2008 International Free Agent Market

[Guest]

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20081007p2a00m0na003000c.html

 

An executive committee representing Japan's 12 professional baseball teams have agreed to introduce a ban on players returning to Japanese baseball after turning down rookie draft nominations in Japan and signing with overseas pro teams.

 

The committee decided to ban players who had graduated from high school from entering professional Japanese teams for three years after returning to Japan from overseas stints, and introduce a two-year ban for such players who had been in university or company teams.

[Guest]

1908/Meph: When can Kyuji Fujikawa come to the US?

[1908]

As a free agent? After the 2009 season would be the earliest, assuming he spent enough time on the active roster every season between 2000 and now -- he didn't play in 2001.

 

I suspect it's after the 2010 season. He can be posted sooner, of course, if he and the Tigers agree to do so.

[1908]

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20081007p2a00m0na003000c.html

 

An executive committee representing Japan's 12 professional baseball teams have agreed to introduce a ban on players returning to Japanese baseball after turning down rookie draft nominations in Japan and signing with overseas pro teams.

 

The committee decided to ban players who had graduated from high school from entering professional Japanese teams for three years after returning to Japan from overseas stints, and introduce a two-year ban for such players who had been in university or company teams.

http://eastwindupchronicle.com/new-barbed-wire-for-the-the-gulag/#more-2579

The NPB has thrown down a ruling in the Junichi Tazawa situation, stating that Japanese amateur players that opt to make themselves eligible to sign with major league teams will be subject to a 2-3 year ban should they ever attempt to return.

 

Tazawa is a Japanese amateur pitcher who in September told Nippon Professional Baseball teams he was planning to play in the major leagues and asked NPB teams not to draft him. There are some rules in place regarding this. There is a handshake agreement in place between the MLB and NPB, which according to Patrick at NPB Tracker (who has covered the Tazawa saga extensively) has been in place since 1962. In the “agreement” MLB teams agree not attempt to sign Japanese amateurs. Japanese players who are drafted and signed by home teams must wait serve seven years before they may attempt to sign with an overseas team.

 

Personally I think this is a joke, but I realize there are other opinions out there. Global capitalism is the system in which we live under. I’m not saying I always love and embrace every aspect of it, and it’s certainly not always fair, but it’s the same system that’s allowed Japan to become the second richest nation on the planet. If this were North Korean Pro Baseball I might be a bit more understanding. But it’s not. It’s Japan. And it’s the same system that’s currently enabling Japanese investors to snap up fledgling banks across the globe. Is NBP saying it’s not a business?

 

Of course it isn’t saying that. It’s simply changing the rules because it’s losing the game. Major League Baseball has the superior business model and rather than attempt to compete, the NBP is making things up as it goes along. Who loses? The players. The NPB claims it cannot compete with MLB signing bonuses because it restricts amateur signing bonuses to $1 million. Well, whose fault is that? Again, who loses?

 

My wife is a chemist in Korea. If an American company offers her more money to do roughly the same job she’s doing in Korea she’s free to pursue that opportunity, no? What would happen if her company decided to make a new rule that said “if an employee leaves Korea to work another job and changes their mind and wants to come back they must serve a 3-year ban.”

 

In the 21st century that company would lose it’s employees and there would be a strike the day of the announcement.

 

How absurd does this sound in this day and age? Doesn’t the notion of a company doing this make you angry? Sure baseball players make a lot of money? Should they? I suppose that’s up for debate. Can they? Absolutely and they aren’t the only ones profiting.

 

Taiwan has talked about, but hasn’t officially installed a similar rule. Korea had such a rule in place following the mass defections of players like Kim Byung-hyun and Choi Hee-seop in the late 90s, but rescinded said rule shortly thereafter.

[Guest]

Thanks, 1908.

[Mephistopheles]

Im pretty sure that time spent on the DL in Japan doesnt go to service time in Japan. Or only half of the time does. That was an issue with Koji Uehara wanting to come here. He wasn't eligible last season because of time missed on the DL. I don't think he will be an FA until after 2012.

[1908]

Yeah, there's a days-spent-on-the-active-roster minimum for a season to count toward free agency. Just not sure what that is, and games played as a relief pitcher might not indicate the number of days on the active roster as clearly as it would for a starting pitcher or position player. Kosuke had some injury-shortened seasons but he still qualified for free agency after the minimum nine years, for instance.

