TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Hot Stove Report: Cuban Defector Inks Royals' Contract

December 10, 2009 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The frosty 2009 edition of Baseball's Winter Meetings closed out with Thursday's Rule 5 Draft, which lacked the Naturals-related drama of last season.

No Royals were selected in the major or minor league phase of the draft, and the Royals' one selection (LHP Edgar Osuna, from the Atlanta Braves' organization), was a major-league selection, meaning that Osuna must remain on the Royals' 25-man Major League roster or be offered back to the Braves.

Last winter, as the meetings in Las Vegas wrapped up, left-hander Gilbert De La Vara was selected by the Houston Astros in the Rule 5 Draft, catcher John Suomi was selected by the Royals in the minor league phase, and the Astros completed a trade with Kansas City, sending OF Jordan Parraz to the Royals, where he would become one of the standouts of the Naturals' 2009 squad. Suomi also played a key role for the Naturals in the first two months of '09 before moving on to Triple-A Omaha.

The biggest news coming from the Royals' farm came on Saturday, when reports came out that Kansas City was close to finalizing an agreement with highly touted free-agent left-hander Noel Arguelles on a five-year Major League contract worth about $7 million, plus incentives. The deal figures to make Arguelles one of the organization's top pitching prospects.

A defector from Cuba, the 19-year-old Arguelles and shortstop Jose Iglesias left the Cuban national team in June 2008 during a tournament in Canada. Despite a long layoff from game action, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound lefty impressed a group of approximately 100 scouts, executives and agents during a late November workout in the Dominican Republic. Iglesias signed with the Boston Red Sox in September.

According to Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan, Arguelles is due in Kansas City late this week to pass a physical, one of the elements needing completion for a contract to become finalized. There is an open roster spot on the Royals' 40-Man Roster after both first baseman Mike Jacobs and left-hander John Bale were released earlier today. Dick Kaegel, the Royals' beat reporter for MLB.com notes that even after Arguelles passes a physical, it could still take weeks for his deal to become finalized because Arguelles would have to receive the necessary travel documentation and a work permit in the United States.

Reports from Arguelles' workouts, which were attended by Royals' General Manager Dayton Moore, indicated that Arguelles possessed a fastball in the 89-to-93 mph range, a tick under the 94 MPH he was clocked at with the Cuban national team. It was noted that control of his fastball could be a concern but his command of his changeup and curveball was good. Some scouts have compared his talent to the Minnesota Twins' Francisco Liriano, who as he rose though the high minors was regarded as one of the premier southpaw pitching prospects in the game.

Arguelles would become the third prominent international free-agent to be signed by the Royals during this calendar year. Back in February they gave 16 year-old Korean catcher Jin-Ho Shin $600,000 and followed that up by giving Nicaraguan third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert, also 16 years of age, a near $1.5 million signing bonus. Both are years away from appearing for the Naturals. It has been speculated that Arguelles, on the other hand, would likely begin the 2010 season with a full-season Class-A club, possibly Wilmington, putting him one phone call away from what promises to be a prospect-laden Naturals' rotation.

More news and notes from the past two weeks...

Farm System Rankings: Baseball America has produced their post-season organizational rankings, which ranked the top five farm systems and the bottom five farm systems while separating the remaining 20 teams into #6-15 and #16-25. The Royals were grouped in the #6-15 category after a #11 ranking prior to the start of the 2009 season. The Royals will receive a more specific ranking closer to spring training, and it will be no surprise to see the organization crack the top ten for the first time in years. In 2009, a spectacular June draft saw the organization add RHP Aaron Crow and catcher Will Myers as impact talents plus some other solid later picks. Adding Arguelles to the farm won't hurt their rankings, either.

Two teams with Texas League affiliates, Houston (#30) and St. Louis (#29), found themselves in the bottom five grouping. Ranked eighth last spring, the Cardinals traded away both star power and depth in 2009 in acquiring Matt Holliday and Mark DeRosa. Houston has added solid talent in its last two first-rounders, catcher Jason Castro ('08) and Jiovanni Mier ('09), as well as '08 supplemental pick Jordan Lyles, a promising right-hander that should reach Corpus Christi this season, but the Astros' system hasn't had a single farm team produce a winning record in two years. Just as prior to the season, the Texas Rangers were noted as having the best farm system in baseball.

