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12-12-2004, 08:35 AM
ANAHEIM -- Everyone expected the Angels, under owner Arte Moreno, to be one of the major players this offseason, be it signing an elite free agent such as Carlos Beltran, trading for an All-Star like Randy Johnson or even signing their top draft pick, Jered Weaver.
All that could still happen. But the club's first big splash of the Hot Stove season came from an entirely different source.
The Angels and Cuban defector Kendry Morales, a power-hitting youngster described by some baseball observers as the best position player to come out of his country in decades, agreed Wednesday to terms on a six-year Major League contract.
Morales is a 21-year-old switch-hitting corner infielder/outfielder currently stationed in the Dominican Republic. The Angels think Morales is ready for the Majors right now.
"In my opinion, he is," Angels scouting director Eddie Bane, who has watched Morales for years, said in a conference call.
Bane added that "we've chased Kendry since he was 16 because we knew what a good hitter he was."
When he was 19, Morales not only was the first teenager to play for Cuba's potent national team since third baseman Omar Linares in the 1980s, he was its cleaup hitter.
Morales, who was set to begin play for Estrella Del Oriente in the Dominican Winter League on Wednesday night, was "elated and ecstatic" when told of the deal, his agent, David Valdes, said by telephone from South Florida.
The Angels said in a news release that "the agreement is conditional upon Morales, as a Cuban national, receiving clearance to enter into a contract with the Angels from the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control."
But Valdes stressed that he has gone through this process before with other Cuban athletes, and that Morales' clearance should come quickly. "It won't take very long," Valdes said.
Morales has already passed his Angels physical (taken in the Dominican Republic), general manager Bill Stoneman said, so soon they'll be able to focus their full attention on where he will play.
Complete coverage >
The Angels already appear set at the corner infield and outfield positions next season. "Well, we also have a DH spot open," said Stoneman, who admitted he has not seen a whole lot of Morales. "Anything can happen."
Stoneman said Morales' deal will be only a part of what the Angels plan to do in preparing for the 2005 season and that they will attempt to add other players via free agency or otherwise. He previously stated that their priorities are starting pitching and center field.
"We operate under a budget, and certainly we've allocated some of it to Kendry Morales," Stoneman said.
He also said the Angels will still try to sign Weaver, their highly touted No. 1 pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft who reportedly is seeking a lucrative contract under the direction of agent Scott Boras.
Financial details of Morales' agreement were not disclosed, although a source with knowledge of the deal said it included a signing bonus of several million dollars.
Morales was suspended by Cuban authorities last December after they suspected he was planning to defect. He did so in early June, arriving in Miami by boat. Major League Baseball declared him a free agent late in the 2004 season, setting the wheels in motion for a number of teams to bid on his services. Among the clubs with reported interested were New York's Mets and Yankees.
Because of his problems in Cuba, Morales has not played much organized ball of late, though Stoneman said completing the Winter League season should leave him in good stead heading into Spring Training. Two years ago, in his last full season in the Cuban League, Morales hit .324 with 21 homers and 82 RBIs for Havana's Industrialists, setting seven rookie records along the way.
He hadn't played Winter Ball before Wednesday because of fear of injury. Now, "he's getting at-bats, facing great competition," Valdes said. "The next step is to get in shape, compete in Spring Training."
One of Estrella's coaches is Charlie Romero, who runs the Angels' academy in San Pedro in the Dominican Republic, Stoneman said. That should help him learn more about the club. But apparently Morales already is familiar with the Angels.
"He knew who was on our club," said Bane, part of the Angels' contingent that recently spent a week with Morales in the Dominican Republic. "He knew about Vladimir [Guerrero]. He knew about Mr. Moreno. And it wasn't from his agent or adviser. He knew the parameters here, and it was important to him."
The Angels have a large group of Latinos in their organization, including Moreno. And while Valdes said that played a part in Morales' decision, "it's only a part of it," he said. Valdes added that Morales also knows that Moreno is committed to winning.
Morales doesn't speak much English right now, but it's a priority for him," according to Valdes. "He knows he has to jump on that," the agent said.
All parties agree that will only make his acclimation to the United States that much easier -- he has no family here, Bane said -- which in turn will make his transition to the Major Leagues that much smoother.
And that's what he wants to do more than anything -- play baseball.
"It was a tough time for him in Cuba," Valdes said. "He just loves to play the game. They took away his life. And now he is realizing his dream of getting a Major League contract. He is elated."
Pitchers Rolando Arrojo, Danys Baez, Jose Contreras, Adrian Hernandez, Livan Hernandez, Orlando Hernandez, Vladimir Nunez, Eddie Oropesa and Michael Tejera, as well as shortstop Rey Ordonez, are among Major Leaguers who defected from Cuba in the last 15 years.
