After recently being declared a free agent by Major League Baseball, Cuban right-hander Yasiel Sierra's market is starting to develop.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported the Miami Marlins are among the teams that will pursue Sierra, and his deal is expected to eclipse the $27 million, seven-year deal the Cincinnati Reds gave to Raisel Iglesias in June 2014.
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Examining Sierra's Potential
Saturday, Jan. 9
Major League Baseball declared Sierra a free agent on Dec. 28, allowing him to sign with any team of his choosing. He's going to generate additional intrigue from teams because his age (25) and experience in Cuban professional leagues make him exempt from MLB's international spending rules.
According to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com, Sierra dazzled in an exhibition last October and has the stuff and potential to pitch in the big leagues next season:
Most scouts believe Sierra can help a Major League team next season. He could command a contract comparable to the seven-year, $27 million deal the Reds awarded Cuban starting pitcher Raisel Iglesias last summer and the four-year, $32 million deal starter Jose Contreras signed with the Yankees in 2002.
Ben Badler of Baseball America (per Mike Axisa of CBS Sports) noted Sierra throws a "lively fastball that sat 91-94 mph in Cuba and touched 96." He also noted the young fireballer mixes in a slider that is above average at its best and a changeup but does knock him for "poor command and pitchability."
Sierra's Cuba National Series stats aren't impressive, with Baseball-Reference.com showing he had a 6.10 ERA with 55 strikeouts and 31 walks in 62 innings for Holguin in 2014.
Even with those numbers, Sierra's combination of a power arm and inexpensive price tag compared to the average free-agent pitcher will make him an attractive option. There's going to be a lot of risk involved with any deal he signs, but the potential reward will be high.
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