2010 Int'l FA Market

[davell]

Great to see us make a signing on the first day. Not a whole lot happened today actually, as far as big name signings anyway. It's definitely a risk with all the roids and the age issues, but I still hope we make our presence known down in Central America and keep up the Pac Rim signings as well.

[Guest]

Great to see us make a signing on the first day. Not a whole lot happened today actually, as far as big name signings anyway. It's definitely a risk with all the roids and the age issues, but I still hope we make our presence known down in Central America and keep up the Pac Rim signings as well.

 

Well, I have to think Sanchez must have been cleared of the steroid/age issues because a lot of teams are waiting for Dominicans to be cleared by MLB's investigations before they sign.

[davell]

Great to see us make a signing on the first day. Not a whole lot happened today actually, as far as big name signings anyway. It's definitely a risk with all the roids and the age issues, but I still hope we make our presence known down in Central America and keep up the Pac Rim signings as well.

 

Well, I have to think Sanchez must have been cleared of the steroid/age issues because a lot of teams are waiting for Dominicans to be cleared by MLB's investigations before they sign.

 

Yeah, I was trying to say that about the Central American signees in general and that it's definitely possible to wind up with some issues, as it just seems very corrupt. But, I agree that Sanchez and anyone else who actually signed today have probably been cleared.

 

In the end though, it's a necessary risk to spend some cash down there. Like I said, I hope we sign a few more guys to decent bonuses personally.

[Guest]

Great to see us make a signing on the first day. Not a whole lot happened today actually, as far as big name signings anyway. It's definitely a risk with all the roids and the age issues, but I still hope we make our presence known down in Central America and keep up the Pac Rim signings as well.

 

Well, I have to think Sanchez must have been cleared of the steroid/age issues because a lot of teams are waiting for Dominicans to be cleared by MLB's investigations before they sign.

 

Yeah, I was trying to say that about the Central American signees in general and that it's definitely possible to wind up with some issues, as it just seems very corrupt. But, I agree that Sanchez and anyone else who actually signed today have probably been cleared.

 

In the end though, it's a necessary risk to spend some cash down there. Like I said, I hope we sign a few more guys to decent bonuses personally.

 

To clarify, MLB is not investigating anyone outside of the Dominican. That's one of the reasons more Venezuelans have signed today.

[Guest]

Mauricio Cabrera is the younger brother of Alberto Cabrera, a 22-year-old righthander pitching for Double-A Tennessee with the Cubs. At around 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Mauricio Cabrera is also a righthander, and he's been able to get his fastball up into the high-80s. Cabrera also throws a curveball but his changeup is advanced for his age and might be his best pitch. The Red Sox and Braves are among the teams that have reportedly shown interest in Cabrera.

 

This is when I question the true value of the Latin market and whether or not the bidding wars have inflated their true value.

 

I know he's only 16yo, which would put him as a Junior in HS. But many HS pitchers with an upper 80s-low 90s FB and a plus breaking/offspeed pitch likely won't get much above 150K of a signing bonus.

 

Without a doubt and when you consider the limited views you get of these players (and you rarely see them in a game setting) along with the steroids/age issues, the Latin market is incredibly risky. On the flip side, draft-eligible players would also get tons more if they were all on the open market instead.

[craig]

Sanchez, who is from Bani, is a righthanded hitter with a projectable 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame with above-average raw power. He's an average runner with a solid-average arm.

 

Interesting. Other than the alleged big-ticket 3B we signed from Venez last year, Sanchez to my knowledge might be the first significant-dollar position player we've signed since Felix Pie and Alfredo Francisco(?) back in the 2001 type era. (Resume debate about whether Pie got $125 or $250 or was a $25 bargain, heh heh heh...) Back in the mid-90's they signed a large-dollar catcher, Juan Salazar. But otherwise I'm unaware of the Cubs really spending very strong on position players in Latin. Some pitchers yes (Suarez, they spend a lot on a Martinez? back in the Francisco era who quickly fried his arm...)

