Cuban left-handed pitcher Gerardo Concepcion has been granted free agency and can now negotiate with any of the 30 MLB teams, according to Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes. The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox are reportedly among the teams showing interest, in addition to the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers and Philadelphia Phillies.
Concepcion, 18, has established residency in Mexico and is currently training in the Dominican Republic, according to his agent Jaime Torres. Concepcion defected from Cuba last summer during the World Port Tournament in the Netherlands, the same event that allowed Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman to defect from Cuba back in 2009. He already has a training session scheduled with the Yankees this week.
During the 2010-2011 season in the Cuban Serie Nacional, the top amateur league in the nation, Hernandez went 10-3 while posting a 3.36 ERA over 21 games (including 16 starts) for Industriales de la Habana.
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