Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reported earlier this week that Scott Boras, agent of Cuban infielder and highly sought after prospect Alexander Guerrero, expects his client to be signed to a major league team soon.
Boras believes, according to Hernandez, that Guerrero will be signed before the Dominican League’s mid-October start, leaving just a few weeks for the few teams in serious contention to finish courting the 26-year-old projected second baseman. There were whispers both in July and earlier in September that the Los Angeles Dodgers had snagged one of the biggest Cuban free agents on the market, but both times the rumors turned out to be false.
Nevertheless, conventional wisdom certainly puts the Dodgers as one of the frontrunners to sign Guerrero. With two other young Cubans already on the team in newly acquired pitcher Onelki Garcia and breakout phenom Yasiel Puig, Guerrero would likely fit right in if and when he eventually makes the MLB squad.
The most attractive part of signing Guerrero is his middle infield talent. Dodgers blogger Chad Moriyama reports that Guerrero was a standout player in the Cuban National Series as Guerrero has quite a bit of pop in his bat and has decent defensive abilities which make him a perfect fit for second base. With Mark Ellis having turned 36 this year, his .264 batting average is impressive, but could certainly be better.
With no clear replacement for Ellis coming up anytime soon from the farm system, the Dodgers would love to land Guerrero. If they do, the team’s management can expect an even more deadly batting lineup. That is a scary thought considering the damage the Boys in Blue can already do.
Thanks for reading! I would love to read your thoughts on Guerrero and if and where he would fit in the Dodgers’ system, so please leave a comment below.
Isaac Comelli is a Los Angeles Dodgers writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @IsaacComelli, “Like” him on Facebook or follow him on Google.
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