'Moose named to AFL All-Prospect Team: Third baseman Mike Moustakas was named this week to the All-Prospect team for the Arizona Fall League. The 21-year old Moustakas hit .267 with five homers and 19 RBI for the Surprise Rafters, ranking second on the team in RBI. Moustakas was ranked prior to the 2009 season as the Royals' top prospect and, barring an injury during spring training, is slated to start the 2010 season in Northwest Arkansas. He was also the Royals' only representative in the Fall League's Rising Stars All-Star Game.

Caribbean Report

Recently re-signed Julio Pimentel still has yet to appear in a game with his Dominican Winter League team, Toros del Este. Pimentel, working his way back from arm injuries that derailed his entire 2009 season, is teammates with former Naturals' reliever Carlos Sencion. Sencion has been unscored upon in four relief appearances, although he has only pitched two innings. Royals' reliever Robinson Tejeda, who rehabbed with the Naturals in 2009, is also with the Toros. Former Naturals' reliever Juan Abreu (Águilas Cibaeñas) has a 4.50 ERA in seven games. Perhaps most importantly, Abreu has not walked a batter in six innings.

Former Naturals' slugger Juan Richardson is making up for a lost season with his Dominican Winter team, Estrellas de Oriente. He's batting .272 with a homer and 13 RBI in 35 games. Richardson missed most of 2009 after getting injured early in the season with the Wichita Wingnuts of the independent American Association.

Several current and former Naturals are playing winter ball in Venezuela. Jose Duarte and Mario Lisson are both with Leones de Caracas. Duarte got off to a hot start, batting .340 in his first 19 games, but has cooled of late and is now batting .263 with six RBI, 20 runs scored, and five steals in 34 games. Lisson saw almost no playing time to start the season, caught fire once getting regular playing time, but has since been ice cold. Since homering in three straight games (11/18-11/20), Lisson has just four hits and three RBI in 35 at-bats. His batting average now stands at .237, and he has 21 RBI. His seven homers are second on the club to Midland backstop Raul Padron. Defensively he's seen most of his action at third base. His club Leones is the Venezuelan Winter Baseball powerhouse; they possess 16 championship titles, the most in the league. They have been slumping as of late and currently reside in second place with a 32-19 record.

Chris Nicoll was with Caribes de Anzoategui (Puerto La Cruz, Ven.) but left the team after appearing in two early season games. Manny Pina, who was on the disabled list and never suited up for the Naturals after being traded on September 3rd from the Rangers' organization, is batting .238 with two RBI in 21 at-bats for Tiburones de La Guaira (La Guaira Sharks). December is usually around the time many major leaguers join their winter league club, siphoning playing time from younger prospects.

Federico Castaneda has seen regular work with his Mexican League club, the Tomateros de Culiacan (Culiacan Tomato Growers). In 15 games he has a 3-2 record and a 3.86 ERA. He's fanned 15 and walked seven in 18 2/3 innings. He has been unscored upon in 11 of his 15 outings.

Former Naturals' utilityman Irving Falu has joined the Mayaguez Indians and unlike last season, when he received fewer than 15 at-bats the entire winter season, Falu has been playing a lot and playing well. In his first seven games with Mayaguez, he's got a .388 average in 49 at-bats and has four RBI, leading the club with 19 hits. Falu's teammate is former Naturals' shortstop Angel Sanchez. Sanchez is also playing well, batting .304 with a homer and seven RBI. The only other Royals' farmhand in Puerto Rico of note for Naturals' fans is pitcher Mario Santiago. Santiago is with Gigantes de Carolina (Carolina Giants), and has made four appearances (three starts) and has posted an 0-1 record and a 2.93 ERA in 15 1/3 innings overall. A good winter league season may help Santiago notch a spot in crowded Naturals' 2010 rotation after he spent two full years with Advanced Class-A Wilmington.

Check nwanaturals.com every two weeks for our Hot Stove Report, where we'll continue to follow Royals' minor leaguers in winter ball as well as cover other off-season baseball information that pertains to the Naturals and the Texas League.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale. The 2010 season begins on Thursday, April 8th. Visit our website, nwanaturals.com, for information on season tickets and ticket plans.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics



Texas League Stories from December 10, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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