11, 2010 12:44 PM EST
62 comments
Per @jorgeebro, the Rays have signed Cuban defector Leslie Anderson to a 4 year, $3.75M deal. Anderson is a left-hander, age 27/28-years-old, and played on the Cuban national team in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He hit .381 last season with 13 homeruns, although at the moment I can't find any other description of his statistics.
For some video and a bit of scouting information on Anderson, check out his write-up at Cuban Ball Players. Here's a blurb:
Leslie Anderson has been the best hitter for Camagüey. The versatile Anderson was used as a center fielder and then was moved to first base once Loidel Chapellí retired. Anderson has played RF for the national team. Anderson has gap power. He is not your typical slugger like Ryan Howard or Albert Pujols. Anderson could hit between 15-20 home runs at the Major League level if given the chance. He is a gold glove type first baseman, but I believe his value is in CF a position that requires less power than first base and in his overall versatility.
Anderson was part of the Cuban team in both WBC. Any team that is looking for a LF/RF/CF/1B should receive a good value by singing Anderson. Anderson often likes to work the count and takes lots of pitches. Anderson received 417 walks and struck out 376 times in Cuba.
If this report is true, this would be another nice international signing for the Rays. Anderson could provide the Rays with depth at first base and after a season of conditioning in the minors, could be a viable replacement for Pena if/when he ends up leaving.
Update: According to TBO_Rays, the Rays have now confirmed that they have reached an agreement in principle with Anderson.
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What I've learned about Anderson in last few weeks while researcing him and Jose Ruiz
-Decent power and good plate discipline.
-Showed a good arm and range in the outfield during games.
-Should be average to above at first base.
-Had a terrible workout in which he showed none of the above.
-Terrible workout probably lowered his price to Rays’ range.
-Some say he’s MLB ready, but we don’t need him right now which is a plus.
-Dude is apparently in great shape.
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Sounds like a good signing for a nice price
And I love how this FO lets nothing escape. No real blurbs or hints that this was coming.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Mar 11, 2010 12:52 PM EST up reply actions
Distracted us with Ruiz!
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by Tommy Rancel on Mar 11, 2010 12:53 PM EST up reply actions
and Shealy, and Dan Johnson, and Hank Blalock, and Chris Richard
never seen so many 1B signed in such a short period
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I wonder if Anderson will be a COF at Durham
Vroom vroom party starter
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by Imperialism32 on Mar 11, 2010 1:43 PM EST up reply actions
There's really no point in keeping Chris Richard around
Dan Johnson can play a corner too
Anderson/Shealy 1B
Blalock DH
Primary outfield of Desmond, Ruggs, Nando?
Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla
True
I think the Rays did resign him. There’s always Montgomery again
Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla
I almost feel bad for the guy.
Following the promotion to Durham at the end of last year, Eldridge did a nice job alongside Jennings and I hope that he serves as a 4th outfielder there this year rather than relegated back to Montgomery. However, if Joyce doesn’t make the 25-man, and Kapler and Zobrist platoon in right, it looks likely that Eldridge will be back playing for the Biscuits.
I’m actually pretty pumped to see Durham dominate this year with such an incredibly stacked team. The depth is unreal right now.
I'd rather have LeVon and Diek
Thanks in advance for the fun sub-thread this is going to be :D
Vroom vroom party starter
www.raysprospects.com
Rather have Pujols, but that's just me.
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by Tommy Rancel on Mar 11, 2010 12:55 PM EST up reply actions
In all seriousness, I think I would rather see us spend this money on a bunch of younger guys
rather than one guy like this. Obviously it’s different stuff, but I mean we got Alex Colome and Hector Guevara (relatively) cheap. Now not all int’l guys we sign are Colomes and Guevaras, but if we’re spending internationally, I’d go with the younger guys. Even if this doesn’t affect the “sign young guys” int’l budget, I’m not sure I’m a fan.
Vroom vroom party starter
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by Imperialism32 on Mar 11, 2010 12:56 PM EST up reply actions
If he pans out (of course big IF), he gives us a three-year 1B with an annual salary of less than a million dollars.
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by Tommy Rancel on Mar 11, 2010 12:58 PM EST up reply actions
If that's the case then we'd need to add a power bat
Because it sounds like he isn’t really a power guy. Assuming some regression from Zobrist(into the 20-25 HR range), I don’t see where we’re getting power from in the coming years besides Longoria(roughly 30 per year, I figure). Desmond isn’t a big power threat, I’ll believe it when I see it from B.J., Brignac won’t be a big HR guy, Joyce could be in the 20-25 range if all goes well, but still.
