The Nationals have made a major move into the international player market by
snagging Cuban defector Yuniesky Maya. The Nationals will run Maya through a
physical next week in Washington and he will likely head to the team's training
complex in Viera, Florida before the Nationals determine exactly where the 28
year-old will start his pro career. It's not out of the question that Maya would
be ready to pitch for the Nationals almost immediately, based on the reports
that have come out of the Dominican Republic, where Maya has been living and
pitching.
GM Mike Rizzo has been non-committal about Maya, but knows he's not far away
from being major league ready. "He is battle tested and he is
seasoned," raved Rizzo about the right-hander. "He is a young, poised
Major League caliber pitcher."
The Red Sox, Indians, Blue Jays and Yankees, along with division rivals
Philadelphia and New York were all trying to sign Maya, who has been eligible to
sign with a major league club for about a month now. Maya established himself as
a starter through various international tournaments, including the World
Baseball Classic in both 2006 and 2009 and he also pitched for Cuba in the 2005
and 2007 World Baseball Cup. In 2009, Maya was left off Cuba's team for the
World Baseball Cup because of what were termed "serious disciplinary
infractions," which many people believed was a failed defection attempt. In
September of 2009, Maya made a successful attempt at defecting with an eye
toward coming to the United States and pitching in the majors.
Maya throws a low-90s fastball, a curve, change-up and slider as part of his
arsenal.