2014 OSFM HYBRID UPDATE - V3

[a7martinez]

Re: 2014 OSFM HYBRID UPDATE - V3

Hi... Quick question. Purely out of curiosity... I hear Rusney Castillo is signing soon, chances are to a contender, making it possible that he impacts the playoff races... Will he be on the roster? Even if its the free agent pool?

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[Cliffking]

Re: 2014 OSFM HYBRID UPDATE - V3

I think I can speak for all of us working on this when I say it's coming not just soon, but very soon. Days....not weeks. That's as close to an ETA as I'm going to get, but things are progressing nicely and loose ends are being tied up.

thanks a lot

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: 2014 OSFM HYBRID UPDATE - V3

Hi... Quick question. Purely out of curiosity... I hear Rusney Castillo is signing soon, chances are to a contender, making it possible that he impacts the playoff races... Will he be on the roster? Even if its the free agent pool?

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Teeds would be the one to respond to this as he is adding CAPs as we go, but I would be absolutely shocked if Castillo plays a single out in the big leagues this year even if he were to sign today. It's unprecedented for a foreign leaguer to come over in the midst of a pennant chase and somehow contribute to a major league club. While Castillo appears talented, he would have to be insanely talented to take spot from a starting-caliber MLB player on a playoff team. I don't think there's any indication that he's that good or advanced. Certainly foreigners can be impactful as rookies, but this means after a full training camp/spring training/time to acclimate.

I agree with your larger premise though that Castillo may be a factor sooner rather than later.

[Totte]

Re: 2014 OSFM HYBRID UPDATE - V3

Teeds would be the one to respond to this as he is adding CAPs as we go, but I would be absolutely shocked if Castillo plays a single out in the big leagues this year even if he were to sign today. It's unprecedented for a foreign leaguer to come over in the midst of a pennant chase and somehow contribute to a major league club. While Castillo appears talented, he would have to be insanely talented to take spot from a starting-caliber MLB player on a playoff team. I don't think there's any indication that he's that good or advanced. Certainly foreigners can be impactful as rookies, but this means after a full training camp/spring training/time to acclimate.



I agree with your larger premise though that Castillo may be a factor sooner rather than later.

If there's time to add Castillo, he'd make a nice addition to the FA list

[a7martinez]

Re: 2014 OSFM HYBRID UPDATE - V3

I could see how it would be hard for him to play in the big leagues this year. But the contenders that are really out to get him are desperate for a bat. The tigers need an outfielder since they traded Jackson and they need a shortstop Cuz they've been hurting at the position all year since the loss of Iglesias. The Giants need a 2nd baseman Cuz they really suck at the position this year. And the Yankees... Well they need offense Bad. So while I agree that it's unprecedented that a foreign player come in the midst of a pennant chase, I also think that the teams mentioned could potentially give him an opportunity out of necessity. Supposedly the scouts that saw his workout left Way more impressed than they expected. And lastly although it's true that it wasn't immediately after but Puig made the most damage his first month in the league because the league couldn't adapt to him. He also batted . 517 in spring training. And Abreu has been hard to figure out as well, and he's been hitting Homers since the beginning. So like I said, a team desperate for that bat and speed or defense might be willing to take a shot at bringing him up September 1st.

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[hampshirestags]

Re: 2014 OSFM HYBRID UPDATE - V3

Teeds would be the one to respond to this as he is adding CAPs as we go, but I would be absolutely shocked if Castillo plays a single out in the big leagues this year even if he were to sign today. It's unprecedented for a foreign leaguer to come over in the midst of a pennant chase and somehow contribute to a major league club. While Castillo appears talented, he would have to be insanely talented to take spot from a starting-caliber MLB player on a playoff team. I don't think there's any indication that he's that good or advanced. Certainly foreigners can be impactful as rookies, but this means after a full training camp/spring training/time to acclimate.

I agree with your larger premise though that Castillo may be a factor sooner rather than later.

I think you're gonna be shocked (which is cool within itself, I love when the game surprises me). He's going to be on the 40 man and is going to have to get AB's. With MiLB call ups and playoff rosters coming into shape as we speak and the $ committed, he'll get September at-bats in the Show. His performance will dictate whether or not he makes a playoff roster but with his speed and glove, he's going to have to stink up the joint with his bat for him not to make it.

That being said, good luck getting good data on him for ratings.

[Willard76]

Re: 2014 OSFM HYBRID UPDATE - V3

I think you're gonna be shocked (which is cool within itself, I love when the game surprises me). He's going to be on the 40 man and is going to have to get AB's. With MiLB call ups and playoff rosters coming into shape as we speak and the $ committed, he'll get September at-bats in the Show. His performance will dictate whether or not he makes a playoff roster but with his speed and glove, he's going to have to stink up the joint with his bat for him not to make it.

That being said, good luck getting good data on him for ratings.

