Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com shares the inside info ...
Tomas defected from Cuba in June and was cleared by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control last week to seek employment in this country. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe heard from an international scout on Sunday that the bidding could top $100 million. Cafardo also expects the Phillies will “go hard on him” despite the lofty price tag.
A huge turnout of scouts from nearly every team in baseball is expected in the Dominican Republic on Sunday for the unveiling of the latest Cuban defector, slugging outfielder Yasmani Tomas.
You can bet the Phillies will be at the workout. They are in need of a middle-of-the-order bat and outfield help. Sources say the Phillies have legitimate interest in Tomas, a 23-year-old corner outfielder with big power.
Tomas defected from Cuba in June and was cleared by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control last week to seek employment in this country. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe heard from an international scout on Sunday that the bidding could top $100 million. Cafardo also expects the Phillies will “go hard on him” despite the lofty price tag.
Castillo batted .301/.333/.580 with 16 home runs across 69 games as a 20-year-old in Cuba’s Serie Nacional back in 2011 and was a standout for Cuba’s national team during the 2013 World Baseball Classic.