I dont know much about this kid but im lookin for him to be their startin 3B and make an impact in fantasy leagues.. Hes been scouted since hes 16 so he must be doing somthin right.
All that could still happen. But the club's first big splash of the Hot Stove season came from an entirely different source.
The Angels and Cuban defector Kendry Morales, a power-hitting youngster described by some baseball observers as the best position player to come out of his country in decades, agreed Wednesday to terms on a six-year Major League contract.
Morales is a 21-year-old switch-hitting corner infielder/outfielder currently stationed in the Dominican Republic. The Angels think Morales is ready for the Majors right now.
"In my opinion, he is," Angels scouting director Eddie Bane, who has watched Morales for years, said in a conference call.
Bane added that "we've chased Kendry since he was 16 because we knew what a good hitter he was."
When he was 19, Morales not only was the first teenager to play for Cuba's potent national team since third baseman Omar Linares in the 1980s, he was its cleaup hitter.
Morales, who was set to begin play for Estrella Del Oriente in the Dominican Winter League on Wednesday night, was "elated and ecstatic" when told of the deal, his agent, David Valdes, said by telephone from South Florida.
The Angels said in a news release that "the agreement is conditional upon Morales, as a Cuban national, receiving clearance to enter into a contract with the Angels from the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control."
But Valdes stressed that he has gone through this process before with other Cuban athletes, and that Morales' clearance should come quickly. "It won't take very long," Valdes said.
Morales has already passed his Angels physical (taken in the Dominican Republic), general manager Bill Stoneman said, so soon they'll be able to focus their full attention on where he will play.
Complete coverage >
The Angels already appear set at the corner infield and outfield positions next season. "Well, we also have a DH spot open," said Stoneman, who admitted he has not seen a whole lot of Morales. "Anything can happen."
Stoneman said Morales' deal will be only a part of what the Angels plan to do in preparing for the 2005 season and that they will attempt to add other players via free agency or otherwise. He previously stated that their priorities are starting pitching and center field.
"We operate under a budget, and certainly we've allocated some of it to Kendry Morales," Stoneman said.
He also said the Angels will still try to sign Weaver, their highly touted No. 1 pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft who reportedly is seeking a lucrative contract under the direction of agent Scott Boras.
Financial details of Morales' agreement were not disclosed, although a source with knowledge of the deal said it included a signing bonus of several million dollars.
Morales was suspended by Cuban authorities last December after they suspected he was planning to defect. He did so in early June, arriving in Miami by boat. Major League Baseball declared him a free agent late in the 2004 season, setting the wheels in motion for a number of teams to bid on his services. Among the clubs with reported interested were New York's Mets and Yankees.
Because of his problems in Cuba, Morales has not played much organized ball of late, though Stoneman said completing the Winter League season should leave him in good stead heading into Spring Training. Two years ago, in his last full season in the Cuban League, Morales hit .324 with 21 homers and 82 RBIs for Havana's Industrialists, setting seven rookie records along the way.
He hadn't played Winter Ball before Wednesday because of fear of injury. Now, "he's getting at-bats, facing great competition," Valdes said. "The next step is to get in shape, compete in Spring Training."
One of Estrella's coaches is Charlie Romero, who runs the Angels' academy in San Pedro in the Dominican Republic, Stoneman said. That should help him learn more about the club. But apparently Morales already is familiar with the Angels.
"He knew who was on our club," said Bane, part of the Angels' contingent that recently spent a week with Morales in the Dominican Republic. "He knew about Vladimir [Guerrero]. He knew about Mr. Moreno. And it wasn't from his agent or adviser. He knew the parameters here, and it was important to him."
The Angels have a large group of Latinos in their organization, including Moreno. And while Valdes said that played a part in Morales' decision, "it's only a part of it," he said. Valdes added that Morales also knows that Moreno is committed to winning.
Morales doesn't speak much English right now, but it's a priority for him," according to Valdes. "He knows he has to jump on that," the agent said.
All parties agree that will only make his acclimation to the United States that much easier -- he has no family here, Bane said -- which in turn will make his transition to the Major Leagues that much smoother.
And that's what he wants to do more than anything -- play baseball.
"It was a tough time for him in Cuba," Valdes said. "He just loves to play the game. They took away his life. And now he is realizing his dream of getting a Major League contract. He is elated."
Pitchers Rolando Arrojo, Danys Baez, Jose Contreras, Adrian Hernandez, Livan Hernandez, Orlando Hernandez, Vladimir Nunez, Eddie Oropesa and Michael Tejera, as well as shortstop Rey Ordonez, are among Major Leaguers who defected from Cuba in the last 15 years.
I dont know much about this kid but im lookin for him to be their startin 3B and make an impact in fantasy leagues.. Hes been scouted since hes 16 so he must be doing somthin right.