2011 International FA Market

[StarlinOnYou]

Is Michael Ynoa any good? I can't seem to find his minorleague numbers.

 

And wow Acosta & Malave would be nice hauls.

 

Exciting to know that Ricketts may be serious about spending on the farm.

 

Baez, Vogel, Maples, and the rest of the 2011 class now please!

[TruffleShuffle]

Is Michael Ynoa any good? I can't seem to find his minorleague numbers.

 

he blew out his elbow and had TJS.

[questionmarkgrace]

Its about time we started going all out in latin america. With drug testing, age verification, and the agent spoils system cleaned up its a much safer investment. Love to see this, it shows me ricketts is serious about making the farm system produce some top talent.

[davell]

I'll admit to being super jealous of what Texas has done today, but if I put it in perspective, I'm not as envious as I could be......They just decided to spend big here instead of in the draft basically.......They've already signed their top 4 picks and the only true overslot guys they took are Derek Fisher and TJ Costen. And something tells me they're missing out on Fisher since they just gave this kid 5 mill or so. In the end, I'd actually rather have our draft possibilities still and the potential to get this Malave kid and maybe a few more guys, than what Texas has done in their combined draft/signing period.......

 

If you really think about it, would we have been happy to sign a guy for 5 mill? Especially in a case like this, when very few think he's worth it or even close? Sure, there's the part of me that would be thinking "wow, we must REALLY see something in that guy" but a much larger part would be wondering how much better that money would have looked spread around to 4-5 guys.......

 

Part of me wonders if we're still in on the Cuban kid that almost was draft eligible and was wanting 15 mill. I'm also wondering about that Korean pitcher and if we're in on him. We've certainly addressed the power shortage in our system. To me, it's to the point(assuming some of these guys look even remotely decent) that we're looking for pitching early and often next year in the draft.

 

I'm extremely happy with how things have gone so far this year though on this side of things. We've got to make some tough signings obviously, but if we do, it's not going to surprise me whatsoever if we aren't a top 5 system here in 2-3 years. The commitment we're showing this year has been excellent and as much as I questioned Ricketts about all of this, I've got to say, I couldn't have asked for more right now either.(assuming we sign some of these draft picks and make another splash or two through IFA). But, right now, it's kind of hard not to think we won't be doing these things either.

[Guest]

Here's another link to some reports of the top prospects in the Dominican: http://www.dplbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88:july-2nd-class-of-2011&catid=1:latest-news

 

No players linked to or signed by the Cubs mentioned.

[dew1679666265]

It'd probably just be wild speculation at this point, but I wonder if the Cubs spending 7 figures on Acosta and (reportedly) Malave is a sign that they don't feel encouraged about their prospects of signing some of the overslot guys (Maples, Dunston, etc) from the draft?

 

Basically, I wonder if these signings are connected to the draft or not? And for those more in the know than I, if it came down to it, would you prefer signing Acosta/Malave or two of the overslots?

[davell]

It'd probably just be wild speculation at this point, but I wonder if the Cubs spending 7 figures on Acosta and (reportedly) Malave is a sign that they don't feel encouraged about their prospects of signing some of the overslot guys (Maples, Dunston, etc) from the draft?

 

Basically, I wonder if these signings are connected to the draft or not? And for those more in the know than I, if it came down to it, would you prefer signing Acosta/Malave or two of the overslots?

 

 

I'd rather sign the draft guys, because they're at least slightly more developed. That said, we've heard from basically everyone within the organization that we're spending more money in both areas, so I don't think they're connected in any way.

[dew1679666265]

It'd probably just be wild speculation at this point, but I wonder if the Cubs spending 7 figures on Acosta and (reportedly) Malave is a sign that they don't feel encouraged about their prospects of signing some of the overslot guys (Maples, Dunston, etc) from the draft?

 

Basically, I wonder if these signings are connected to the draft or not? And for those more in the know than I, if it came down to it, would you prefer signing Acosta/Malave or two of the overslots?

 

 

I'd rather sign the draft guys, because they're at least slightly more developed. That said, we've heard from basically everyone within the organization that we're spending more money in both areas, so I don't think they're connected in any way.

 

That's kind of what I was thinking on the draft guys, more polished and you know a little more what you've got. With the focus on HS kids in the draft we had this year, the upside gap is probably smaller between the draftees and international kids anyway.