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by Imperialism32 on Mar 11, 2010 1:04 PM EST up reply actions
Sean Rodriguez.
You don’t have to have power hitters to win anyways.
by R.J. Anderson on Mar 11, 2010 1:05 PM EST up reply actions
You can buy power cheap. It's the new "defense"
Cust, Thome, Branyan all power bats who signed for ~2 million. DH is open next year so Rays can sign an all power no defense guy for cheap.
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by Tommy Rancel on Mar 11, 2010 1:13 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I honestly don't think we would score enough to keep up with NY/BOS
(Yes I know Boston’s offense is pretty meh right now)
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by Imperialism32 on Mar 11, 2010 1:44 PM EST up reply actions
I don't get why people constantly put down Boston's offense.
Beltre and Cameron aren’t bad hitters by any means and they bring it on defense.
by R.J. Anderson on Mar 11, 2010 1:47 PM EST up reply actions
Pink hats aren't smart
I was pissed those 2 guys went there but I think some of their fans were more bothered by the moves than I was.
by Jason Collette on Mar 11, 2010 2:23 PM EST up reply actions
So we have a lot of guys that can hit 15-30 HRs
Sounds better than one that hits 40, and some others that hit 4-12.
Gary Williams for President!
Jordan Williams freshman Manbeast
We have so many sluggers now
(Los, Zo, S-Rod, Longo,Burrell,we really need a line drive guy who knows how to hit situational (R-C-L). He is seasoned and really a tough gamer. Love Peña but, if we could have $8 mill cash back for him it would be awesome. If we could get $2-3 mill back for trading Burrell, $2 mill for Sonny, $2 mill for Brignac, and something for other unnecessary AAA depth, we could keep CC for a couple years and actually repeat , back-to-back WS.
"A chain is no stronger than its weakest link."
Even if he ends up just being a solid bench guy with lots of flexibility and good D
That’s still a really nice salary and he’s pretty young.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Mar 11, 2010 1:04 PM EST up reply actions
View him as a FA rather than a prospie
He’s MLB ready, so they say, and that’s what the Rays need – a near MLB ready 1B.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Mar 11, 2010 1:09 PM EST up reply actions
So, let's just get the rosterbation out of the way here early.
2011 Rays:
1B Anderson
2B Zobrist
3B Longoria
SS Brignac
LF Jennings
CF Upton
RF Joyce/Rodriguez
DH Sweeney
Doubting every day that Pena isn't a Ray next year.
Mira Sorvino...Paul Walker...T-Pain...Fall 2010...HEADSTONE MAFIA, A LOVE STORY OF REVENGE. "5/5 stars!!!" - DRB User "Andy Hellicksonstine"
and as someone said, "power-hitting DH's" are the new defense
I bet the Rays use some coin on a DH next year and get great production for the cost…they shouldn’t have to spend 8 mil to get decent production this time around.
by raysfaninminnesota on Mar 11, 2010 8:52 PM EST up reply actions
Sorry, I have to ask...
…what’s up with his name? Did he enter the Witness Protection Program and assume a new identity or something?
New nickname
Leslie “RJ” Anderson
RJ of course standing for “El Rojo Jalepeno”. Rojo obviously referring to those darn commies and Jalepeno because he’s hot.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Mar 11, 2010 1:13 PM EST up reply actions
Interesting signing.
Seems like fairly low risk on this guy and a chance to have someone fill Pena’s shoes at some point.
Also Ruben Sierra
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by Tommy Rancel on Mar 11, 2010 1:26 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
thats what I thought. too
JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook
Sugar Ray Leonard
Vroom vroom party starter
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by Imperialism32 on Mar 11, 2010 1:32 PM EST up reply actions
Lamar.
From Revenge of the Nerds.
I made a joke about a player on the Rays. I must not be a real fan! So hilarious. Don't ban me, bro.
Amber Lamps!
I made a joke about a player on the Rays. I must not be a real fan! So hilarious. Don't ban me, bro.
@tbo_rays said Rays have no comment on the signing
But we know they won’t comment until the ink is dry in any case.
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by Tommy Rancel on Mar 11, 2010 1:41 PM EST via mobile reply actions
if only the fo would do some work to improve the team
"It's good to have a little cushion. But it's not going to be easy."
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Mar 11, 2010 1:49 PM EST via mobile reply actions
From El Nuevo Herald...
Por JORGE EBRO
EL NUEVO HERALD
Leslie Anderson escapó de Cuba meses después que José Julio Ruiz, pero ya tiene un contrato de Grandes Ligas y prepara sus maletas para incorporarse lo antes posible al entrenamiento de primavera.
