Monday, March 9, 2015

Yadier Alvarez Establishes Residency in Haiti


The latest pitcher to defect from Cuba and head over to the major leagues is named Yadier Alvarez and he has taken the next step in his dream to play in the United States. Alvarez, who will turn 20 years old in September, has established residency in Haiti this week and may have now found a loophole to sign with teams during this international signing period if he so chooses.

Alvarez actually missed the deadline to register for this signing period because he was still in Cuba at the time as the deadline passed on May 15, 2014 and looks like to be eligible for the 2015-2016 signing period. Alvarez could conceivably use the loophole he found and attempt to become eligible this time around to keep teams like the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Los Angeles Angels and the Arizona Diamondbacks in the running for his services.

Alvarez is said to be seeking a waiver to avoid the lengthy delay through MLB's rule that states that players may seek a waiver with "a compelling justification for his failure to register." I call being under the communist rule of a Cuban dictator a pretty compelling justification but that's just me. For what it's worth MLB had yet to grant a Cuban player this waiver but there has to be a first time for everything and maybe this first time can work out in the Yankees favor for once.

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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)