 

Sanchez also sounds interesting because Alfredo(?) seemed to be the only dollar guy we ever signed as a power prospect. Most of the position guys have seemed to be liked by the Cubs either because they were fast (middle-infield CF types) or had strong arms (after they couldn't hit, they'd perhaps switch to pitcher.)

 

But Sanchez, if he's 6'2", projectable, above-average raw power, that looks like a guy who might be a power guy and almost certainly won't be a SS.

 

Agree, these Latin players are highly risky. Not like the old days where they'd scout scrawny malnourished kids who'd sometimes blossom fast with a healthy diet. Now a dollar-guy has been run by a buscone who's building him up with both food and steroids. Kids hardly show in many games, so you see a game or two and watch some batting practice. I'd guess scouts are pretty vulnerable to the Harvey/Mallory syndrome; a kid can bomb a few BP pitches, but whether he has any plate discipline, whether he can react on hard stuff, whether he can handle movement, and whether he has any baseball instincts or baserunning instincts or actual game defensive abilities, can't tell. You've got to figure you're going to train the player on every one of those things. Being in the buscone's cow-factory doesn't emphasize that kind of stuff.

 

But fun to have the Cubs do anything, and sign somebody where we know he's a name to track, such that if he does produce, we know we should notice.

 

Tangent: there are a variety of Latin pitchers who are doing OK at Boise/Mesa thus far. But they are all in the 6'0"-6'2" range, and all but one are 20-21 and in their 3rd or 4th pro seasons. (One guy is 18...) If I'd known one was signed for $250, I'd watch him more. But I have no idea whether any of these 20-21 year old Latins are more than roster fillers. Are these like 38th round college draftees who sign for $15K and have no future? Or are some of these guys who do or will throw 90-95, and while they were 6'1" 160 when signed at 17, they are or will be 6'3" 225 and plenty strong? (Angel Guzman type story....)

[Guest]

Some other signings over the last 36 hours:

 

Atlanta: RHP Mauricio Cabrera, Dominican Republic - high 6-figure bonus - Cubs farmhand Alberto Cabrera's younger brother

Colorado: LHP Jose Tovar, Venezuela - $350,000

Detroit: OF Danry Vasquez, Venezuela - expected to be about $1 million

Minnesota: LHP Reyson Zoquier, Dominican Republic

Oakland: 3B Renato Nuñez, Venezuela - $2.2 million

Oakland: LHP Anderson Mata, Venezuela

Oakland: LHP Jose Torres, Venezuela

Philadelphia: SS Francisco Silva, Venezuela - $200,000

Tampa Bay: CF Yoel Araujo, Dominican Republic - $800,000 (biggest bonus ever handed to a Dominican by Tampa Bay)

 

Some older signings:

 

Cleveland: OF Chia-Ching Lin, Taiwan - $150,000

Minnesota: RHP Hung-Yi Chen, Taiwan - $100,000

St. Louis: RHP Carlos Matias, Dominican Republic (age 18; failed initial MLB investigation after signing with Boston) - $1.5 million

[UK1679666180]

 

Without a doubt and when you consider the limited views you get of these players (and you rarely see them in a game setting) along with the steroids/age issues, the Latin market is incredibly risky. On the flip side, draft-eligible players would also get tons more if they were all on the open market instead.

 

That brings us to the bigger question in regards to the 125K+ Latin signees, which is a bigger risk, overpaying for Latin prospects or allocating more of that money on more expensive Latin/Pacific Rim players in the open market or creating a draft shift towards more HS/JUCO players?

 

Dollar on the muscle is still dollar on the muscle regardless if it is in the draft or international. FAs.

 

While it might hurt their latin programs cont'g to go more quantity over quality, I have preferences allocating that money towards the draft rather than free market highly sought after Latin players.

[Bruno7481]

Interesting article on baseball academies in the Dominican. The Cubs complex is not painted in the best light.

 

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2004099,00.html

[Outshined_One]

Interesting article on baseball academies in the Dominican. The Cubs complex is not painted in the best light.

 

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2004099,00.html

 

Jim Hendry responds, plus Sandy Alderson also weighed in.

