It is apparently easy to deduce what will happen this year with the two veteran Dominican players, Robinson Canó and Albert Pujols. It is certainly a valid concern.
Canó has been playing with the New York Mets, he has two more years on his contract, 2022 and 2023, both for US$22 million guaranteed. That is to say that if Canó has been able to save a few bucks through his career (in salaries he has earned US$238 million so far) he will be able to add more than 40 million to it in the next 24 months.
The question is will he get enough playing time to stay in manager Buck Showalter’s lineup? That is a big question.
It’s all about his performance and the abundance of talent on the Mets. The second baseman selected by Showalter is a relatively young player, Jeff McNeil, who can play infield and outfield. But the manager said he will be his second baseman and has relegated Cano to an occasional DH role.
Until last night, the Mets had played 17 games (12-5 record), Cano has appeared in 10 games, a little more than half, especially in the first two weeks. His performance has been 34-7, batting .206, one home run, 3 RBIs, .250 OBP and no extra-base hits. He has received 2 walks and 9 strikeouts.
If Cano has a good offense the first two months, he could be part of the team’s plans for the entire year. Otherwise, the club could find a way out for him by exchanging him for a couple of rookies for which he would have to assume the 44 million remaining on his contract. And since the Mets have tremendous pitching this year they will be able to aspire to win the Division and that harms the Dominican. In addition, Showalter is a “dictator” manager, with heavy games.
On Pujols, 42, the matter seems simpler. Manager Oliver Mármol uses him only as a DH against left-handed pitching and things are smoother that way. In the Cardinals there is also a winning atmosphere, a 9-5 record, leaders of the Central Division.
Of St. Louis’ 14 games, Pujols has appeared in 8 with 26 at-bats, 2 home runs and 4 RBIs. With him they could have more patience, but it will also depend on his performance. In the middle of the year they could have some negative consideration with him.
JEREMYMANIA: A report says that there is already Jeremymania in Houston. It is the idolatry that quickly takes space in the fans with the young Dominican Jeremy Peña, Carlos Correa’s substitute at shortstop. That has been born from the beginning, but it grew last Sunday when he decided with a two-run homer, the 8-7 victory over Toronto in the 10th inning. Toronto entered the tenth winning 7-6 and in the box its star reliever Jordan Romano and it was to this man that Peña hit his shot. It was Romano’s first home run allowed this season and also his first save miss after 8 hits.
MOVEMENTS: The referee Angel Hernández, Cuban, is in the gossip of the day in the big leagues as a “bad singer”. The players say it and the journalists support them. Hernández has worked in MLB since 2000. Kansas City pitcher Domingo Tapia was placed for assignment. Detroit sent pitchers Angel de Jesús and Rony García to triple-A. San Diego brought up catcher Luis Campusano.
THE CUBANS: A WinterballData note of the date cites the Cuban baseball players who have played the most games in Lidom. I don’t know what the data is about, but here it goes so that you remember the old protagonists of Chosen, Licey and Águilas from the 60s and 70s.
Tito Fuentes is first with 371, catcher Brayan Peña 338, active pitcher Raul Valdes 206, Alejandro Crespo (from the 1950s) 169, Kendrys Morales 166, Juan Miranda 160, left-handed pitcher Francisley Bueno 126, Donell Linares 124 and Orlando McFArlane 122. Yunesky Maya must also be close to them, but their numbers in the regular, semifinal and final would have to be combined.
MONEY: It says a note that a guy named Elon Musk bought the twitter company for 44 billion dollars. How much is that in Dominican pesos?
