Originally posted by deaccat
View Post
I heard that Otani has an agreement w his Japan club that he can asked to be posted at any time. I also heard that he's always intended to spend a few years in Japan before coming over and while it's uncertain how long "a few" years is it sounds like he may be ready after about 5 years in, maybe even 4. This is his 3rd Japan season so I would expect him over after 2016 or 2017. He's doing great in Japan (1.66 ERA 88 K's in 70.7 IP) and may end up being as highly regarded as Darvish was. Where he is on the list is about where Darvish was shortly before he was posted, and a 2016-17 MLB appearance is soon enough for roto players to start grabbing him now. I've already grabbed him in the 1 keeper league I'm in where he is eligible. He also is a 2-way player, often playing the OF when he's not pitching. It will be very interesting whether or not his MLB club will let him continue to be a 2-way guy.
Despaigne moved back to about where he had been before because of increasing evidence that more and more Cuban players may be coming over. He was moved off the list when I found out that his family are Communist party members and thought to be unlikely to defect, and also because he started playing in Japan and thus was earning much more money than he was making in Cuba. Now, w the US trying to work towards lifting the economic embargo, and the recent decisions by the Cuban Gov't to let some players voluntarily leave Cuba to play in the US, like Moncada, it appears much more possible that even stars who were not thought to be candidates to come over may do so now. The recent events w the Gourriel brothers also are interesting re: this. The family of Yuniesky and Lourdes Gourriel also are Communist party members and thought to be very loyal to the Cuban gov't and not interested in coming over for that reason. They were 2 of the players being allowed to play in Japan, but this year they failed to report and their Japanese clubs have prevented them from playing at all this year, altho I think they both are still under contract. The reasons for their delinquency seem to be unclear, but one could speculate that this makes them more likely to come to the US, especially Lourdes who is still only 22 y/o. So for now, my perception is that it may be worth grabbing a guy like Despaigne who still is one of the very top players in Cuba and still in his prime at 29 y/o. I have him in one of my leagues.
Comment