Jose Contreras
| IP | 1173 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.565 |
| WHIP | 1.367 |
| BB/9 | 3.276 |
| SO/9 | 6.821 |
- Full name Jose Ariel Contreras
- Born 12/06/1971 in Las Martinas, Cuba
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 255 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- Debut 03/31/2003
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Contreras defected from the Cuban national team during the Americas Series tournament in Saltillo, Mexico, last October. He sought asylum in the United States, but to avoid becoming subject to the draft he then established residency in Nicaragua. Major League Baseball declared him a free agent in December. The Yankees, Red Sox, Mariners and Dodgers sent officials to Nicaragua to negotiate with Contreras and agent Jaime Torres. Boston had a four-year, $27 million offer on the table and was willing to go higher when New York vice president of international scouting Gordon Blakeley and Latin American scouting supervisor Carlos Rios closed a deal at owner George Steinbrenner's behest. The Yankees signed Contreras to a four-year, $32 million major league contract that included a $6 million bonus. He was considered the best amateur pitcher in the world, and Blakeley opined that he might be the best ever. Contreras earned his reputation by consistently dominating in international competition. At the last three major international tournaments--the 1999 Pan American Games, 2000 Olympics and 2001 World Cup--Contreras went 7-0, 0.59 with 66 strikeouts in 61 innings, facing mostly professional hitters. His most notable performance came against the Orioles in a 1999 exhibition in Havana. Contreras threw eight shutout innings in relief, striking out 10. In Cuban league play, Contreras had a career 127-50, 2.82 record, including a 13-4, 1.76 mark last season. Contreras regularly throws 94-96 mph with his fastball and tops out at 98. An impressive physical specimen with a rock-solid frame, he's able to maintain his velocity deep into games. His power arsenal is rounded out by two more plus pitches, a slider and a splitter, and he has the confidence and savvy to throw all three pitches in any count. He keeps lefties and righties alike off balance by varying the speed (81-89 mph) and shape (sweeping action on a short, biting cutter) of his slider, and he can throw his splitter for strikes or bury it in the dirt. His delivery is clean and powerful, and he creates deception with his lead arm. He also has toyed with a changeup, which has been effective. The only test for Contreras is to prove he can rise to the occasion in major league venues with the burden of his huge contract and huge expectations in New York. He hasn't sustained any known injuries, but he has shouldered a heavy workload in Cuba. While many Cubans face questions about their age, no one has challenged Contreras' birthdate. He has all the makings of a No. 1 starter and will be expected to pitch to that standard in New York right away.