 

On how the money is divvied out, I'm hopeful that you're right, but my question rose out of the perception that nobody (that I saw) was expecting the Cubs to shell out 7 figures to Acosta, so it coming as a relative surprise might indicate something has changed in their expectations on the draftees. I'm not really saying they aren't planning to spend more on both, just that the Acosta signing for 1.1 mil caught me off guard and made me wonder if something spurred them to act on him.

[Guest]

A couple of things:

 

In multiple stories, Acosta wasn't linked to anyone so no one knew where he was headed. And the Cubs have been getting a rep of working under the radar. So while the Acosta signing was a surprise to us and BA, it wasn't necessarily a big surprise that the Cubs got on him. Also, the Cubs were considered big spenders going into July 2.

 

I don't think the IFA and draft are related like you're talking about, dew. Heck, the Cubs don't even know what they're offering some of their tough sign since they are summer follows. They probably haven't scouted them all and won't make competitve offers to them till August.

[dew1679666265]

In multiple stories, Acosta wasn't linked to anyone so no one knew where he was headed. And the Cubs have been getting a rep of working under the radar. So while the Acosta signing was a surprise to us and BA, it wasn't necessarily a big surprise that the Cubs got on him. Also, the Cubs were considered big spenders going into July 2.

 

That's a good point about the Cubs working under the radar. I hadn't thought about that before posting.

 

I don't think the IFA and draft are related like you're talking about, dew. Heck, the Cubs don't even know what they're offering some of their tough sign since they are summer follows. They probably haven't scouted them all and won't make competitve offers to them till August.

 

Interesting, I had assumed they'd begin the initial contract negotiations and whatnot shortly after the draft. I'm much more familiar with the NFL draft than the MLB draft, so I had mistakenly assumed they worked similarly (teams had a good idea what they were going to offer prior to drafting the player and worked from the start on talking the player down toward that number).

[craig]

According to this guy, Malave had an agreement to sign with Toronto and they were waiting to confirm it.

 

http://twitter.com/#!/iGranadillo/status/87018233437241345

[CUBZ99]

IIRC Hendry and Ricketts both stated before the season that there was flexibility built into the budget to allow for some additions if the Cubs were contenders. It might be possible that Ricketts realizes the Cubs won't be buyers at the deadline and is allow Hendry to use that money to pick up some decent prospects. If so, I would like to see the spending continue and some of the more intriguing draftees signed i.e. Maples...

[davell]

http://www.baseball-fever.com/archive/index.php/t-101808.html

 

I've looked all day to find anything on Malave. This is all I've got. Found it on Twitter through a website called chicitysports.com that had this link. No idea who this Scaffolds guy is, but he's certainly a dude that follows this stuff, to say the least. It looks like he's got a few other guys signed as well that haven't been listed as official as well.

 

At any rate, if you follow this link all the way to the bottom, it's got Malave to the Cubs for 1.5 mill. Until I see something official, I'll be wary obviously, but this looks like it has a shot at being real anyway.......

[craig]

Thanks, dave, I too have been wondering if they had really signed him, or if the report that Toronto had done so would be confirmed. This report twice says the Cubs, the latter time "confirmed", so I'm hoping the Toronto report was bogus (they seem to be signing scads of other guys....), and that indeed the Cubs have gotten him.

 

$1.5, that's a pretty big ticket. Lets hope A that it's true, and B that their valuation is justified and he turns out to be a good player.

 

I've got to give Hendry and Ricketts some credit.

 

You've got a new owner who probably wants to get some traction and success. And a lame-duck GM. You'd think both would understandably wants some NOW success.

 

So to be spending resources on 16-year-old Latin kids who are 8 years away from helping even if they ever do help is showing some nice discipline and long-term wisdom.

[Guest]

According to this link the following Venezuelans have signed:

 

P Victor Sanchez ($2.4mil not confirmed) Mariners

P Jose Leal ($1.5mil) Mariners

C Mark Malave ($1.5mil) Cubs

OF Jesus Gonzalez ($1.4mil) Blue Jays

SS Wilmer Becerra ($1.3mil) Blue Jays

C Jose Ruiz ($1.1mil) Padres

C Jose Garcia (>$1mil) Mets

SS Arturo Michelena ($220k) Astros

C Jose Godoy ($200k) Cardinals

[Guest]

According to their website, the Blue Jays have signed Dominican SS Dawel Lugo and Nicaraguan OF Osman Gutierrez. Bonuses aren't mentioned for either player. LINK

[Guest]

Here is BA's most recently updated list of signings LINK:

