2010 Int'l FA Market

[Outshined_One]

Considering the Cubs' recent signing, now seems as good of a time as any to start this thread. Signings and bonus information will be posted as they become available.

 

Cub Six-Figure Signees (age as of 3/2/11):

 

RHP Kim Jin-Yeong (South Korea) - $850,000 bonus - age 18

SS Carlos Penalver (Venezuela) - $550,000 bonus - age 16

3B Jeimer Candelario (Dominican Republic) - $500,000 bonus - age 17

OF Jeffrey Baez (Venezuela) - $350,000 bonus - age 17

SS Francisco (Daniel) Sanchez (Dominican Republic) - $350,000 bonus - age 17

LHP Angel Mejias (Venezuela) - age 17

C Alberto Mineo (Italy) - $225,000 bonus - age 16

RHP Alexander Santana (Dominican Republic) - age 17

SS Antonio Gonzalez (Dominican Republic)

RHP Gilberto Abreu (Dominican Republic) - age 17 - pre-July 2 signee

 

OF Rubi Silva (Cuba) - $1 million bonus - age 21

C Yaniel Cabeza (Cuba) - $500,000 bonus - age 21

RHP Juan Yasser Serrano (Cuba) - $250,000 bonus - age 21

[Post Count Padder]

The Cuban baseball news blog cubanballplayers.com is reporting that right-handed pitching prospect Juan Yasser Serrano "may have signed" a $250,000 contract with the Chicago Cubs. No other details are available on the site.

 

Serrano defected from Cuba in April of 2009, but as a reminder of what that term signifies, he was also arrested for attempted illegal departure in January. Upon finally arriving in Miami, he took up with popular Cuban agent Jaime Torres in time to see his name pop up in a few stretch run signing rumors. This winter, Serrano has been connected to at least 10 teams, and on February 19, he reportedly threw a two-inning simulation for the Cubs, striking out four and allowing one run on an infield hit.

 

When reporting Serrano's defection in April, Jorge Ebro at the Miami-based Nuevo Herald mentioned that the pitcher had been 16 when he appeared in his first Cuban Serie Nacional, in 2006 for the Villa Clara Orangemen. That would make him either 20 or 21 now.

[Guest]

I just wish that we signed a big slugging OF named Serrano.

[Pushfrog98]

hats for bats.

[Guest]

hats for bats.

It's very bad to steal Jobu's rum. VERY bad.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/03/cubs-on-verge-of-signing-cuban-defector.html

[Outshined_One]

Jesus, I like him very much. But he no help with curveball.

[Guest]

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/03/cubs-on-verge-of-signing-cuban-defector.html

 

I like how they make Smaily Borges seem like a big deal. The guy was 25 and in the DSL last season and got no publicity when he signed.

 

You have to be wary of the wear and tear on Cuban arms but I do like that the Cubs have really started targeting Cuba like they have the Pac Rim (while the Cubs missed on Iglesias and Arguelles, they were in it for both and even offered the most money for Iglesias).

[erik316wttn]

Jesus, I like him very much. But he no help with curveball.

 

Are you tryin' to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?

[JeffH]

I just wish that we signed a big slugging OF named Serrano.

 

President David Palmer!

[indycub]

I just wish that we signed a big slugging OF named Serrano.

YES! The Cubs need all the voodoo magic they can get this season. :lol:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ycizRyh8NHE/SGPUXAhXCoI/AAAAAAAAAFc/p84y69-WHuo/s400/Jobu.jpg

[craig]

I like how they make Smaily Borges seem like a big deal. The guy was 25 and in the DSL last season and got no publicity when he signed...

 

When I was 12, I would have wished he'd get called up. If he was good, I'd have liked it, and if he wasn't then I could call him "Smelly".

 

I was actually surprised that BA put him on their LF list. Outside the top-30, but he was notable enough to get listed on the LF depth chart.

 

It's possible he was in DSL rather than US for visa reasons.

 

Obviously to have such unspectacular numbers 7 promotions from the majors isn't too thrilling, though.

[danonwaveland]

I just wish that we signed a big slugging OF named Serrano.

 

President David Palmer!