He is apparently set to sign with the Bosox - and you hit a great point on the ratings. We may discuss creating him - I may do it myself either way and stick him in the player Vault.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: 2014 OSFM HYBRID UPDATE - V3

I could see how it would be hard for him to play in the big leagues this year. But the contenders that are really out to get him are desperate for a bat. The tigers need an outfielder since they traded Jackson and they need a shortstop Cuz they've been hurting at the position all year since the loss of Iglesias. The Giants need a 2nd baseman Cuz they really suck at the position this year. And the Yankees... Well they need offense Bad. So while I agree that it's unprecedented that a foreign player come in the midst of a pennant chase, I also think that the teams mentioned could potentially give him an opportunity out of necessity. Supposedly the scouts that saw his workout left Way more impressed than they expected. And lastly although it's true that it wasn't immediately after but Puig made the most damage his first month in the league because the league couldn't adapt to him. He also batted . 517 in spring training. And Abreu has been hard to figure out as well, and he's been hitting Homers since the beginning. So like I said, a team desperate for that bat and speed or defense might be willing to take a shot at bringing him up September 1st.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

I think you're gonna be shocked (which is cool within itself, I love when the game surprises me). He's going to be on the 40 man and is going to have to get AB's. With MiLB call ups and playoff rosters coming into shape as we speak and the $ committed, he'll get September at-bats in the Show. His performance will dictate whether or not he makes a playoff roster but with his speed and glove, he's going to have to stink up the joint with his bat for him not to make it.

That being said, good luck getting good data on him for ratings.

Both good points, but there is a lot of initial investment teams put into foreign players and there is a reason why this has basically never happened. Just acclimating to a new country can be a huge deal by itself. I know Castillo has already established residence in Haiti, but just assimilating to American life and the structured tasks his team will want him to do each day will be an adjustment. There are nutrition, kinesthetics, exercise, education, and language programs that guys like Soler and Puig etc have had to go through in the offseason before they ever got started. There's so much more than "can this guy catch a baseball or hit a fastball at this point?" that goes into a lifestyle change like this. And I believe this is ultimately one of the reasons the Red Sox won the bidding--they aren't contending and can afford a slower progression. To throw a guy fresh off the plane right into the fire is just not gonna work. Sure there are big dollars invested, but I'm positive that the language in the contract can specify that Castillo does not start getting huge chunks of money until he's actually on the field, which may not be until Winter Ball and after he's had some time for cultural assimilation.

EDIT: And now I suppose Castillo has to learn the proper accent with which to say "wicked hardcore"

[Bunselpower32]

Re: 2014 OSFM HYBRID UPDATE - V3

Agreed. Professional baseball has such a steep learning curve, even for a 27 year old player. He needs a little time.

[a7martinez]

Re: 2014 OSFM HYBRID UPDATE - V3

Oh, I completely agree. I was just merely pointing the fact that it could have happen if he had gone to a contender. Mostly out of desperation to get in the playoffs, hence the examples of the giants, tigers and Yankees if they came to it. It would have been "cheaper" than trading for a bat and losing prospects, which are way more valued nowadays (case in point, why the dodgers didn't make a trade). But alas, he went to the red Sox, so his value in the pennant race this year won't matter. But yeah, my only argument was that it might have happened out of desperation for a team trying to get into the playoffs, instead of trading for a player and losing prospects. With that said, 7 years/72 million??? Is he SUPPOSED TO BE that good?

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[tonybologna]

Re: 2014 OSFM HYBRID UPDATE - V3

He is apparently set to sign with the Bosox - and you hit a great point on the ratings. We may discuss creating him - I may do it myself either way and stick him in the player Vault.

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/11392841/boston-red-sox-add-cuban-rusney-castillo

Please go ahead & add him to the Red Sox. Looks like he will see the MLB roster at some point this season. I'm just shocked they gave him this much money & not played a SINGLE game in MLB yet. Thanks!

[a7martinez]

Re: 2014 OSFM HYBRID UPDATE - V3

Meet Rusney Castillo, the Boston Red Sox's New $72.5 Million Cuban Star | Bleacher Report (via http://ble.ac/teamstream-) http://teamstre.am/1zd8dj9

Seems like he could have another great arm. Probably not as good as cespedes or puig, but still pretty strong. And with the minors 10 days away from ending their season, it looks like they think he will play in the majors this year... He needs the ABs because he hasn't played in a while and the red Sox really aren't going anywhere this year so it should be OK to bring him up. He's not a rookie that they want to delay the clock on, he's a guy they just spent 72 million for, I'm sure the red Sox want to see what he's got.

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[teeds]

Re: 2014 OSFM HYBRID UPDATE - V3

Castillo will be in, I already have some ratings for him. That said, if he's going to play affiliated ball this season the Red Sox will have to pull some strings to get him a work visa because he currently is without one. Also, from the scouting reports I've read, his arm is average at best so don't expect some Puig-like arm strength in our ratings.

[tonybologna]

Re: 2014 OSFM HYBRID UPDATE - V3

Castillo will be in, I already have some ratings for him. That said, if he's going to play affiliated ball this season the Red Sox will have to pull some strings to get him a work visa because he currently is without one. Also, from the scouting reports I've read, his arm is average at best so don't expect some Puig-like arm strength in our ratings.

From all the reports, he's expected to be with the major league team this season. That would indicate the Red Sox must know something about his Visa status. That or they are assuming things! LOL!

[hampshirestags]

Re: 2014 OSFM HYBRID UPDATE - V3

Castillo will be in, I already have some ratings for him. That said, if he's going to play affiliated ball this season the Red Sox will have to pull some strings to get him a work visa because he currently is without one. Also, from the scouting reports I've read, his arm is average at best so don't expect some Puig-like arm strength in our ratings.

I might be giving the Sox too much credit but, in my mind, you don't pay $70mm for a resource without knowing when you can use it.

Professionally, I've only ever dealt with Canadian work visas in the US, but can confirm the process goes much more smoothly and quickly when the resource has a temporary status/visa. It would not surprise me if his visa situation is handled in days, not weeks.