During a year in which Cubans continue to make the their mark, more of them are headed to the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente. The Criollos de Caguas will sign big leaguer Eddy Álvarez and Angels minor leaguer Orlando Martínez, while the Leones de Ponce have inked power-hitting outfielders Lázaro Armenteros and JC Negret.
San Juan also announced that Yoan Moncada would be debuting with the team tonight and that the squad from the Puerto Rican capital would be activating José Abreu from the injured list. With all these additions the LBPRC could be a favorite in Mexicali during January, especially with a reinforced champion. Both sluggers went 0-for-4 on the evening against Santurce.
Ponce which stands at .500 (10-10) in the standings added two big bats in the form of JC Negret and Lázaro Armenteros. Armenteros who was released by Oakland this season swatted 68 longballs in six minor league seasons. Negret in his own right played last summer with Querétaro in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol went yard 90 tines in six seasons in MiLB with Atlanta and Kansas City.
Eddy Álvarez who played 12 games in the majors with the Mets adds an experienced veteran to last place Caguas lineup, while Orlando Martínez a career minor leaguer during his time with the Angels returns to the LBPRC after spending last season with Santurce. Expect both veterans to play a big part in a Criollos resurgence in what is left of the season.
Cubans in the Winter Leagues:
LIDOM:
Henry Urrutia IF-DH (Gigantes)
Yunesky Maya RHP (Gigantes)
Luis Fonseca RHP (Gigantes)
Jonathan Carbó RHP (Gigantes)
Vladimir Gutierrez RHP (Águilas)
Yadiel Hernández OF (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)
Leonys Martín OF (Licey)
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,Monterrey)
Roenis Elías LHP (Monterrey)
Norge Ruiz RHP (Monterrey)
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP (Ciudad Obregón)
Luis Avilés Jr IF (Mazatlán)
Yadiel Hernández OF (Mexicali)
LBPRC:
Greg Veliz RHP (Carolina)*
Adeiny Hechavarría IF (Carolina)
Orlando Rodríguez RHP (Carolina)
Bryan Chi RHP (Santurce)
Félix Pérez DH-OF (Santurce)
Yanquiel Fernandez OF (Ponce)
Yoanys Quiala RHP (Ponce)
Lázaro Armenteros OF (Ponce)
JC Negret OF (Ponce)
Aledmys Díaz IF (San Juan)
José Abreu 1B (San Juan)
Yoan Moncada IF (San Juan)
Josimar Cousin RHP (Mayagüez)
Carlos Espinosa RHP (Mayagüez)
Orlando Martínez OF (Caguas)
Eddy Álvarez IF (Caguas)
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)
Miguel Romero RHP (Rivas)
Pavel Hernández RHP (Rivas)
Alay Lago IF (Tren del Norte)
Maikel Serrano OF (Tren del Norte)
Rogelio Quesada RHP (Tren del Norte)
José Martínez OF (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)
Luis Angel Rojas IF (Cartagena)
Robin Fernández IF ( Barranquilla)
Yassel Pino IF (Sincelejo)
PROBEIS:
Yusniel Padrón RHP (Atlanticos)
Heisell Baro RHP (Águilas)
Andy Vargas RHP (Nacionales)
Yoisel Serrano RHP (Nacionales)
*Cuban-American
**Released by Toros
***Released by Estrellas
****Released by Escogido
*****Released by Águilas
******Released by Licey