 

Copy that!

[Guest]

I like how they make Smaily Borges seem like a big deal. The guy was 25 and in the DSL last season and got no publicity when he signed...

 

When I was 12, I would have wished he'd get called up. If he was good, I'd have liked it, and if he wasn't then I could call him "Smelly".

 

I was actually surprised that BA put him on their LF list. Outside the top-30, but he was notable enough to get listed on the LF depth chart.

 

It's possible he was in DSL rather than US for visa reasons.

 

Obviously to have such unspectacular numbers 7 promotions from the majors isn't too thrilling, though.

 

You know, I never noticed that in the BA Handbook. I had thought of visa issues but since I had heard nothing about Smelly, I didn't think he had much value.

 

He'll definitely have to make a full season squad this season.

[ddwyer]

Where do you think Serrano will fit into our prospect list? Does he fall into the 30-40 range?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Jesus, I like him very much. But he no help with curveball.

 

Are you tryin' to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?

 

Aww [expletive]! Let's not start a holy war year!

[craig]

You know, I never noticed that in the BA Handbook. I had thought of visa issues but since I had heard nothing about Smelly, I didn't think he had much value. He'll definitely have to make a full season squad this season.

 

Yeah. I'd figure he'll play in full season, perhaps Daytona, or else if he's not worthy of that he'll be released in camp. The latter would seem very possible.

 

Where do you think Serrano will fit into our prospect list? Does he fall into the 30-40 range?

 

I'd think that might be a little high if anything, but that might be a fair range. $250K, that's comparable to what, slot money for a 4th or 5th round draft pick? And a draft pick has no leverage, whereas Serrano had a free agent market, so if anything I'd guess his potential is somewhat less than your normal $250K draft pick.

 

$250K or a 4th-8th round draft area is a range where I'm always interested and think a guy has a chance to emerge into a meaningful prospect if things go right. So hope is there, rightfully. But certainly most don't succeed, so expectations shouldn't really be there.

[Guest]

You know, I never noticed that in the BA Handbook. I had thought of visa issues but since I had heard nothing about Smelly, I didn't think he had much value. He'll definitely have to make a full season squad this season.

 

Yeah. I'd figure he'll play in full season, perhaps Daytona, or else if he's not worthy of that he'll be released in camp. The latter would seem very possible.

 

Where do you think Serrano will fit into our prospect list? Does he fall into the 30-40 range?

 

I'd think that might be a little high if anything, but that might be a fair range. $250K, that's comparable to what, slot money for a 4th or 5th round draft pick? And a draft pick has no leverage, whereas Serrano had a free agent market, so if anything I'd guess his potential is somewhat less than your normal $250K draft pick.

 

$250K or a 4th-8th round draft area is a range where I'm always interested and think a guy has a chance to emerge into a meaningful prospect if things go right. So hope is there, rightfully. But certainly most don't succeed, so expectations shouldn't really be there.

 

And as a Cuban free agent of age 20, he has more leverage than a Pac Rim 18-year old or a majority of the non-elite 16-year olds in Latin America.

[Outshined_One]

It's a week old, but it went unnoticed when Muskat posted this.

 

Link

 

The Cubs have reached an agreement with Cuban right-handed pitching prospect Juan Yasser Serrano. However, the deal is not expected to be finalized for another month.

 

The team has not confirmed the report.

 

Serrano, who defected from Cuba in April 2009, still needs to undergo a physical before he can join the Cubs. There also is additional paperwork that must be completed before the deal is finalized, a baseball source said Wednesday.

 

There was a report that Serrano threw a two-inning simulated game for the Cubs, striking out four and giving up one run on an infield hit, but a baseball source denied that took place.

[davell]

There's a blurb on MLBTRADERUMORS that the D-Backs are close to a deal with Wagner Mateo for around 500K......Man, that's a bigtime drop from the 3.1 mill he had with the Cards. He supposedly looked good too, from the auditions he had during ST. If he signs for this amount, I'll be kind of disappointed the Cubs didn't take a shot with him. If I remember, I think he played a ST game with us and looked damn good......

