Interest in latest Cuban defect?

[obannon35]

I apologize if this has already been discussed. I just saw it on ESPN and I wonder if the O's will have any interest? Anyone have any info on the kid?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3432314

[DEbird]

I heard about him on another site. My understanding was that he has to enter the draft.

[zff4]

Back in 2000 it was reported that:

"The Baltimore Orioles refuse to sign players who defect from Cuba, saying they believe it is bad for relations between the United States and the communist country. "

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/sports/orioles-defectors.htm

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZGE2NmY3YTg0NjkxMjM1ZGJjMzk1YzkyNjZiNTMzZTE=

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZGNhNjAzYTVmYjk5OTYzZjY3YjQ5Y2MzNWZlNjRmYjY=

Further reporting:

"The Baltimore Orioles will refuse to sign any baseball player who has defected from Cuba. Syd Thrift, the club’s vice president for baseball operations, explained that the reason for the policy is a reluctance to threaten "the goodwill created between the two countries" after a home-and-home series last year between the Orioles and the Cuban national team."

I recall being shocked and horrified. If anything crystallized my repugnance of Angelos it was this.

Apparently the organization backtracked but the bad taste lingers for me on this subject.

[Crazysilver03]

I heard about him on another site. My understanding was that he has to enter the draft.

If he moves to the United States he would be subject to the draft. If he moved to another Latin country he could be signed as a free agent.

[fischbowl]

Dayan Viciedo has defected to the United States today. Being that he's 19, he will enter the draft next year, like the case with Yunel Escobar and Maels Rodriguez. He will work out in Miami for one year, with no collegiate or professional association. Viciedo is something special. He made his debut in Liga Mejor at the ripe age of 15. I fully expect him to be drafted higher than Escobar (2nd Round, 2005). Viciedo projects as a power hitting outfielder

[danielh_512]

Now if he projects to become a power-hitting outfielder, but now plays at third base, could we consider him to be similar in some ways to Miguel Cabrera as a player?

[Snutchy]

Hmm.. Wasn't 2000 around the time the Orioles hosted the Cuban team, and vice versa? I think thats old news.. As Zff4 said, the organization back tracked.

Without getting into politics I can understand the Orioles take on that back then.

[orayole]

Hmm.. Wasn't 2000 around the time the Orioles hosted the Cuban team, and vice versa? I think thats old news..

Yes, if you read the whole thing it says "after a home-and-home series last year between the Orioles and the Cuban national team."