With the never-ending influx of Cubans baseball players that have started to leave the island in search of a future in professional leagues, the Largest of the Antilles will have about 150 million in salaries running around the diamonds this season. Expect that to increase over the upcoming years as they amount of players leaving the island in search of a better future continues to increase to the point that even U12 players are abandoning the country.
The highest paid Cuban this season will be Yoan Moncada who figures to pull in a whopping $24.8 million dollars on the campaign. After a breakout 2019 season, Moncada has been pedestrian that last few seasons, with injuries playing a big part in his underachievement. In those four years combined the Cuban infielder has seen action in barely over 200 games. If healthy and focused Moncada could be a 30-homer, 100-RBI hitter.
Coming off arguably his worst statistical season José Abreu will make $19.5 million dollars this season. The slugger from Mal Tiempo, Cuba has been one of the most feared hitters to come out of the island in the last 15 years, but last season he just never found his way at the plate. In his first season in Houston he never really messed well in the lineup. Although he did drive in 90 runs, it never felt like a typical Abreu season. The first baseman did ratchet his play up a little in the postseason hitting .295 and knocking in 19 runs.
The salaries for all Cuban born players in MLB for 2024:
Yoan Moncada (CHW) $24.8M
José Abreu (HOU) $19.5M
Raisel Iglesias (ATL) $16.0M
Luis Robert (CHW) $12.5M
Yordan Álvarez (HOU) $10.8M
Aroldis Chapman (PIT) $10.5M
Jorge Soler (SF) $10.0M
Lourdes Gurriel Jr (ARI)… pic.twitter.com/vM4UruzoP9
— Cuban Baseball Digest (@CBaseballDigest) March 28, 2024
The durable and multi-talented Raisel Iglesias is next on the list a $16.0M a year. Iglesias saved 30 or more games for the fifth time in his career and fanned 68 batters in 55 ⅔ innings pitched last season. In his career Iglesias has more than 10 saves of six outs or more. Expect Iglesias to reach 200 saves this season, making him the second Cuban to do so in MLB history.
Luis Robert at $12.5M and Yordan Álvarez at 10.8M are the biggest bargains on this list. Robert is a five-tool player who slugged 38 homers last year and arguably the best defensive centerfielder in baseball. While Álvarez is probably the most complete hitter in the game and when it’s said-and-done could be the best player to ever come out of Cuba. In six major league seasons the giant from Las Tunas has slugged 129 longballs, driven in 380 runs and slashed .295/.390/.587/.977.
With Adolis García, Yandy Díaz and Randy Arozarena knocking at arbitration’s door, plus all the talent that is escaping from country tallied on to this list, expect more lucrative contracts to be signed by Cubans in the not-so-distant future.
Cuban salaries for 2024:
Yoan Moncada (CHW) $24.8M
José Abreu (HOU) $19.5M
Raisel Iglesias (ATL) $16.0M
Luis Robert (CHW) $12.5M
Yordan Álvarez (HOU) $10.8M
Jorge Soler (SF) $10.0M
Lourdes Gurriel Jr (ARI) $10.0M
Randy Arozarena (TAM) $8.1M
Yandy Díaz (TAM) $8.0M
Aledmys Díaz (OAK) $8.0M
Adolis García (TEX) $4.75M
Néstor Cortés Jr (NYY) $3.95M
Yasmani Grandal (PIT) $2.5M
Cionel Pérez (BAL) $1.2M
Adrián Morejón (SD) $850K
Johan Oviedo (PIT) $770K
Yennier Cano (BAL) $770K
Andy Ibáñez (DET) $770K
Dairon Blanco (KC) $743K