[Guest]

There's a blurb on MLBTRADERUMORS that the D-Backs are close to a deal with Wagner Mateo for around 500K......Man, that's a bigtime drop from the 3.1 mill he had with the Cards. He supposedly looked good too, from the auditions he had during ST. If he signs for this amount, I'll be kind of disappointed the Cubs didn't take a shot with him. If I remember, I think he played a ST game with us and looked damn good......

 

Yeah, that's the rumor going around. From what I gathered, the Cubs do like him.

[davell]

Martin Steylon Peguero, a SS appears to be on the Cubs' radar. He's evidently the best SS on the July 2nd market and supposedly already has at least one offer of more than a million bucks. I saw this on MLBTRADERUMORS today, but it was posted a few days ago. They listed 6-7 teams as having serious interest in him.

 

On a side note, assuming this info is correct, it totally shoots holes throughout my theory that we are stacked enough in the middle infield, to where we wouldn't go out and spend big on more prospects at 2B or SS.

 

Is there a list out anywhere yet as to who the bigtime prospects are on the International market as of yet this year?

[Guest]

Martin Steylon Peguero, a SS appears to be on the Cubs' radar. He's evidently the best SS on the July 2nd market and supposedly already has at least one offer of more than a million bucks. I saw this on MLBTRADERUMORS today, but it was posted a few days ago. They listed 6-7 teams as having serious interest in him.

 

On a side note, assuming this info is correct, it totally shoots holes throughout my theory that we are stacked enough in the middle infield, to where we wouldn't go out and spend big on more prospects at 2B or SS.

 

The question is how stacked will the organization be by the end of the season, especially at SS? Well, already the top of the many middle infielder prospects is up with the big leagues and Darwin Barney is knocking on the big league squad's door as a utility guy.

 

In terms of shortstops, Ryan Flaherty, DJ LeMahieu and Logan Watkins have already moved away (and Wes Darvill can't be too far behind converting). So Barney and Hak-Ju Lee are the only SS top 30 prospects in the minors. Beyond that, Junior Lake has massively struggled once again this season, Marwin Gonzalez projects as a utility guy, Ping-Chieh Chen does have some potential but is very raw and Arismendy Alcantara and Rafael Disla are even rawer (and don't have *that* much hype in terms of potential).

 

And that's without considering a guy like Peguero could move away from SS (like Migue Angel Sano is expected to eventually be a 3B or RF).

 

Is there a list out anywhere yet as to who the bigtime prospects are on the International market as of yet this year?

 

BA normally releases their earliest stuff around now but things don't really amp up until the draft is over.

[Outshined_One]

There's a blurb on MLBTRADERUMORS that the D-Backs are close to a deal with Wagner Mateo for around 500K......Man, that's a bigtime drop from the 3.1 mill he had with the Cards. He supposedly looked good too, from the auditions he had during ST. If he signs for this amount, I'll be kind of disappointed the Cubs didn't take a shot with him. If I remember, I think he played a ST game with us and looked damn good......

 

Yeah, that's the rumor going around. From what I gathered, the Cubs do like him.

 

Diamondbacks signed him today for $500k.

[Guest]

I did some digging. Here are the non-Cubans who have already signed:

 

Astros: SS Juan Carlos Batista, Dominican Republic, age 16

Astros: RHP Michael Feliz, Dominican Republic

Astros: RHP Jose Montero, Dominican Republic

Braves: SS Edward Salcedo, Dominican Republic, age 18 - $1.6 million (remember him?)

Cubs: RHP Jin-Yeong Kim, South Korea, age 17 - $1.2 million

Cubs: RHP Juan Yeser Serrano, Cuba, age 21 - $250,000 bonus

Diamondbacks: OF Wagner Mateo, Dominican Republic, age 17 - $512,000

Mariners: Mariners: LHP Scott Ronnenbergh, Netherlands, age 18

Padres: 3B Duanel Jones, Dominican Republic - $900,000

Phillies: RHP Marek Minarik, Czech Republic, age 16

Tigers: RHP Jose Rodriguez, Venezuela, age 17

Yankees: RHP Erik Olivo, Dominican Republic - $300,000

Yankees: C Rainiero Coa, Venezuela, age 17