Comments on: The Argument for the Jays to Sign Cuban Leonys Martin

By: BB

BB — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 05:32:36 +0000

Are you serious? You let some random commenter browbeat you into editing the article and title?

Leonys Martin, like Yunel Escobar and Adeiny Hechavarria and hundreds of others, is a Cuban defector. End of story. Tell the Fidel lovers and P.C. whiners to go to hell.

By: Mat Germain

Mat Germain — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 18:08:33 +0000

Who’s making any assertions? All I did was to gather what we do know about him from the most renowned experts in the prospect world and made a case that he could make sense as a Jays prospect.

What in the world could be wrong with that?

Thanks for the comment Steve, but truthfully, I don’t understand why you feel the need to attack this post. It doesn’t make sense whatsoever and is really unproductive.

If you don’t want to gain any additional information about prospects or to ponder about the fun things in the baseball world, feel free to read articles about what has happened – in places such as newspapers – instead of Jays Journal – because what we do here is different and more in-depth coverage of the Jays. Plain and simple. If it’s not for you, then we’d like to thank you for your time and hope that you’ll come around to the value in our posts in the future.

Btw, we’re not arguing, we’re making a case, and those are two totally different things.

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 17:34:50 +0000

It’s absolutely idiotic to try making a claim of whether the Jays should sign this kid or not until more reports on him surface…

So far he could be anywhere from being an old mediocre outfield prospect to a 20 million dollar bonus baby type potential…

My point is, who knows? It’s like arguing over who makes the best coffee in the year 3112, either it MarsBucks or Gorden Shumway’s Mocha Cafe from the planet MalMac.. We don’t know enough facts to makes any sort of assertions….

By: Mat Germain

Mat Germain — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:49:37 +0000

It could be, but you have to look at this option in the same way as the Adeiny Hechavarria signing. The reason the Jays were willing to pay more than $10 million for him is due to many reasons. First, they forego many years of his development and the initial bonus someone with his skills would ask for, so there’s a few million. Then, you also have to look at the fact that if they’re correct in assessing the player, they’re essentially buying another 1st round pick that they’ll have under control for many years to come. How much money is that worth? Instead of having to go out and grab a top of the order FA CF, that is.

Also, the 2 amounts (international and draft) are amounts that have to be authorized by Rogers either way. So, as long as they’re willing to pay the amount without reducing the ability to grab other players, it’s a good addition in depth and talent. (imo)

By: Rob Bott

Rob Bott — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:28:39 +0000

Also, don’t you have to look at that money being put into the draft possibly to pay over slot, is there not likely some player who falls to the Jays at 21 or 35 that will want higher slot money and maybe worth it more than Martin?

By: Mat Germain

Mat Germain — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:08:13 +0000

I would never want to make things political on this site, or any other. However, I would indicate that when you are forced to “sneak” out of the country due to its political system, you are in fact defecting.

Out of respect to all Cubans, I did take “Defector” out of the title and out of the piece.

By: theo adorno

theo adorno — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:59:46 +0000

Cuban national may work. “Defector” is a thinly veiled attack on the Cuban social and economic system.

By: Jays Journal: Leonys Martin, Richard Thon, Spring Notes, and Links « Jays Journal | A Toronto Blue Jays Blog

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 12:05:38 +0000

[...] that brings more sense to my argument for the Jays to sign Martin and settles some minds in terms of where his talent sits at this point as compared to Jays [...]

By: mathesond

mathesond — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 22:18:48 +0000

My only nit-pick is that I didn’t read what position he played until the end of the Baseball America excerpt. As for good field/no power CF? Sounds a bit like Juan Pierre, hopefully with a better arm. Still not sure I’d make him a top priority, but I can understand why selected brass would want to check him out.

By: George

George — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:48:26 +0000

IMHO, if you want a light hitting 4th outfielder with some speed and a good arm, Darin comes much cheaper, and would likely fit in just as well as Martin.