The following is a special guest post from Andrew Shipotofsky
Until recently the Phillies haven’t been major players in the international market. This forced them to miss out on major players such as Yu Darvish, Yasiel Puig, and Yoenis Cespedes. With the Phillies finally making international splashes with Julsan Kamara and Miguel Gonzalez this past year. It will interesting to see if they will make a play at Tanaka, Arruebarruena, or a name that not as popular, Dayron Varona.
Dayron Varona recently defected from Cuba and looking to play in the MLB. The Phillies are looking for young, cheap, and retainable players. At the age of 25, Dayron is a right-handed outfielder. Last season in Cuba he hit .373/.425/.533. He was tied for 3rd in average with now White Sox, Jose Abreu, 8th in slugging, and 6th in total hits. Not only is Varona a good right bat, he has some speed, is an excellent fielder, and was named 2013 All-Star and a Gold Glove Winner.
He was awarded a Gold Glove for the outfielder last season, he has played every position expect first base, shortstop, and pitcher. All this taken into account, Varona might have to ability to be a 5-tool player at the Major League level after some seasoning in AAA ball.
Varona is working his way to become a free agent and could become a long-term option for a Phillies outfield that is starving for a young, right-handed bat. With little options in the upper minors for outfield prospects, I don’t know how the Phillies can’t take a chance on missing another international star.
