True Blue LA - Dodgers interested in Miguel Alfredo GonzalezWhere The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2013-07-23T02:59:58-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/42924692013-07-23T02:59:58-07:002013-07-23T02:59:58-07:00Dodgers out on Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez
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<figcaption>Dennis Grombkowski</figcaption>
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<p>The 26-year-old Cuban right-hander will not be signing with the Dodgers, according to a report from Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.</p> <p>We have reached the week that Cuban free agent right-handed pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez will reportedly sign with a major league team, but it appears that team won't be the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>. A baseball source told Ken Gurnick of MLB.com that <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130723&content_id=54440330&vkey=news_la&c_id=la">the Dodgers are no longer pursuing the pitcher</a>, who is expected to sign a contract of between four and six years per earlier reports.</p>
<p>"Speculation has persisted that the deep-pocketed Dodgers, after the success of Cuban defector <span>Yasiel Puig</span>, have offered a contract for as much as $50 million for Gonzalez, a right-hander," Gurnick wrote. "But the source insists the Dodgers are not part of the process."</p>
<p>A report by Peter Gammons of MLB Network on Sunday said <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/7/21/4542928/miguel-alfredo-gonzalez-contract-offer-dodgers">the Dodgers were prepared to offer Gonzalez as much as five years and $50 million</a>.</p>
<p>Earlier Monday, Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reported that <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/JesseSanchezMLB/status/359456506044887041">the field for Gonzalez had narrowed to five teams</a> and that the right-hander would sign this week. Sanchez also reported that <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/JesseSanchezMLB/status/359457621998190593">the price for Gonzalez had risen</a>, and noted the Dodgers, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Blue Jays</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Twins</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a> were among the teams that at some point <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/JesseSanchezMLB/status/359459722623066115">have had "serious interest" in the right-hander</a>.</p>
<p>The Dodgers, who returned to first place on Monday for the first time since April 2, have a starting rotation of <span>Clayton Kershaw</span>, <span>Zack Greinke</span>, Hyun-jin Ryu, <span>Ricky Nolasco</span>, and <span>Chris Capuano</span>. <span>Stephen Fife</span>, who beat out Capuano for a rotation spot before the All-Star break just prior to hitting the disabled list with right shoulder bursitis, threw four innings in a rehab assignment on Monday for Triple-A Albuquerque.</p>
<p>The Dodgers' reported refusal to pursue Gonzalez matches recent statements by general manager Ned Colletti downplaying the need for another starting pitcher. Perhaps the Dodgers are waiting for an impact starter to become available like <span>Cliff Lee</span> of the Phillies or <span>Yovani Gallardo</span> of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a>, someone who would start for them in a playoff series, unlike Gonzalez.</p>
<p>Or maybe the Dodgers, whose new ownership group has added nearly $700 million in player salaries in their 15 months at the helm, will continue to be used as a bargaining chip for high priced talent whether the interest is there or not.</p>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2013/7/23/4548362/miguel-alfredo-gonzalez-dodgers-outEric Stephen2013-07-21T08:48:43-07:002013-07-21T08:48:43-07:00Dodgers reportedly to offer 5/$50m for Gonzalez
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<figcaption>Dennis Grombkowski</figcaption>
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<p>The 26-year-old Cuban right-handed pitcher pitched for Cuba in the 2009 and 2011 World Cup, and the 2011 Pan-American Games.</p> <p>The latest sensation from Cuba, right-handed pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, could have a new home in Major League Baseball as early as this week. That new home could be in Los Angeles as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> are said to be the favorites to land the 26-year-old, per multiple reports.</p>
<p>The Dodgers are reportedly prepared to offer Gonzalez a five-year, $50 million contract, per both <a href="https://twitter.com/pgammo/status/358889366652850176" target="_blank">Peter Gammons of MLB.com</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/bienvenidorv/status/358957275710373888" target="_blank">Dominican reporter Bienvenido Rojas</a>. Gammons quoted a rival general manager as saying, "If (the Dodgers offer five years, $50 million to Gonzalez), he'll be a Dodger."</p>
