Juan Lagares, Emilio Bonifacio, Zoilo Almonte, César Valdez, Yamaico Navarro, Junior Lake, Moisés Sierra, Marcell Ozuna and many more are part of the list of players eligible to opt for free agency in the Dominican Baseball League starting from the next February 15.
It was presented by the National Federation of Professional Baseball Players, (Fenapepro), an entity that together with Lidom established it as part of the latest agreements established by both parties.
There will be plenty of talent from the coming February 15, in all positions in a first list that will mark a milestone in Dominican baseball, in which 108 players will be available.
Several others on the list will be Orlando Calixte, Aneury Tavarez, Carlos Peguero, Lisalverto Bonilla, Jimmy Paredes, Mel Rojas Jr, Danny Santana, Abraham Almonte, Rainel Rosario, Jonathan Villar, Robinson Canó, Gustavo Núñez, Juan Francisco, Starlin Castro , Albert Pujols, Adderlin Rodríguez, Cristhian Adames, Pedro Florimón.
Also, Sandberg Pimentel, Yeison Asencio, Carlos Franco, Pablo Reyes, Wendel Rijo, Neftali Feliz, Jhan Maríñez, Carlos Martínez, Radhamés Liz, Wagner Madrigal, Román Méndez, Wirfin Obispo, Francisco Peña, Carlos Paulino, Gary Sánchez, Webster Rivas, Michael De la Cruz, Yermín Mercedes among others.
“For our class, we are experiencing a historic moment. For the first time in seven decades of baseball, players can reach free agency, based on their time in service, which means a momentous advance”, said Erick Almonte, president of FENAPEPRO.
While Emilio Bonifacio, captain of Licey, expressed that without a doubt free agency will add a lot to the League, I am pro-league, I know that many teammates could leave the Licey team, perhaps others who were with us at some point will put on the blue uniform, but that’s baseball,” he said.
He stated that the implementation of this system would add a lot to the League, that’s baseball.
“Until last season, a player was not free to offer his services, except when he was discarded by his team. It is logical that at the beginning, the list of free agents is large, but that will drop to a more reasonable number from the second year onwards”, Almonte said.
The 108 players on the list meet the requirements established in article 4 of the free agency regulation of the labor pact in force in Dominican baseball. Broadly speaking, a player becomes a free agent if he meets some of these criteria:
Accumulate 65 weeks on your team’s available list, have 10 years of being drafted in the rookie draft, and have at least 18 weeks on the available list and 12 years of being drafted regardless of time availability for your team.
The rules establish that eligible players will be considered free agents from February 15 of each year, but for one month they will only be able to negotiate with their own clubs. From March 15 onwards, those who did not agree with their clubs will be able to listen to offers from all the teams.
The team that signs a free agent will get two seasons of control over that player, plus a mutual option of the parties for a third season. After these campaigns, the club will be able to activate the third-year option, but the player will be able to dispute his salary in arbitration if he does not agree with the club’s offer.
Cibaeñas Eagles
Zoilo Almonte, 2004
Melky Cabrera, 2008
Juan Lagares, 2008
Juan Carlos Perez 2009
Aneury Tavarez, 2013
Yefri Perez, 2014
Arismendy Alcantara, 2011
Orlando Calixte, 2011
Ronny Rodriguez, 2011
Jonathan Villar 2010
Luis Gonzalez, 2015
Ramon Torres 2014
Luis Valenzuela, 2015
Happy Neftali, 2007
Jhan Marinez, 2009
Carlos Martinez, 2011
Dario Alvarez, 2014
Jose Fernandez, 2015
Francisco Pena 2008
Eastern Stars
Jr. Lake, 2009
Rainel Rosario, 2010
Sandber Pimentel, 2015
Robinson Cano 2002
Michael Martinez 2007
Gustavo Nunez 2008
Radhamés Liz 2006
Wagner Madrigal, 2004
Roman Mendez 2011
Wirfin Bishop, 2006
Henry Sosa 2007
Cibao Giants
Alfred Mars 2009
Melky Mesa, 2009
John Francis, 2007
Marcel Ozuna 2011
Carlos Peguero, 2007
Eury Perez, 2010
Moses Sierra 2010
Diego Goris, 2013
Edwin Espinal, 2014
Melvin Mercedes, 2014
Jose DePaula 2010
Yordy Cabrera 2011
Victor Capellan, 2009
Jose Cisnero 2010
Jose Raphael Diaz
Jeuris Family, 2009
Juan Minaya, 2010
Willy Peralta, 2009
Carlos Pimentel 2009
Ferdinand Rodney 2002
Angel Sanchez, 2011
Rhiner Cruz 2008
Leuris Gomez, 2010
Reymin Guduan, 2015
Richelson Pena 2015
Luis Santos, 2014
Paulino, Carlos 2010
Rivas, Webster 2013
Lions of the Chosen
Engel Beltre, 2008
Leandro Castro
Jimmy Walls, 2010
Cesar Puello, 2010
Starlin Castro 2009
Albert Pujols, 2002
Aderlin Rodriguez, 2011
Ivan Nova, 2007
Enny Romero, 2011
Pedro Strop 2004
Valerio, Charlie 2013
Tigers of the Licey
Emilio Boniface, 2004
Mel Rojas Jr. 2011
Carlos Franco, 2013
Yeison Asencio, 2012
Jairo Asencio, 2005
Lisalverto Bonilla 2011
Cesar Cabral, 2007
Gonzalez Germen 2011
Esmil Rogers, 2007
Cesar Valdez 2007
Arodys Vizcaino, 2010
Ervin Santana, Undrafted
Frank Garces, 2012
Gabriel Arias 2012
Jonathan Ring 2014
Ulysses Joaquin 2015
De La Cruz, Michael 2015
Mercedes, Yermin 2014
Eastern Bulls
Abraham Almonte, 2008
Steven Moya 2011
Felix Pie 2003
Danny Santana, 2011
Ruben Sosa 2012
Christian Adames 2011
Pedro Florimon, 2007
Yamaico Navarro, 2008
Malquin Canelo,
Wendel Rijo
Fernando Abad 2008
Jose Dominguez, 2010
Edgar Garcia, 2006
Jenrry Mejia, 2009
Jose Ramirez, 2010
Alfredo Simón, no draft
Raul Valdes, 2008
Sanchez, Gary 2011