The Landing of the Granma: Recent Cuban Imports

theapportioner

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SoSH Member
Jun 9, 2006
5,069
Since their arrival, Chapman, Cespedes, Puig, and Abreu have put up the following numbers:
 
Chapman (26)
6 years, $30.25 million with multiple bonuses ($5m AAV)
2010     13.1 IP     K/9 12.8     BB/9 3.4     ERA 2.03     FIP 1.35     WAR 0.6 (~3m)
2011     50.0 IP     K/9 12.8     BB/9 7.4     ERA 3.60     FIP 3.29     WAR 0.4 (~2m)
2012     71.2 IP     K/9 15.3     BB/9 2.9     ERA 1.51     FIP 1.55     WAR 3.3 (~16.5m)
2013     63.2 IP     K/9 15.3     BB/9 4.1     ERA 2.54     FIP 2.47     WAR 1.6 (~8m)
2014     44.1 IP     K/9 17.7     BB/9 3.9     ERA 2.44     FIP 0.85     WAR 2.3 (~11.5m)
 
Cespedes (28)
4 years, $36 million      ($8m AAV)
2012     .292/.356/.505          ISO .214     WAR 2.9 (~15m)
2013     .240/.292/.444          ISO .202     WAR 2.3 (~11.5m)
2014     .261/.302/.463          ISO .202     WAR 3.5 (~17.5m)
 
Puig (23)
7 years, $42 million      ($6m AAV)
2013     .319/.391/.534          ISO .215     WAR 4.0 (~20m)
2014     .296/.381/.483          ISO .188     WAR 4.2 (~21m)
 
Abreu (27)
6 years, $68 million      ($11.3m AAV)
2014     .324/.385/.605          ISO .282     WAR 4.9 (~25m)
 
Castillo (27)
7 years, $72.5 million   ($10.4m AAV)
2014     TBD
 
 
Clearly we're starting to see contracts increasing to reflect the successes of these Cuban players. But it is remarkable just how much of a bargain MLB teams have gotten so far. Chapman has already earned 1.5x his base contract. Cespedes has earned 1.2x his contract with over 1 year left. Puig has basically earned his contract with 5 years left! Abreu is already at about 37% of his contract with 5 years left. 
 
We will see with Castillo, but if he can stay healthy while providing plus CF defense and average offense (15th CF this year, Jon Jay, has a WAR of 2.7), he'll be well worth his contract by its end. So even with the increasing contracts, it still seems like there's a lot of room for bargains yet.
 

axx

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SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
8,126
I'm rather skeptical of those WAR/dollar amounts, but it does seem like MLB is doing better in Cuba getting productive players compared to Japan.