El inicialista y jardinero acaba de firmar un pacto de cuatro temporadas y $3.75 millones con los Rays de Tampa Bay, que ya le esperan en su cuartel general para determinar dónde comenzaría su carrera profesional.
“Dado los tiempos económicos que corren, su contrato es muy realista y al menos facilita un comienzo’’, expresó una fuente muy cercana a las negociaciones. "El equipo ha tenido oportunidad de verlo y lo quiere ver enfundado en el uniforme lo antes posible’’.
Anderson, que se encontraba prácticando con la escuadra de Cancún que participa en la liga mexicana de béisbol, había dejado una agradable impresión entre los scouts que acudieron a verlo a la ciudad balneario en el país azteca.
Representado por el conocido agente, Jaime Torres, Anderson es uno de los principales jugadores que ha escapado de la isla en la indetenible estampida que se ha producido en los últimos años.
“En su condición de bateador zurdo, Leslie puede ayudar mucho a Tampa Bay’’, agregó la fuente. En México le conectó muy bien a los lanzadores de ese brazo y demostró que puede batear con poder y que sabe dirigir la pelota hacia todas las direcciones del terreno’’.
El camagueyano logró fugarse hacia México en septiembre del año pasado, justo cuando la escuadra principal de la isla se encontraba en Europa para tomar parte en el Mundial de Béisbol.
Anderson había sido detenido a fines de agosto al descubrirse que preparaba su deserción en el campeonato mundial que se desarrolló en Europa, en septiembre del 2009.
En su última Serie Nacional, la número 48, Anderson conectó para .381 con 114 hits, 13 cuadrangulares y 61 carreras impulsadas.
Translated
Leslie Anderson escaped from Cuba months after José Julio Ruiz, but he already has a major league contract and is packing his bags in order to get to spring training as soon as possible.
The 1B/OF just signed a four-year, $3.75 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, who are already waiting for him at their headquarters to determine where he will begin his professional career.
"Given the economic circumstances we’re in, his contract is very realistic and at least provides him a start," said a source close to the negotiations. "The team has had a chance to see him and wants to see him in uniform as soon as possible."
Anderson, who had been playing for Cancun (Mexican Pacific League), had left a good impression on the scouts who came to see him in the spa town in the Aztec nation.
Represented by well-known agent Jaime Torres, Anderson is one of the main players who have escaped from the island as part of the unstoppable stampede that has occurred in recent years.
"As a left-handed hitter, Leslie can help Tampa Bay a lot," the source added. In Mexico he hit very well against lefty pitchers and showed that he can hit with power and knows how to spray the ball to all fields."
The native of Camaguey managed to escape to Mexico in September of last year, as the island’s top squad was in Europe to take part in the Baseball World Cup.
Anderson was arrested in late August when it was discovered that he was preparing to defect during the world championship that took place in Europe, in September 2009.
In his last Cuban National Series (#48), Anderson hit .381 with 114 hits, 13 homers and 61 RBIs.
Been arested???
Sounds like a thug! Like BJ!!!!
Seems like there's an advantage
To being a player in signing Cuban defectors. Isn’t Anderson represented by the same guy representing JJR?
If carlos resigns then he could play DH and anderson could play 1st
Matt Joyce > Gabe (Insert last name here)
Cuban talent
goes where they see their fellow defectors succeed. Expect some more good signings in the next few years. Don’t be surprised if Castro’s own son, defects to become the Coach/Doctor/ Agent for all his former cuban players in Tampa, Chicago or somewhere else…….
"A chain is no stronger than its weakest link."
Looks like Friedman
got a little motivated afetr been named the best GM. We are pretty good to dethrone the Yankees and defend the WS Title in 2011. Heard of new “floating retractable roof navigating all over the Fl Nature Coast Rays Cruise-like stadium?” It’s being designed with the sponsorship of a Japan/S Korea firm.=FLOATING BASEBALL If the fans don’t come, we’ll go to them!!!!! ….Stu
"A chain is no stronger than its weakest link."
and if playing in International Waters....
they can install hardcore gambling machines in the hallways and don’t have to pay sales taxes or implement a dress code….welcome to Bikini Baseball…awesome….
"A chain is no stronger than its weakest link."
Here is video of Anderson's swing in case anyone is interested
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anqCcwZK0aA
go to 2:30 to see his single up the middle.
by BossmanJunior333 on Mar 12, 2010 2:55 AM EST reply actions
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