2009 Int'l FA Market: Cubs Sign 6 For $250,000+ Bonuses

[toonsterwu]

I'd love to see the Cubs jump into this, but unless the price drops dramatically, I'm not expecting it. But if it does drop, to say around 1 million, it would be a nice gamble to make, provide he works out well and the issues aren't glaring enough to worry.

[Guest]

20-year old Dominican OF Eladio Moronta had his age-related suspension lifted. Most teams knew he wasn't 16 or 17 and were still interested in him before the suspension; he'll still garner a lot of interest despite his advanced age because he has projectable tools. This is similar to Venezuelan RHP Daniel Sanchez (also suspended) who everyone knows is around 20 but is still drawing a lot of interest due to his high ceiling.

 

Miguel Angel Sano = Edward Salcedo.

[Outshined_One]

Twins get Sano

 

That was unexpected.

[Guest]

Miguel Angel Sano = Edward Salcedo.

 

Whoops. Never mind that.

[CUBZ99]

Twins get Sano

 

That was unexpected.

 

No kidding.

[Guest]

alan (miami) Have you heard anything on Rafael DePaula, the pitcher from the DR suspended by MLB?

 

Ben Badler (2:16 PM) The word around the Dominican Republic for the last month or so is that he might try to go to Japan to play. Not many players have gone that route, and it would certainly be a dramatic cultural difference.

 

Tony (Battle Creek) Ben, do you share Jim Callis' views on where Aroldis Chapman would rank in a top 100 done today (i.e., somewhere in the top 25, lists about a dozen guys he'd certainly take above Chapman)? About where would Chapman rank on your list, particularly with regard to other pitchers (e.g., Bumgarner, Parker, Friedrich, Matusz)?

 

Ben Badler (2:51 PM) I do agree with Jim. He's an elite pitching prospect with a heck of an arm, but there's a bias in what tends to get reported about unsigned players that skews everything to be positive and minimizes or often doesn't even acknowledge the long list of risks involved with the player.

[Guest]

Twins get Sano

 

That was unexpected.

 

No kidding.

 

Not really, the Twins were always mentioned as the second most interested team behind the Pirates.

[Outshined_One]

Twins get Sano

 

That was unexpected.

 

No kidding.

 

Not really, the Twins were always mentioned as the second most interested team behind the Pirates.

 

But they've never been big spenders in the international market, either.

[Guest]

Twins get Sano

 

That was unexpected.

 

No kidding.

 

Not really, the Twins were always mentioned as the second most interested team behind the Pirates.

 

But they've never been big spenders in the international market, either.

 

Nor have the Pirates (until this season) or Orioles and they were the other 2 likely destinations for Sano. The big players in Latin America were staying away for whatever reason.

[davell]

We are not one of the 7 teams Kikuchi is meeting with from major league baseball. He still hasn't decided whether or not he's coming either.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Cubs, White Sox, Cards Interested In Aroldis Chapman

By Tim Dierkes [October 22, 2009 at 2:39pm CST]

MLBTR has learned that the Cubs and White Sox have expressed interest in free agenty lefty Aroldis Chapman. The Cardinals have been more aggressive than those clubs, and plan to meet with Chapman next week.

 

The Chapman tour began yesterday in New York, as the 21-year-old's agency decided not to make MLB clubs come to Andorra. ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. believes Chapman will command a contract in the $40-60MM range.

 

I still say he ends up with Yanks or Red Sox.

[toonsterwu]

It'd be nice, but that's just a lot of money that I can't see the organization doling out this offseason.

[Guest]

I doubt the Cubs would spend the amount required to sign him.

 

I know the White Sox are aggressive with Cuban defectors but I don't see them going after someone that expensive. The Cardinals do have a little coin from the failed Wagner Mateo signing and they want to make a splash internationally but Chapman is going to cost a lot more money than a 16-year old for more years. I don't know the inner workings for the Cardinals financials but that would likely cut into Holliday money.

[Guest]

Kevin Golstein from BP: http://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=9697

 

Aroldis Chapman, LHP, No Team

The big story this week Chapman's arrival in the United States, as he's ready to begin the process of joining Major League Baseball. He arrived with both his agent and a huge price tag, one that has already had many teams saying they're out of the running. On a scouting level, he's nearly unprecedented as a 21-year-old southpaw with size, projection, and a fastball that already rests comfortably in the upper 90s, but beyond that, there are nagging concerns, as the mental adjustment for Cubans is often unpredictable, and scouts have had little opportunity to see him pitch live against top-notch competition. While he's already met with several teams, the Yankees are the overwhelming favorite to land him, as they have the cash, and Chapman seems to want to play on the biggest stage possible. Perhaps the rich will get richer, because nobody can afford to risk more than the Yankees.

 

Yusei Kikuchi, LHP, No team yet, but it ain't going to be a big-league one

In one of those "much ado about nothing" stories, Kikuchi flirted with bringing his mid-90s heat to America, which led to heavy courting from the usual big-money suspects, as well as the Texas Rangers, who have gotten as aggressive as anyone internationally. In the end, however, the 18-year-old decided to stay home, where he'll likely be the first pick in this week's NPB draft. Unlike the majors, the waiting period for free agency in Japan is a nine-year haul, so we won't be hearing his name again over here for a decade.