[Guest]

Ben Badler over at Baseball America is doing a 2008 international signing wrap up by division. We got started today with the National League East where the Braves were the best and the Mets were surprisingly quiet. I'm guessing the NL Central is up next.

 

I've updated the original post in this thread with the signings that we know of up to now.

[Guest]

When only considering bonuses that were 6 figures or greater, the Cubs spent $250,000 in Latin America this year (excluding Cuba). This does not take into account sub-six figure bonuses nor signings in the Pac Rim and Europe. This was the 8th least in MLB:

 

SPENDING SPREE

Team Money

Reds $5,705,000

A's $4,880,000

Padres $4,685,000

Yankees $4,250,000

Giants $2,750,000

Cardinals $2,685,000

Mariners $2,591,000

Braves $2,230,000

Indians $2,025,000

Rangers $1,625,000

Red Sox $1,382,500

Pirates $1,200,000

Astros $1,015,000

Tigers $783,000

Blue Jays $700,000

Rays $640,000

Mets $600,000

Rockies $580,000

Angels $440,000

Royals $410,000

Phillies $353,000

White Sox $300,000

Cubs $250,000

Diamondbacks $160,000

Brewers $0

Dodgers $0

Marlins $0

Nationals $0

Orioles $0

Twins $0

 

According to data compiled by Baseball America, the Reds led the charge in spending in Latin America in 2008. The chart above indicates money that each major league organization spent on signing bonuses of at least six figures in Latin America (excluding Cuban defectors) through September of this year. Teams have spent additional money, of course, on players for five- and four-figure bonuses

 

This seems in line with what the Cubs normally do outside of those rare years they sign a big ticket Latin amateur free agent (Zambrano, Pie, Francisco, Suarez, etc.).

[Guest]

BA's NL Central International Signing Roundup[/url]"]Chicago Cubs

 

Six-figure signings: 3B Joel Altagracia, Dominican Republic, 16; SS Carlos Henry, Dominican Republic, 16

 

Top Bonus: Altagracia, $140,000

 

Summary: Altagracia profiles at third base, with a good body at around 6-foot-1, 185 pounds with good agility. He has a strong arm, good hands and his feet work well. With his skill set, a move behind the plate is a possibility down the road if things don't work out well at third base for Altagracia, but the Cubs will develop the righthanded hitter as a third basemman. Henry has a athletic frame at 6-foot-1, 165 pounds. A lefthanded hitter, Henry has some balance at the plate and a good swing path, though like most young wiry shortstops from Latin America, he stands out in the field with his quickness, strong arm and running ability.

 

The Cubs have shown a commitment to scouting in the Pacific Rim and signed shortstop Hak Ju Lee from South Korea in the spring for $725,000. Lee, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound 17-year-old lefthanded hitter, is an 80 runner with above-average range and agility and clean actions at shortstop. His bat still has to catch up to the rest of his tools, but he has balance and stays inside the ball well. The Cubs also spent in Australia, signing 18-year-old lefthander Cody Hams ($150,000 in March) and 18-year-old righty Adam Spencer ($130,000 in February) for the third- and fourth-highest bonuses given to an Australian player in 2008.

 

The player from Latin America whom the Cubs gave the most money to within the last year is Dominican righthander Esmailin Caridad, who signed for $175,000 in December. Of course, as a 24-year-old, Caridad is far from a typical Latin American signing. According to Cubs vice president of player personnel Oneri Fleita, Caridad signed as a teenager to play in Japan. After playing in Japan's academy system and in the industrial leagues, Caridad played briefly in 2007 in Japan's Central League for the Hiroshima Carp, the same team that Kosuke Fukudome played for before signing with the Cubs, though Fleita said that was merely a coincidence. According to Fleita, a technicality in the rules made Caridad eligible to sign with a major league team, and Fleita and general manager Jim Hendry just happened to be in the Dominican as Caridad was returning home. After seeing Caridad pitch twice in five days against players in the Cubs' Dominican instructional league, the Cubs signed him. With a good fastball that he complements with a curveball and a changeup, Caridad had a 3.73 ERA in 152 innings split between high Class A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee. Caridad struck out 88, though he succeeds by pounding the zone with strikes, as he walked only 38 batters all year.