<p>Gonzalez, who pitched in a pair of showcase games in Mexico in front of numerous scouts and MLB executives, <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/7/16/4528372/miguel-alfredo-gonzalez-rumors-dodgers-cuba" target="_blank">was cleared to sign by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control on Monday</a>.</p>
<p>The Dodgers have long been considered the favorites to land Gonzalez, who shares an agent, Jaime Torres, with outfielder <span>Yasiel Puig</span>. Torres told Enrique Rojas at ESPN Deportes on Friday <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/story/_/id/9490115/miguel-alfredo-gonzalez-drawing-interest-multiple-teams-sign-next-week-agent-says">he expected a deal for Gonzalez by this week</a>:</p>
<blockquote>"[Gonzalez] could help a team this season," Torres told ESPNDeportes.com. "[He'd] only need to go to the minor leagues a couple of weeks and make a few [starts] before debuting in the major leagues. Some of the clubs more interested were evaluating him for a long time, way before he came out of Cuba.</blockquote>
<blockquote>"The parties agree on the importance of completing an agreement soon," Torres told ESPNDeportes.com. "So [Gonzalez] can help them this year, at the end of the season and possibly the playoffs, if the team makes it."</blockquote>
<p>Because of Gonzalez's age (at least 23) and professional experience (over three years) his signing will not count against the international spending limit.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/7/21/4542928/miguel-alfredo-gonzalez-contract-offer-dodgersEric Stephen2013-07-16T09:16:13-07:002013-07-16T09:16:13-07:00Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez cleared to sign
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<figcaption>Dennis Grombkowski</figcaption>
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<p>The Cuban right-handed pitcher is expected to gain a contract rumored anywhere from $40 million to $60 million, and could sign as early as this week.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> are still looking to add pitching, and help could come from outside of Major League Baseball. Cuban right-handed pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez has been cleared by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control, per reports, and the Dodgers remain interested in the 26-year-old.</p>
<p>Gonzalez was cleared on Monday by the U.S. government, <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/JesseSanchezMLB/status/356900079493320704">per Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com</a>, who says a deal for Gonzalez could happen in the next week.</p>
<p>Several teams watched Gonzalez is a pair of outings in Mexico, and the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/6/29/4477946/miguel-alfredo-gonzalez-dodgers-cuba-showcase-tijuana">bidding for the right-hander could reach anywhere from $40 to $60 million</a>. Since Gonzalez is older than 23 and has more than three years of experience in Cuba, his signing will not count against the international spending cap.</p>
<p>"It remains unclear whether the Dodgers, or any team, will offer more than $42 million, the Dodgers' winning bid for Puig," <a target="_blank" href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-0716-all-star-notes-20130716,0,5461154.story">wrote Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times</a>. "However, other teams are wary of the Dodgers, backed by a new $8.5-billion television contract."</p>
<p>It is unknown whether or not Gonzalez would pitch for the Dodgers in 2013, though Dylan Hernandez of the Times in June <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/6/6/4403148/miguel-alfredo-gonzalez-dodgers-cuba-free-agent">spoke to a scout who said the right-hander could pitch in the majors this season</a>.</p>
<p>Here is video of Gonzalez pitching for the Tijuana Toros on June 28:</p>
<p align="center"><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Py566m8xD6M" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/7/16/4528372/miguel-alfredo-gonzalez-rumors-dodgers-cubaEric Stephen2013-06-29T12:41:04-07:002013-06-29T12:41:04-07:00Dodgers watch Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez in Tijuana
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<figcaption>Dennis Grombkowski</figcaption>
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<p>The 26-year-old could command as much as $60 million on the open market, per reports.</p> <p>With the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> already enjoying the fruits of their last foray into Cuba with the amazing first month of <span>Yasiel Puig</span>, they are said to be heavily interested in the next big thing to come out of Cuba. The Dodgers were one of several teams in Tijuana on Friday to watch Cuban pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez at his second showcase.</p>
