Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League (LIDOM) has finished its second year of free agency, as established by mutual agreement between the Federación Nacional de Peloteros Profesionales (FENAPEPRO) and the Dominican League.
Although some of the league’s star players have received offers from at least three of the league’s teams, including Toros del Este, his former club, Jeimer Candelario, has not made a decision on where he will play.
Other players were clear about their direction prior to the official date of their free-agent status.
The Leones del Escogido and the Gigantes de Cibao made an important move involving former MLB player Jean Segura. Segura played four seasons in Lidom.
The Giantes de Cibao acquired Eddison Paulino, the No. 20 prospect in the Red Sox system and Yordany de la Santos, the No. 16 prospect in the Pirates organization for Segura.
The Escogido team’s operations management signed stellar MLB infielder Jorge Mateo. The right-handed hitter plays in the majors with the Baltimore Orioles and has played in Lidom with the Toros del Este since the 2016 season when he arrived via the rookie draft.
Within this wave of movements and hires of “La Capital” team in free agency, they also announced the arrival of the Ynoa brothers, Gabriel and Marcos, both with major league experience, Asian and Mexican baseball, in order to strengthen the Escogido baseball club bullpen.
They also re-signed several of their players in free agency: Erik Gonzalez, Franchy Cordero, Elier Hernandez, Jimmy Cordero, Starling Marte and Jose Marmolejos.
Le Toros del Este:
The Toros del Este have made eight roster moves this offseason. Their most significant acquisition being Yamaico Navarro.
“Navarro has been a quality player since his debut in the League in 2009. He was with us in the last round robin and now we are happy to have him back full time,” Luis Rojas, General Manager of Leones del Escogido, said.
The General Manager of the Toros del Este, Jesus Mejia, said that with the signing of Sandro Fabian, they are looking to improve their core of players.
They made another important move in a deal with their regional rivals, Estrellas Orientales, to strengthen their bullpen.
The Toros received right-handed pitcher Gerson Moreno and the Estrellas Orientales team received the MLB player Rodolfo Castro. Moreno plays with the Oakland Athletics and this year is pitching for the team’s AAA affiliate, the Vegas Aviators.
He is a pitcher who has already accumulated experience in Lidom, in 4 seasons, totaling 61 strikeouts in 46.2 innings pitched and allowing 41 hits.
Rodolfo Castro, who led the league in the 2021-2022 season with Toros del Este in Lidom in the following categories: extra bases (2), OBP (.394), and OPS (.783), is unsure whether his rehabilitation process after surgery this spring will allow him to play in the Dominican League this winter.
Castro has seen action in the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies.
La Romana’s baseball operations team retained four (4) of its players who left for free agency: Luis Liberato, Jose Jose, Felix Pena, and Rubby de La Rosa.
Pena is a pitcher who can easily adapt to any role in the bullpen, we have seen him as a starter and long reliever, but his ability to get players out with few pitches can allow a role as a setup man. His experience in Asia and Lidom adds to his time in the big leagues for several seasons.
Other rosters moves made by the Toros del Este this season inclue: George Valera – OF, Cristian Charle – LD, Jhonkensy Noel – 1B/OF, Yeury Gervacio – LZ, Arodys Vizcaíno – LD, Francisco Peña – – LD, Christopher Familia – OF
Las Estrellas Orientales:
The San Pedro de Macorís team retained veteran major leaguer Miguel Sano, who became a free agent in 2024.
The General Manager, Jose Mejia, made the announcement, who said that Sano is a player the fans love.
“Sano is a player loved by the fans and respected by the players, in addition to his quality as a player,” said Mejia.
Sano was signed as a free agent by the Los Angeles Angels in the winter of 2023 and was with them this spring training in 2024, when he was previously part of their MLB roster.
Via trade, the All-Stars obtained from Escogido the veteran player with major league experience, Abraham Almonte, and Boston Red Sox big leaguer Emmanuel Valdez from the Toros del Este for outfielder Moises Castillo, who is playing for Los Diablos Rojos in Mexico. We have seen him working closely with Robinson Cano.
Other players came to Las Estrellas orientales via trade: Junior Perez, Enoli Paredes, Diego Castillo, Carlos Gómez, Yerlin Confidán, and Euribiel Angeles.
Los Gigantes del Cibao:
They have made twice as many moves as last season and have retained important franchise players, such as Hansel Alberto, Leury García, and Richard Urena, who signed extensions.
In a trade with the Tigres del Licey, the team from the city of Cacao received the youngest of the Bonifacio brothers, Jorge Bonifacio. In exchange, the team from the capital received the Romanense utility player Steven Moya.
Right-handed pitcher Domingo Gonzalez, outfielder Johan Rojas, and right-handed pitcher Steven Cruz arrived via trade to the Gigantes del Cibao for 2024.Other players who arrived via free agency were Wilmer Difó, Wandy Peralta, Jeisson Rosario, Oddy Núñez, Edinsson Paulino, Yordany De la Santos, Kelvin Bautista, Marco Jiménez, and Carlo Reyes.
Los Tigres del Licey:
The reigning champions of the Dominican Winter League re-signed important players who had become free agents in 2024.
The list includes players like Sergio Alcantara, Wander Suero, Domingo Leyba, Dawell Lugo, and Aristides Aquino. Names that have been key to the franchise’s success over the past two seasons, including the Bi-campaign.
The Tigers received middle infielder and Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Liovel Peguero as part of moves that included negotiations with other teams.
In 2023 the electrifying Dominican player exploded offensively, firing 45 extra-base hits in less than 80 games. His speed helped him hit on more than 94% of stolen base attempts.
There is no doubt that the possibility of seeing Peguero in Dominican stadiums in the winter, could clinch the tigers with the league’s best trade of the offseason.
Other players who arrived via trade to the capital were Willi Castro, Esteury Ruiz, Miguel Diaz, Amed Rosario, and Abner Uribe.
Las Águilas Cibaeñas:
The Águilas retained Richard Rodríguez and William Jerez, who both have MLB experience.
Rodriguez has demonstrated his ability as a closer for the Cibao team and his value within the organization. At the same time, Jerez is a left-handed pitcher who has shown that he can take over, which in the Dominican League is Gold.
“Both players are from here in Santiago and they are a key part of our objective for the 2024-2025 season, which is to strengthen the bullpen in the late innings,” added Angel Ovalles, General Manager of el equipo amarillo.
In order to break the streak of missing the playoffs in several seasons, the Águilas have made several roster moves via trade.
They acquired starter Adderlin Rodriguez, INF Eddis Leonard, right-handed pitchers
Reyes Moronta and Wilfrin Obispo, and left-handed pitcher Enny Romero.
From free agency they signed : Juan Zapata LD, Samuel Adames, LD, Bryan Castillo LD,
Mailon Félix LD, Franklyn Kilomé LD, Erick Mejía UTIL, Alfredo Reyes , INF, Luis González LZ,
José Leclerc LD, Franklin de la Paz , LZ, Jeisson Cabrera , LD, Eduarqui Fernández – OF,
Juan Corniel ,SS, Jeisson Rosario OF, Johnny Cueto – LD.
The opening day begins on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024.
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WBN LIDOM: https://worldbaseball.com/league/dominican-republic/
Photo Credit: Jean Segura #9 of the Miami Marlins celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home-run in the game against the Detroit Tigers at loanDepot park on July 30, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Jasen Vinlove/Miami Marlins/Getty Images)