 

That means the Cubs have signed these amateur free agents in 2008:

 

SS Hak-Ju Lee, South Korea (age 17) - $725,000 bonus

LHP Cody Hams, Australia (age 18) - $150,000 bonus

OF Sean Williams, Australia (age 17) - unconfirmed $150,000 bonus

3B Joel Altagracia, Dominican Republic (age 16) - $140,000 bonus

RHP Adam Spencer, Australia (age 17) - $130,000 bonus

SS Carlos Henry, Dominican Republic (age 16) - $110,000 bonus

OF Jae-Hoon Ha, South Korea (age 18)

RHP Jung-Soo Min, South Korea (age 18)

C Ricardo Parra, Venezuela (age 17)

 

The $725,000 Lee got is $200,000 more than Dae-Eun Rhee's signing bonus in 2007.

[1908]

Good stuff. Thanks for sharing.

 

Caridad played briefly in 2007 in Japan's Central League for the Hiroshima Carp, the same team that Kosuke Fukudome played for before signing with the Cubs, though Fleita said that was merely a coincidence.

An odd coincidence -- Kouske played for the Chunichi Dragons.

[Guest]

The first post in this thread is up to date with every signing listed by Baseball America in the last 7 days as they reviewed the international signing period (along with the links to each review).

 

Ben Badler is doing a chat today at Baseball America on the international signings at 1 pm CT: http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/chat/chat.php?id=2008101701

 

If you're considering asking a question about a Cubs international signing, the list of 2008 signings is about 2 posts up and here is a list of the major 2007 Cubs signings (age at signing in 2007):

 

2007:

 

RHP Dae-Eun Rhee, South Korea (age 18) - $525,000 bonus

RHP Hung-Wen Chen, Taiwan (age 21) - $200,000 bonus

RHP Esmailin Caridad, Dominican Republic via Japan (age 23) - $175,000 bonus

IF Junior Lake, Dominican Republic (age 17)

RHP Ryan Searle, Australia (age 17)

RHP Yohan Gonzalez, Dominican Republic (age 17)

RHP Jose Tineo, Dominican Republic (age 16)

RHP Dumas Garcia, Colombia via U.S. independent leagues (age 24)

IF Dwayne Kemp, Netherlands (age 19)

[Guest]

Q: Mike from Chicago asks:

Do you think it is wise that the Cubs are spending more in the Pacific Rim and not in Latin America. I tend to think the best prospects come from Latin America, what do you think?

 

A: Ben Badler: I'd be a huge fraud to claim I know which country is best for an individual team to be investing its resources; I don't have the means to analyze the various international talent markets. I'm sure the Cubs have, though, and if they have decided that having a strong scouting presence in the Pacific Rim should be one of their core competencies, I'm fine with that, judging from my seat.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/majors/international-affairs/2008/267059.html

[Outshined_One]

Tazawa undrafted

 

Junichi Tazawa, a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher who wants to play in the major leagues, was passed over by Japan’s 12 professional teams in Thursday’s amateur draft.

 

Tazawa, whose fastball reaches 97 mph, had asked Japanese teams not to select him so that he could pursue a career in the United States.

 

“I’m very relieved,” Tazawa said. “I was very nervous right up until the end of the draft.”

[1908]

http://eastwindupchronicle.com/couple-of-new-korean-cubs/

 

We (as in the Cubs, not EWC) signed a couple of Korean players recently. I didn’t want to write about them until the contracts had been approved by MLB. Writing a post referencing something about a Korean signing with another team, and reported in the the Korean media is a bit different from writing about Cubs information not yet reported anywhere. Please understand going forward.

 

The first is Ha Jae-hoon, who played for Yongma High School in Masan and is originally from Jinju, a small city with one of the best lantern festivals you could ever hope to find. Ha is listed as 6′1 and 185 lbs. on his high school roster and Cubs contract, but he’s bigger than that. He projects as a centerfielder, even though he’s mostly played catcher in high school.

 

And that’s the key with Ha. He can play anywhere. He’s a solid catcher defensively, but his body doesn’t quite project as one at the MLB level. There was some talk of moving him to 2B, and pairing him with Lee Hak-ju, but in the end he’s looking more like an outfielder going forward. Ha is pretty quick, and runs about 4.2/4.3 to first. He’s full tilt all the time and has fantastic baseball instincts. A “baseball player” if you will.

