6 Yankees And Mets Who Defected From Cuba
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- As President Barack Obama is making his historic visit to Cuba this week -- along with the Tampa Bay Rays' game against the Cuban national team on Tuesday -- we take a look at some Yankees and Mets players who defected from the island nation.
YOENIS CESPEDES, OF (Mets, 2015-Present)
Hoping to boost their offense, the Mets acquired the slugger from Detroit just before last season's trade deadline. In 57 games with New York, Cespedes batted .287 with 17 homers and 44 RBIs. He also just might lead the major leagues in cars.
AROLDIS CHAPMAN, P (Yankees, 2016-Present)
The Yankees landed Chapman in a December trade with Cincinnati, where the flame-throwing closer had 145 saves over the past four seasons. His career with the Bronx Bombers, however, is being put on hold as he serves a 30-game suspension for violating baseball's new domestic violence policy.
ORLANDO HERNANDEZ, P (Yankees, 1998-2002, 2004; Mets, 2006-07)
"El Duque," who made his major league debut at age 32, was a member of four World Series championship teams in his nine-year career -- in 1998, 1999 and 2000 with the Yankees and again in 2005 with the White Sox. His best season came in 1999, when he went 17-9 with a 4.12 ERA and was voted the MVP of the American League ALCS. He returned to New York in his 40s to pitch for the Mets, going 9-7 and 9-5 in his two seasons.
LIVAN HERNANDEZ, P (Mets, 2009)
Orlando's younger half-brother played 17 seasons in the majors for nine different teams. The biggest moment of Livan Hernandez's career came in 1997, when he, as a member of the Florida Marlins, was voted World Series MVP. He pitched in 23 games with the Mets in 2009, going 7-8 with a 5.47 ERA.
REY ORDONEZ, SS (Mets, 1996-2002)
Ordonez was a three-time Gold Glove winner and was a member of the Mets' 2000 World Series team that lost to the Yankees. He also played for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Chicago Cubs.
JOSE CONTRERAS, P (Yankees, 2003-04)
Contreras' 11-year major league career started with the Yankees when he was 31 years old. He had a 15-7 record in his 1 1/2 seasons in the Bronx. Contreras went on to win a World Series and play in an All-Star Game with the Chicago White Sox.