 

At the Cubs academy one hazy afternoon, 10 prospects piled into a room that, at best, could comfortably fit two or three. There were four bunk beds crammed into the space; two kids napped while sharing a mattress on the floor. Several players said they all lived in that room. I snapped a picture of the scene and showed it to Sandy Alderson, the veteran baseball executive who was tapped by MLB commissioner Bud Selig earlier this year to clean up the sport in the D.R. He said the conditions were "not acceptable," though he later insisted that not all 10 prospects actually lived in that room and that players sometimes sleep on the floor because it's cooler. Still, he stood by his "unacceptable" assessment. It's difficult to disagree with a Dominican man who also saw the scene. "It looked like [expletive] county lockup," he said."

 

Cubs beat writer Carrie Muskat reports that Cubs player development director Oneri Fleita, said "players were sharing a room because maids were cleaning the other rooms and that the mattress was on the floor because a player had a bad back and it was more comfortable to sleep that way."

 

"I've been down there and we've housed and fed up to 50 to 60 players at a time," Hendry told Muskat . "We certainly feel like our whole situation down there is well above average. It's certainly good enough for our Major League players to go in there and help in the offseason when they're home. We have such a good relationship with [Alfonso] Soriano and [Aramis] Ramirez and [Carlos] Marmol that if they felt there were any glaring deficiencies, they would've come to me."

[Guest]

Two of the top Dominican prospects in the 2011 international free agency period are on the 2010 Under Armour roster: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/high-school/events/under-armour-preseason-all-america-tournament/2010/2610524.html

 

Ronniel Demorizi, IF, San Francisco de Macoris, D.R.

One of two Dominican prospects at the event, Demorizi is a fluid defender who should be one of the top international shortstops during 2011's international signing period. He has soft, sure hands with a quick release and good instincts in the infield. Demorizi utilizes a line-drive stroke from both sides of the plate and profiles as a top-of-the order hitter.

 

Ronald Guzman, OF, La Vega, D.R.

Guzman is a 15-year-old outfielder from the Domincan Republic. He has a long, thin-frame and is a lefthanded hitter with easy, effortless actions and excellent balance. He drives the ball to all fields and will develop power with physical maturity. Guzman will be eligible to sign during the 2011 international signing period.

[davell]

I guess I'm still holding out hope we make another splashy signing or two this year. There's still quite a few of the known names still out there from what I can tell.......No idea if we're in on any of them, but with the savings from Lilly, Theriot, and Fontenot, I was hoping to see us jump in and get a guy or two.

[Guest]

The Pirates are having an amazing summer. On top of signing Stetson Allie and Jameson Tailon in the last week, they just signed the top Latin IFA pitcher, RHP Luis Heredia of Mexico. He just turned 16 yesterday and got $2.6 million.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=10108

[wvcbxl]

The Cubs have signed 16yr old Italian catcher Alberto Mineo at MLB's European Baseball Academy.

 

Link

 

http://bora.la/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/alberto-mineo1.jpg

 

Pic of the new guy.

[TruffleShuffle]

i always said the cubs needed to get more italian.

[Guest]

Most Europeans don't sign till they're 18 so hopefully that's a good sign showing he's a significant prospect.

[Guest]

Most Europeans don't sign till they're 18 so hopefully that's a good sign showing he's a significant prospect.

or he couldn't hack high school. :)

[JockJones]

I always enjoy signing players that play for teams with cool names like The New Black Panthers.

[Outshined_One]

I always enjoy signing players that play for teams with cool names like The New Black Panthers.

 

That's almost better than the Nippon Ham Fighters.

[davell]

I hate bringing this thread back up with us not signing anyone(because I am hopeful everyday that I see it bimped because we HAVE signed someone) but Vicmal de la Cruz was signed by the A's for 800,000 yesterday. This was a guy that was rumored to be getting 2 mil+. Steylon Peguero has still yet to sign and numbers of others as well, from what I can tell. With Wagner Mateo going for 550,000 because of his eye issue and now seeing how far de la Cruz fell, it's time for Ricketts to put his money where his mouth is. There are damn good values still out there and it's time to show the commitment to the minor league system, as you've been preaching about.