 

He gets the bat through the zone and I’ve seen him drive the ball to all fields with power. At the high school level in Korea he’s in the upper tier in terms of power, but he’ll have to get stronger once he gets to the U.S. I don’t doubt he will. He’s already told me a couple times he’s looking forward to getting to the team complex in Arizona so he can start working out. Ha has a great attitude and was his team’s leader at Yongma.

 

The other player is a right-handed pitcher, Jung Soo-min, who went to Busan High School, the same school Choo Shin-soo went to, and also Ahn Tae-kyeong a pitcher the Rangers signed this past summer. Jung is listed as 6′0 and 192 lbs., but again, he’s bigger than that. Probably 6′2 right now. Like Ha, has very good makeup. He’s a bit of a late bloomer, and was actually behind Ahn on the Busan H.S. depth chart going into 2008. However, by the end of the season he was clearly the go to arm on the team. His fastball at the beginning of 2008 was reportedly 84-85. When I saw him in August it was usually around 86-87 and touching 88. Jung went to Arizona in September for instructional (not the AZL) and after working with coaches there for a couple weeks, is already touching 92.

 

As opposed to Ha, who I’d mentioned is kind of a fiery team leader, Jung is quiet and focused. I’ve spent quite a bit of time with both over the past few months (they were already friends prior to the Cubs approaching them) and can say they’re both great kids who will work very hard once they get to Arizona next Jan./Feb.

[Guest]

Thanks, 1908. It's great to finally get confirmation on those two signings. Ha Jae-hoon is the one who was compared to Aaron Rowand and called a "wall-crasher." Also great to hear the good reports out of Jung at instructs. Dae-Eun Rhee made a great impression at instructs last fall before exploding this year in Peoria.

 

Eastwindup Chronicle is fantastic.

[craig]

Thanks, 1908. It's great to finally get confirmation on those two signings. Ha Jae-hoon is the one who was compared to Aaron Rowand and called a "wall-crasher." Also great to hear the good reports out of Jung at instructs. Dae-Eun Rhee made a great impression at instructs last fall before exploding this year in Peoria.

 

Eastwindup Chronicle is fantastic.

 

We still haven't gotten any ideas about what kinds of dollars these two got, have we? I'm guessing unless a guy is going to make $100K or so, it wouldn't be much worth it to sign. I'm assuming these two would probably be in the $100-200 type range where most of our pricey but not top-shelf internationals have fallen. (I'm imaging Choi, Kweon, Ryu to be premium class, well beyond $1; Rhee and Lee and Suarez to be high level although not millions; and then some of these kinds in the $0.1-0.2 range.

[Guest]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-11-04-india-pitchers_N.htm

 

Singh, a 6-2, 195-pound left-hander, throws 89-90 mph with a split-fingered changeup. He continually tinkers with different breaking balls. Patel, a 5-11, 185-pound right-hander, throws 91-92 mph with a circle changeup. Patel says he’s the conservative one of the two, leaving the experimenting to Singh.

 

There will be at least 20 major league teams represented at the workout, Borris says; at least a half-dozen teams, including the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians, confirmed to USA TODAY they will attend.

 

It's like former Cub minor leaguer Simon Lee all over again (the pitcher who'd take off his hat whenever he'd cover first base):

 

The first time they played catch, they threw the ball, and when it came back, they dropped their gloves and caught barehanded.

 

The first time they saw a baseball game, watching USC play Washington State, Patel was confused.

 

"What did the shortstop do wrong?" he asked.

 

House: "Why do you say that?"

 

Patel: "He's the only one in the infield without a base."

[Guest]

19-year old Cuban third baseman Dayan Viciedo - who defected last May - has been declared a free agent. Two teams have already made a contract offer: the White Sox are one and the other team is unknown at this time. He is scheduled to have two workouts in the Dominican Republic next week.

 

http://media1.suntimes.com/multimedia/110808cuba.jpg_20081108_11_09_17_26-282-400.imageContent

 

Between Viciedo and Junichi Tazawa, we're going to have very interesting international amateur free agent bidding wars that will likely get into 7 figures.

