Over the last week a myriad of moves have plenty of rosters in the Caribbean shaping up for the upcoming winter league campaign. In the Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional lefty Yoennis Yera signed with the Tigres de Aragua, while the Cuban Baseball Federation canceled the contract of right-hander Armando Dueñas.
In the Liga Dominicana de Béisbol Profesional, JC Escarra will be returning to the Águilas Cibaeñas. The Cuban-American catcher is the defending league batting champion and figures to once again be a key figure in the team’s lineup. Escarra has spent the season with the Yankees and their Triple-A affiliate Scranton Wilkes-Barre.
In the case of Armando Dueñas the Cuban Baseball Federation has canceled an agreement between the Leones del Caracas and the pitcher due to past financial issues between the LVBP and the FCB. A source tells me that the root of the problem is the failure to comply with the 20% fee that must be granted to Cuba in the past by other teams in the league. The hurler saw action this year in the classification stages of the World Baseball Classic with Spanish National Team.
Yoennis Yera will return to the LVBP with Aragua after spending last season with the Tiburones de La Guaira posting an 0-2 record and a 9.35 earned run average. This summer the southpaw pitched in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol with Tabasco compiling a 6-6 mark and a 4.50 ERA. The experienced hurler will be a good addition to the team’s rotation.
Cubans that have signed with teams this winter:
LIDOM:
Dairon Blanco OF (Estrellas)
Coco Montes IF (Estrellas)*
Eddy Díaz IF (Estrellas)**
Ernesto Martínez Jr IF-OF (Estrellas)
Robert Roilan Portuondo RHP (Estrellas)**
Darién Núñez LHP (Escogido)
César Prieto IF (Escogido)
Sal Stewart Jr IF (Escogido)*
Alek Manoah RHP (Escogido)*
Andrew Pérez LHP (Licey)*
Victor Labrada OF (Licey)
Armando Álvarez IF (Licey)*
Lázaro Estrada RHP (Licey)
Raynel Delgado IF (Águilas)
JC Escarra C-IF (Águilas)*
Liga ARCO:
Albert Lara IF (Culiacán)
Orlando Martínez OF (Culiacán)
Julio Pablo Martínez OF (Culiacán)
Leonys Martín OF (Los Mochis)
Yurisbel Gracial IF-OF (Los Mochis)
Yasmany Tomás 1B (Los Mochis)
Yadir Drake IF-OF (Mexicali)
Yadiel Hernández OF (Mexicali)
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP (Obregón)
Vladimir Gutierrez RHP (Obregón)
Julio Robaina LHP (Guasave)
Félix Pérez 1B/DH (Nayarit)
LVBP:
Geisel Cepeda OF (La Guaira)
Emmanuel Chapman RHP (La Guaira)
Yasiel Puig OF (Magallanes)
Rangel Ravelo IF-OF (Lara)
José Ramón Rodríguez RHP (Anzoátegui)
Miguel Romero RHP (Caracas)
Roel Santos OF (Islas Margarita)
Yoennis Yera LHP (Aragua)
LBPRC:
Josimar Cousin RHP (Mayagüez)
LBPN:
Maikol Pérez OF (Chinandega)
Lázaro Blanco RHP (Chinandega)
Alay Lago IF (Tren del Norte)
*Cuban-American
**Invited to Camp