[questionmarkgrace]

I hate bringing this thread back up with us not signing anyone(because I am hopeful everyday that I see it bimped because we HAVE signed someone) but Vicmal de la Cruz was signed by the A's for 800,000 yesterday. This was a guy that was rumored to be getting 2 mil+. Steylon Peguero has still yet to sign and numbers of others as well, from what I can tell. With Wagner Mateo going for 550,000 because of his eye issue and now seeing how far de la Cruz fell, it's time for Ricketts to put his money where his mouth is. There are damn good values still out there and it's time to show the commitment to the minor league system, as you've been preaching about.

 

I agree. We know that great players come from the dominican republic all the time. We think asia may have that same potential but no one has developed a star player who wasnt already a professional there. The point is quit messing around and pay for players we know that can be good not that we hope are good. Why we arent continually signing top latin american prospects is beyond me.

[TruffleShuffle]

We think asia may have that same potential but no one has developed a star player who wasnt already a professional there.

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/tribe_impact/2009/06/medium_shin-soo-choo-2009.jpg

[Guest]

I hate bringing this thread back up with us not signing anyone(because I am hopeful everyday that I see it bimped because we HAVE signed someone) but Vicmal de la Cruz was signed by the A's for 800,000 yesterday. This was a guy that was rumored to be getting 2 mil+. Steylon Peguero has still yet to sign and numbers of others as well, from what I can tell. With Wagner Mateo going for 550,000 because of his eye issue and now seeing how far de la Cruz fell, it's time for Ricketts to put his money where his mouth is. There are damn good values still out there and it's time to show the commitment to the minor league system, as you've been preaching about.

 

I agree. We know that great players come from the dominican republic all the time. We think asia may have that same potential but no one has developed a star player who wasnt already a professional there. The point is quit messing around and pay for players we know that can be good not that we hope are good. Why we arent continually signing top latin american prospects is beyond me.

Latin America is a sesspool of corruption and misinformation. I think MLB is doing their best to clean up things, but right now I'd rather the Cubs not get deeply involved financially and spend high dollars elsewhere.

[Guest]

I hate bringing this thread back up with us not signing anyone(because I am hopeful everyday that I see it bimped because we HAVE signed someone) but Vicmal de la Cruz was signed by the A's for 800,000 yesterday. This was a guy that was rumored to be getting 2 mil+. Steylon Peguero has still yet to sign and numbers of others as well, from what I can tell. With Wagner Mateo going for 550,000 because of his eye issue and now seeing how far de la Cruz fell, it's time for Ricketts to put his money where his mouth is. There are damn good values still out there and it's time to show the commitment to the minor league system, as you've been preaching about.

 

I agree. We know that great players come from the dominican republic all the time. We think asia may have that same potential but no one has developed a star player who wasnt already a professional there. The point is quit messing around and pay for players we know that can be good not that we hope are good. Why we arent continually signing top latin american prospects is beyond me.

Latin America is a sesspool of corruption and misinformation. I think MLB is doing their best to clean up things, but right now I'd rather the Cubs not get deeply involved financially and spend high dollars elsewhere.

[javy knows my name]

I hate bringing this thread back up with us not signing anyone(because I am hopeful everyday that I see it bimped because we HAVE signed someone) but Vicmal de la Cruz was signed by the A's for 800,000 yesterday. This was a guy that was rumored to be getting 2 mil+. Steylon Peguero has still yet to sign and numbers of others as well, from what I can tell. With Wagner Mateo going for 550,000 because of his eye issue and now seeing how far de la Cruz fell, it's time for Ricketts to put his money where his mouth is. There are damn good values still out there and it's time to show the commitment to the minor league system, as you've been preaching about.

 

I agree. We know that great players come from the dominican republic all the time. We think asia may have that same potential but no one has developed a star player who wasnt already a professional there. The point is quit messing around and pay for players we know that can be good not that we hope are good. Why we arent continually signing top latin american prospects is beyond me.

Latin America is a sesspool of corruption and misinformation. I think MLB is doing their best to clean up things, but right now I'd rather the Cubs not get deeply involved financially and spend high dollars elsewhere.

I especially love the practice of "hiding" players. I'm happy to attempt to tap into a new market, as well.