 

• Nomar Mazara, OF, Dominican Republic – Signed with Texas, reportedly for a record-breaking bonus around $5 million

• Ronald Guzman, OF, Dominican Republic – Texas, $3.5 million

• Elier Hernandez, OF, Dominican Republic – Kansas City, $3.05 million

• Dawel Lugo, SS, Dominican Republic – Toronto, $1.3 million

• Enrique Acosta, SS, Dominican Republic – Chicago Cubs, $1.1 million

• Dorssys Paulino, SS, Dominican Republic – Cleveland, $1.1 million

• Jose Ruiz, C, Venezuela – San Diego, $1.1 million

• Harold Ramirez, OF, Colombia – Pittsburgh, $1.05 million

• Manuel Marcos, OF, Dominican Republic – Boston, $800,000

• Jose Garcia, C, Venezuela – New York Mets, bonus unconfirmed, reportedly sandwich-round type money

• Miguel Andujar, 3B, Dominican Republic – New York Yankees, $750,000

• Adelin Santa, 3B, Dominican Republic – Detroit, $750,000

• Luis Reynoso, SS, Dominican Republic – Houston, $700,000

• Miguel Gonzalez, RHP, Dominican Republic – Minnesota, $650,000

• Elvis Escobar, OF, Venezuela – Pittsburgh, $570,000

• Dewin Perez, LHP, Colombia – St. Louis, $450,000

• Anthony Santander, OF, Venezuela – Cleveland, $385,000

• Iosif Bernal, OF, Panama – Atlanta, $230,000

• Arturo Michelena, SS, Veneuela – Houston, $220,000

• Jose Godoy, C, Venezuela – St. Louis, $200,000

• Francisco Miguel, OF, Dominican Republic – Cleveland, $200,000

[davell]

I'm hoping the reports we've heard are correct about Malave, because Ortega(the other C we were linked to) just signed with Tampa Bay.

[Guest]

The Cubs have agreed to terms with Venezuelan catcher Mark Malave and Venezuelan third baseman Ricardo Marcano. Bonus terms were not immediately available.

 

Malave, 16, is a 6-foot-1, 200-pound switch-hitting catcher with a strong arm and was expected to be among the top-paid catchers in Latin America this year. Marcano, 16, is 6-foot-2, 180 pounds and stands out for his lefthanded swing, though he may end up in the outfield.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/2011/07/cubs-agree-to-terms-with-mark-malave-ricardo-marcano/

[iowahawkeyes89]

So we've signed the #8, 9 and 30 of BA's top 40 international prospects?

 

Thats pretty solid \:D/

[Rob]

So we've signed the #8, 9 and 30 of BA's top 40 international prospects?

 

Thats pretty solid \:D/

 

I'll definitely take it.

 

Anybody know anything more about Marcano?

[Guest]

So we've signed the #8, 9 and 30 of BA's top 40 international prospects?

 

Thats pretty solid \:D/

 

That's correct! Remember, that's their top 40 expected bonuses list, not their actual rankings of the prospects. Malave probably got over a mil. Based on the players who signed near Marcano's ranking, Marcano probably got around $250,000-$400,000.

 

Malave's scouting report was posted on the previous page:

 

30.RICARDO MARCANO, 3B

VENEZUELA

B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 180

Marcano's name popped up more as international scouting directors have said he has one of the better lefthanded swings on the market. He played well at a showcase in Venezuela run by Major League Baseball in April, and some scouts believe he has the potential to hit for average and power. His body and swing remind some in Venezuela of Victor Martinez. Whether he remains in the infield remains to be seen. An average runner, Marcano will need work on defense, as his hands and feet aren't ideal for third base. His arm also isn't strong, though it could improve. Some scouts have looked at his body and thought about him behind the plate, though he could also end up in left field.

[Guest]

@BenBadler: LA players in our expected Top 20 $ w/ no confirmed deal: V. Sanchez, R. Osuna, He. Martinez, Mondesi (15), R. Flores, F. Reyes, Y. Mendez

 

Also:

 

@jorgeebro: Cuban Player Yoenis Cespedes could be in Nicaragua, according to some reports.

[iowahawkeyes89]

What are the chances the Cubs sign another big bonus guy?

[davell]

Awesome!!!!!!! :yahoo: Thrilled to see us spending some serious cash down there. I doubt we sign anyone else down there, but I could still see us making another international splash. At this point, if we do, I kind of hope it's for a pitcher.