The Orioles Lose Out to the Victors

There were two teams with the international bonus money competing for two Cuban prospects, Victor Victor Mesa and Victor Mesa Jr. They were the Orioles and the Marlins. The Marlins will have a press conference on Monday and it is expected that this press conference will announce the signings of the two Mesa brothers.

The Two Mesa brothers were considered to be a package duo, not unlike the Gurriel brothers when they defected from Cuba a couple years ago. The Mesa brothers are sons of a superstar in Cuban international baseball, who played for Cuba before there were defections, Victor Mesa, who also played with the father of the Gurriels, another superstar in Cuban baseball Lourdes Gurriel. They were dominant in winning international baseball events, but never really got the opportunity to play against major leaguers. Now their sons will get to show off their talents.

It may be too late for Yuli Gurriel, who shows he belongs in the major leagues but at 33 his time is short. His younger brother Lourdes looks to be a solid player. Now it will soon be the opportunity for the Mesa brothers to show off their skills. 

Victor Victor Mesa is the oldest at 22 and the most talented of the two. It is rumored he will get a $5 million bonus. His younger brother Victor Mesa Jr. is only 17 and is not blessed with the skills of his older brother, but they could develop. He is expected to sign for a $1 million bonus. The father of the two couldn’t be prouder and now richer with their sons bonus money. You are not going to earn that amount of money playing baseball in Cuba.

Now that the Marlins have eaten up most of their international bonus money, the Orioles can focus on signing another Cuban prospect, Cuban righthanded pitcher Sandy Gaston. Gaston is a 6′0′ 17 year old with a fastball that can hit high 90s. The pitches are there but it will take him time to develop.