With the transactions in recent days which includes Andy Ibáñez (Detroit) and Adolis García (Texas) being non-tendered by their teams, these movements by their ballclubs changed the face of Cubans on 40-man rosters in Major League Baseball.
Yandy Díaz returns to Tampa Bay after another great season with the lumber. Díaz has become one of the most consistent hitter of Cuban lineage on the grand stage. As per expert the Cuban’s eye at the plate is one of the best eyes in the batters box. At a 12 million dollar salary the slugger is definitely a bargain, especially after slashing .300/.366/.482/.848 and posting a 3.4 WAR.
Aroldis Chapman will be back in Boston’s bullpen after another dominant season on the hill and another Reliever of the Year Award on the mantle. Chapman led all relievers with a 3.5 WAR, while also saving 30 games for the ninth time in his career and posted a 1.17 earned run average. The left-hander has a good shot at reaching 400 saves this upcoming season.
Cuban-American Zach Neto is the future for the Antilleans on the grand stage. Coming off back-to-back 20-20 seasons their is a huge upside here. Neto is also a plus defender at shortstop and has stated his interest in representing the island in the upcoming World Baseball Classic upgrading the position for the team in tournament.
Luis Danys Morales made his a debut in the big leagues last season and looks like a future top starter for the Athletics. In 48 ⅔innings pitched the right-hander posted a 4-3 record, 3.14 earned run average and fanned 43 batters over that span. Morales looks like the future for Cuba on the mound for the upcoming years in the majors.
Look for bounce back seasons from Luis Robert (Whitesox) and Yordan Álvarez (Astros) and also another dominant season from Adrián Morejón (Padres), another dominant left-handed reliever in the big leagues.
After all the moves this past week, here are all the Cubans on 40-man rosters in MLB:
Arizona:
C Adrian Del Castillo*
OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr
Athletics:
RHP Luis Danys Morales
Atlanta:
RHP Daysbel Hernández
RHP Alek Manoah
Baltimore:
Yennier Cano
Anthony Núñez*
Boston:
Aroldis Chapman
Triston Casas*
Romy González*
Chicago White Sox:
Edgar Quero
Luis Robert
Miguel Vargas
Bryan Ramos
Cincinnati:
Yosver Zulueta
Sal Stewart
Cleveland:
Franco Alemán
Colorado:
Yanquiel Fernández
Houston:
Yordan Álvarez
Kansas City:
Dairon Blanco
LA Angels:
Jorge Soler
Víctor Mederos
Zach Neto*
LA Dodgers:
Andy Pagés
Miami:
Víctor Mesa Jr
Milwaukee:
Carlos Rodríguez*
Minnesota:
Kendry Rojas
NY Yankees:
Carlos Rodón*
JC Escarra*
Philadelphia:
Nick Castellanos*
Pittsburgh:
Johan Oviedo
San Diego:
Adrián Morejón
Seattle:
Randy Arozarena
St. Louis:
Nolan Arenado
Ryan Fernández*
César Prieto
Tampa Bay:
Nick Fortes*
Yandy Díaz
Toronto:
Lázaro Estrada
Yariel Rodríguez
Washington:
Orlando Ribalta