(Updated: According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the idea that the Red Sox “would soon sign” Maya might not be accurate at this time. There is a good chance that Maya will choose a team that offers a better opportunity to immediately enter its starting rotation.)

According to a source familiar with the situation, the Red Sox are interested in Cuban pitcher Yuniesky Maya but are still in the preliminary stages of negotiations. The Sox have been following Maya’s situation throughout the offseason, seeing the 28-year-old pitcher as a starter who is most likely at the minor league level who could eventually fill into the back-end of a rotation.

Maya was named Cuba’s top right-handed pitcher in both 2009 and ‘09 before defecting in the Dominican Republic last September. Red Sox president Larry Lucchino was quoted in the publication Terreno De Pelota as saying the Red Sox were close to a deal with Maya.

2 Comments for “Red Sox interested in Cuban pitcher”

1. Chris in Illinois Says:
   February 16th, 2010 at 10:15 am

   Why is this guy available? When did he defect?

2. Mike Says:
   February 16th, 2010 at 3:30 pm

   He probably defected because of the money. I’m pretty sure they lack that in Communist Cuba.

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