That last two days have seen a whirlwind of transaction in the various circuits of the Caribbean. With the season half way done I’m the leagues teams are trying to strengthen their roster in order to make a postseason push. Yunesky Maya, Raúl Valdés, Yoennis Yera and Yoán Moncada all inked with new ballclubs.
In the LIDOM Yunesky Maya returns to the circuit with the Gigantes del Cibao after being released by the Tigres de Aragua of the LVBP, as reported by the colleague Francys Romero. The crafty right-hander adds a veteran arm that the squad was sorely lacking. In 10 season in the league the hurler sports a 30-35 record and a 2.89 earned run average. Maya won a championship with the team in 2022 and saw action in the Serie del Caribe that season.
In the case of Raúl Valdés the left-hander who was released by the Toros del Este, also of the LIDOM will sign with the Tigres del Licey tomorrow sometime a little after noon. The southpaw has over 150 starts and 50 wins during his time in the most competitive winter league in the Caribbean. For the team from the Dominican capital Valdés could stabilize their much maligned pitching corps.
In Venezuela Yoennis Yera is set to join the Tiburones de La Guaira to help augment a vastly underachieving rotation and team. The veteran lefty has scene winter action in the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico with the Algodoneros de Guasave and Charros de Jalisco posting a 11-6 record a 3.67 ERA. Yera is definitely an upgrade for a team lacking stable starting pitching.
The biggest prize and surprise of the lot was infielder Yoán Moncada inking with the Senadores de San Juan of the LBPRC, a signing also reported by the colleague Francys Romero. The once heralded prospect and up-and-coming star haa had his career derailed by injuries. Over his nine-year career Moncada hits .254 with 93 longballs and 393 RBIs. The slugger will pair with ex-White Sox teammate José Abreu.
Cubans in the Winter Leagues:
LIDOM:
Henry Urrutia IF-DH (Gigantes)
Yunesky Maya RHP (Gigantes)
Vladimir Gutierrez RHP (Águilas)
Yadiel Hernández OF (Águilas)
Yoán López RHP (Águilas)
JC Escarra C-IF (Águilas)*
Dairon Blanco OF (Estrellas)
Julio Pablo Martínez OF (Estrellas)
Luis Avilés IF (Estrellas)***
Jorge Martínez RHP (Estrellas)
José Barrero IF-OF (Estrellas)
Bryan Lavastida C (Estrellas)*
Jimmy Yacabonis RHP (Toros)*
Elih Marrero C (Toros)*
Raúl Valdés LHP (Toros,Licey)**
Elían Leyva RHP (Escogido)****
Ariel Miranda LHP (Escogido)
Liga ARCO:
Yasmany Tomás IF (Los Mochis)
Ronald Bolaños RHP (Los Mochis)
Félix Stevens OF (Los Mochis)
Roel Santos OF (Los Mochis)
Victor Labrada OF (Guasave)
Yadir Drake IF-Of (Guasave)
Diosbel Arias IF (Culiacán)
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP (Ciudad Obregón)
Luis Avilés Jr IF (Mazatlán)
LBPRC:
Greg Veliz RHP (Carolina)*
Adeiny Hechavarría IF (Carolina)
Rafael Sánchez RHP (Santurce)
Lázaro Estrada RHP (Santurce)
Bryan Chi RHP (Santurce)
Félix Pérez DH-OF (Santurce)
Yanquiel Fernandez OF (Ponce)
Yoanys Quiala RHP (Ponce)
Aledmys Díaz IF (San Juan)
José Abreu 1B (San Juan)
Yoan Moncada IF (San Juan)
Josimar Cousin RHP (Mayagüez)
LVBP:
Leonys Martín OF (La Guaira)
Miguel Romero RHP (La Guaira)
Erlys Casanova RHP (La Guaira)
Yurisbel Gracial 3B-OF (La Guaira)
Yasiel Puig OF (La Guaira)
Pedro Echemendia RHP (La Guaira)
Yoennis Yera LHP (La Guaira)
Yunesky Maya RHP (Aragua)
Yoanner Negrín RHP (Aragua)
Lázaro Blanco RHP (Aragua)
Carlos Juan Viera RHP (Aragua)
Raymond Figueredo RHP (Aragua)
Frank Medina RHP (Aragua)
Onelki García LHP (Magallanes)
Yoel Yanqui 1B (Magallanes)
Peter O’Brien OF (Magallanes)*
José Ramón Rodríguez RHP (Anzoátegui)
Richard Guasch RHP (Anzoátegui)
Darién Núñez LHP (Anzoátegui)
Julio Robaina LHP (Caracas)
Yordanys Linares OF (Islas Margaritas)
LBPN:
Yuniesky García RHP (Rivas)
Lázaro Alonso 1B (Rivas)
Rusney Castillo OF (Rivas)
Yosmany Guerra IF (Rivas)
Alay Lago IF (Tren del Norte)
Maikel Serrano OF (Tren del Norte)
Rogelio Quesada RHP (Tren del Norte)
Yordan Nodal LHP (Chinandega)
Xian Vega IF (Chinandega)
Pablo Salgado LHP (Chinandega)
Adrián Moreno IF (León)
Luis Medina IF (Bòer)
LCBP:
Amaury Tamayo RHP ( Cartagena)
Robin Fernández IF ( Barranquilla)
Yassel Pino IF (Sincelejo)
PROBEIS:
Yusniel Padrón RHP (Atlanticos)
Heisell Baro RHP (Águilas)
*Cuban-American
** Released by Toros
***Released by Estrellas
**** Released by Escogido