Hector Olivera: The Best Cuban Prospect You Haven’t Heard of
Aug 7, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; The glove and hat of Oakland Athletics left fielder Yoenis Cespedes sits in the dugout during a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. The Reds won 6-5. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Yoan Moncada and Yasmany Tomas have gotten the most press this winter as far as Cuban imports go.
Tomas signed a rather large deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Moncada is not eligible to sign with an American team yet. However the New York Yankees appear to be the favorites in the bidding for the 19-year old infielder.
There is one more Cuban free agent who teams aren’t lining up to see play, but will make a bigger impact now than Moncada and is thought of to be better than Tomas.
His name is Hector Olivera, the best Cuban prospect you haven’t heard of, and he might become the newest Oakland Athletic.
If you have not heard any buzz surrounding Olivera, do not feel ashamed. His potential signing in the United States has not been very newsworthy.
So who is he?
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Olivera is a 29-year old middle-infielder with legitimate skills as a hitter, but has as many question marks as he does strengths.
He has a power and speed combination that can make him a better all around player than Tomas, and has the age and experience that should allow him to step right into the major leagues and contribute immediately, unlike other Cuban stars Yasiel Puig and Jorge Soler when they were signed by their respective teams.
The biggest unknown about Olivera is his health.
He missed an entire season spanning 2012-2013 because of a blood disorder revealed by the Cuban press as thrombosis. That paired with his production and playing time decline during the 2013-2014 season only add to risk involved with signing him.
He earned less than 300 plate appearances, second lowest of his career, and most of them at designated hitter during the ‘13-’14 season.
Still, he has the skills to turn into an elite talent at a premium position.
In his “down” year he still batted .316/.412/.474 with seven home runs, 38 walks and 25 strikeouts. He has batted .316 or better, with 10 or more home runs, and a .391 OBP or better in every season since 2008.
While on the 2010 World Cup team with Cuban stars such as Yoenis Cespedes, Jose Abreu, and Leonys Martin he earned tournament MVP honors.
Why does signing a Cuban who will be 30 by the time the season starts makes sense for Oakland?
His health issues and recent decline in numbers, plus limited upside due to age would keep him within the Athletics’ budget. He could be had for somewhere in the $6 million-per-year range, giving the A’s a chance to win a bidding war with the cash they saved from trades this winter.
During an interview with Fangraphs’ Eno Sarris, assistant general manager David Forst alluded to the idea that the A’s are waiting for other teams to run out of budget space and swoop in on international talent, similar to their signing of Cespedes in the winter of 2012.
The A’s have a longer history with international signings or attempted signings than Cespedes. In 2008 Michael Ynoa was inked to a $4.25 million deal, and they were in on Cincinatti Reds Closer Aroldis Chapman and Seattle Mariners starter Hisashi Iwakuma, even winning the posting bidding for Iwakuma a year before he signed with Seattle.
Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The A’s also have Daniel Robertson and Franklin Barreto in the low minors. Both could be every day major leaguers middle infielders by 2017, making a three or four year commitment to Olivera a possibility to bridge that gap.
Olivera is the low-risk, high-reward type of player that has made Oakland very successful in the last few years.
His medical history and age could keep other teams focused on the long-term potential of Moncada or other Cuban infielder Jose Fernandez rather than the impact Olivera can make now.
Olivera’s first open showcase for American teams will be held on January 21st and 22nd at the San Francisco Giants’ facility in the Dominican Republic.