A fan at SoxFest asked GM Kenny Williams about the possibility of the White Sox signing two Cuban defectors, Yasser Gomez & Yadel Marti. Jaime Torres represents both players, he also represents current White Sox Cubans, Jose Contreras, Alexei Ramirez, & Dayan Viciedo. Reportedly Alexei took less money to sign on the Southside of Chicago, because Manager Ozzie Guillen speaks Spanish. Also both defectors would feel right at home, with three other Cubans already on the team.
Both Gomez & Marti played for Industriales, Cuba’s top team, they want to play for a winner, they mentioned the Yankees, but they also mentioned the White Sox. Gomez, 28, is a lefthanded hitting centerfielder, and has a career .331 batting average. Marti, 29, has a career 3.23 ERA, with 67 victories. The righty Yadel was the best of Cuba’s pitchers in the 2006 WBC, 1-0, 2 saves, and led the tournament with a 0.00 ERA over 12 2/3 innings pitched.
A scout who has seen both pitch internationally, believes they are both major league ready. In true Kenny Williams fashion, he did not tip his hand, when asked about picking up these talented Cuban stars, but you have to know, he’s salivating at the thought.