In the first Cuban lottery the stakes were enormous, and it came down to really only the Yankees or Red Sox, with outside shots of the Cubs or Angels.  Jose Contreras was thought to be an immediate front line starter for a Major League Team.  Millions and millions of dollars later, Contreras was a Yankee.  Years later, Jose has had his ups, his downs, and his way way downs, and his latest escapades involved him being traded for a Triple-A player on the last day of the waiver trade deadline.  So needless to say, he wasn't exactly what the Yankees wished for.

Now it's time for the Aroldis Chapman chapter.  Similar situation as Contreras.  He's supposed to be a flame-thrower who can come in to the majors and make an impact this year.  The Yankees and Red Sox are again a the front of the chase, but this time the Cubs, Angels, Mariners, Braves, and White Sox are in the running as well.  The Cubs and Angels make sense, as they may have the money to pull it off.  The Mariners have defined themselves as an internationally friendly team.  And then there's the Braves and the White Sox.  The "Cuban friendly" teams.  With Alexei Ramirez, Dayan Viciedo, and Jose Contreras in the Sox organization in the last year, and Yunel Escobar with the Braves, these teams become popular places for Cuban players to look.

That's where Kenny Williams comes in.  Kenny has done a good job making his team "Cuban friendly," but I think now is the time to be "Cuban dominant."  The difference is that right now the Sox are just "in the discussions," it could be "he'll go to the White Sox, unless they decide to pass."  Aroldis Chapman is that ticket.  The Sox need to do everything they can to get this guy in their organization.  Conjure up as much money as possible, get him in contact with Alexei, Dayan, and even Contreras or Orlando Hernandez.  Sell the team, not the price.

Sell the idea that we are the place to be if you are a Cuban defector.  Sell the fact that we've done it before, and the players have had success.  Sell your manager.  Sell the difference in lifestyle between New York or Boston, and "Cuban friendly" Chicago.  "We don't have the money you may be looking for, but we have everything else you can wish for."  That's the pitch.

And if it's successful, then the future is boundless.  Cuba becomes a quadruple-A organization for the Sox.  Every Cuban player will look first to Chicago, then to the other 29 teams.  The Yadel Marti's and Yasser Gomez's have no choice but to try their hand with the Sox.  The Sox would have first pickings on each and every Cuban player who wants to enter the world of American baseball.  It becomes Sox first, then the rest of the league.  Tell me that wouldn't be nice.

And I think it's attainable.  The seeds are in place, now let's make the splash and seal the deal.

Photos compliments of blogs.suntimes.com and pictures.gi.zimbio.com

Comments (0)

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

Add Comment