[Guest]

On Tazawa:

 

East Windup Chronicle[/url]"]I’ve heard there will be a number of scouts coming in for the early part of the Asia Series then heading down to Osaka for the Industrial League tournament running Nov. 17-23 to see Junichi Tazawa. The Braves have supposedly made an offer, and Indians GM Mark Shipiro, according to a Japanese source via NBP Tracker, thinks the bidding will reach $7 million.

 

Shipiro might believe that. Or, he might be hoping a team spends its entire international scouting budget in one fell swoop. That figure would put Tazawa ahead of the $6.15 million the Rays paid first overall pick Tim Beckham. Frankly, I’m with Shipiro. I hope it happens. But I doubt it will.

 

I haven’t seen Tazawa pitch in person, only on the oft linked to YouTube clip. First of all, I don’t think very many scouts have actually seen him, so the team names being bandied about by the Japanese media should be met with some skepticism. Not all teams scout Asia to begin with, and of those that do, most scout NPB free agents in Japan, not the industrial leagues. The Yankees came over and were obviously not interested. I know with certainty another one of the teams frequently mentioned as suitors has not seen him pitch. So what’s left? Basically, the Braves offer, the fact that the Mariners have a full time scout in Japan, and this upcoming tournament.

 

Second, his blazing quick tempo will turn off a number of scouts who prefer a more “traditional” tall-and-fall approach to pitching. Tazawa’s all drop and drive, which scouts might be quick to forgive if he actually threw the 97 mph sometimes reported in the Japanese media. However, he doesn’t throw 97, he touches 93 on the YouTube clip, which, keep in mind, is a Japanese broadcast of an Industrial League game. I haven’t talked to anyone who’s seen him top 91. Taking that into consideration alone it’s hard to imagine a team paying him twice the money that Brian Matusz got.

 

Still, he’s obviously got a nice feel for his breaking stuff and I like the way his hands explode out on the windup. He’s quite deceptive, although he has no extension on his follow through. Like I said, I hope someone pays him $7 million. It’ll mean one less team buzzing over to Korea next August.

 

Remember, Shinsano is a part-time Cub scout in Korea.

[Guest]

The Cubs have shown interest in Taiwanese LHP Fu-Te Ni (age 26, considered the most talented lefty in the CPBL). He turned down a Mariners offer which consisted of a $150,000 bonus w/ a $50,000 guarantee salary for next year, a ST invite and a promise for starting at least at AA next season. He's apparently looking for a major league contract.

[craig]

On Tazawa:

 

East Windup Chronicle[/url]"]..I haven’t seen Tazawa pitch in person, only on the oft linked to YouTube clip. ... Second, his blazing quick tempo will turn off a number of scouts who prefer a more “traditional” tall-and-fall approach to pitching. Tazawa’s all drop and drive, which scouts might be quick to forgive if he actually threw the 97 mph sometimes reported in the Japanese media. However, he doesn’t throw 97, he touches 93 on the YouTube clip, which, keep in mind, is a Japanese broadcast of an Industrial League game. I haven’t talked to anyone who’s seen him top 91. .. Still, he’s obviously got a nice feel for his breaking stuff and I like the way his hands explode out on the windup. He’s quite deceptive, although he has no extension on his follow through. Like I said, I hope someone pays him $7 million. It’ll mean one less team buzzing over to Korea next August.

 

Remember, Shinsano is a part-time Cub scout in Korea.

 

If Shinsano is at all in touch with how Cub management feels about the guy, I think it's safe to say that we won't be involved in any competitive bids.

[Guest]

I've added the White Sox' signing of Cuban defector Dayan Viciedo and the Pirates' signings of Million Dollar Arm contestants Dinesh Patel and Rinku Singh of India to the list of signings in the original post.

 

Japanese amateur righty Junichi Tazawa will likely choose the Red Sox over the Braves, Mariners, Indians and the Ranger (who offered the richest contract in dollars and years). The Tigers did not make a contract offer and it seems as though the Cubs haven't either.

[CoolHandLuke]

Anyone good at hunting down signing dates?

 

I need to know when Rayni Guichardo signed with the Tigers.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

It's far from scientific when it comes to international prospects. Here's an article posted February 12 talking about the signing.

 

http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache:9fxMbP6-rL8J:tigers.scout.com/2/728631.html+tigers+sign+guichardo&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us