<p>Danny Knobler <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/danny-knobler/22564820/dodgers-cubs-red-sox-others-watch-cuban-pitcher-gonzalez">of CBS Sports reported that</a> "The Dodgers are said to badly want Gonzalez," but that they are not alone in pursuit of the 26-year-old right-handed pitcher. Knobler noted that the Cubs and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a> have shown heavy interest as well.</p>
<p>There is still video available of Gonzalez's performance <a target="_blank" href="http://www.torosdetijuana.com/index.php/noticias/tvv18.html">on the Tijuana Toros' website</a>.</p>
<p>Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reported on June 21 that at Gonzalez's first showcase, a week ago, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgersnow/la-sp-dn-dodgers-miguel-alfredo-gonzalez-cuba-pitcher-20130621,0,6416096.story">the Dodgers sent three of their top scouts to watch</a>: Bob Engle, the Dodgers vice president of international scouting; Rick Ragazzo, vice president of pro scouting; and Latin American scouting coordinator Mike Tosar.</p>
<p>Knobler talked to scouts who estimated Gonzalez <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/danny-knobler/22537375/teams-lining-up-to-watch-cuban-pitcher-who-may-get-60-million">could command as much as $60 million over five years</a>. Gonzalez was told by the U.S. government that his application was received and in process, meaning he could be cleared by the U.S. Treasury and eligible to sign within a week, <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/JesseSanchezMLB/status/351026457704796161">per Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com</a>.</p>
<p>Because Gonzalez is over 23 years old and has at least three years of experience in a Cuban professional league, his signing would not be subject to the international spending cap.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/6/29/4477946/miguel-alfredo-gonzalez-dodgers-cuba-showcase-tijuanaEric Stephen2013-06-06T11:52:56-07:002013-06-06T11:52:56-07:00Dodgers interested in Cuban RHP Gonzalez
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2s2hBxtWABbMJUJrarebmBfl3dQ=/0x0:998x665/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/14319407/130262706.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dennis Grombkowski</figcaption>
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<p>Gonzalez started and won the championship game for Cuba in the 2011 World Cup.</p> <p>On the day of the start of the MLB Draft, with baseball teams adding talent in every which way they can, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> are also looking to add talent in another way as well. The Dodgers are interested in 26-year-old Cuban right-handed pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgersnow/la-sp-dn-dodgers-miguel-alfredo-gonzalez-20130606,0,5818743.story" target="_blank">per Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times</a>:</p>
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<p>Gonzalez could be declared by Major League Baseball as early as this week. Once Gonzalez becomes a free agent and is cleared by the U.S. Treasury Department to sign with American teams, he will hold a showcase for major league scouts. The showcase is expected to take place around June 20, according to a person familiar with Gonzalez’s plans.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Hernandez also spoke with a scout who believes the 26-year-old Gonzalez could pitch in the major leagues this year.</p>
<p>Gonzalez pitched for Cuba in the 2009 and <a href="http://www.baseballdecuba.com/WCup2011/ID010.html" target="_blank">2011 World Cup</a>, and the 2011 Pan-American Games. He first tried, unsuccessfully, to defect from Cuba in January 2012, <a href="http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=87007" target="_blank">per the Havana Times</a>, and was suspended from playing the remainder of the last two seasons. He successfully defected in February.</p>
<p>The Dodgers have been quite active in the international market under the new ownership group, something virtually ignored for most of Frank McCourt's ownership of the franchise. But the best part of potentially signing Gonzalez is that given Gonzalez's age (23 or older, at 26) and experience (at least three years) his signing would not count against the amateur international spending cap of $2.9 million.</p>
<p>Of course it also means that Gonzalez, as a free agent, could get expensive. But if there is one thing the Dodgers have, it's money.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2013/6/6/4403148/miguel-alfredo-gonzalez-dodgers-cuba-free-agentEric Stephen