Cubs Sign 19 year old Cuban LHP Gerardo Concepcion

[davell]

The bottom line though, is it's nice to 1)have an actual plan and 2)seeing it followed

[Post Count Padder]

What level is he projected to start at? High A?

I haven't heard a projection yet. My guess with his age and experience level, he would start at Peoria. But if he impresses at spring training (assuming he'll be there), he could go to Daytona, but I doubt it.

Goldstein:

He's a child. MIGHT pitch in Low-A Peoria this year.

 

If he's already done well in a league that's supposedly equivalent of high-A or AA, then that doesn't make sense.

He's 18. There's no rush. Start him in High-A and go from there.

[davell]

Goldstein thinks money is too high. Of course, with this being the last chance to spend, it's going to get wacky.

[Brett]

Rojas says it's a big league deal, which has a number of implications. For one, the Cubs have to clear out a 40-man spot. For another, the Cubs now have three years (possibly four, if he spends his first year in A-ball) to get him to the big leagues, lest he be subjected to waivers.

 

I'm tickled freaking pink about the signing, but the 40-man part kind of takes some of the shine off.

[NonProfitCow]

If he's already done well in a league that's supposedly equivalent of high-A or AA, then that doesn't make sense.

The only thing that was done well was a low ERA. He had a 4.7 K/9 and a 1.23 K/BB. No reason to push him.

[davell]

Actually, I look at that in the opposite way: they must see him as VERY polished, to give him a 40 man spot. It also lessens his salary, leaving us even more to play with, for Soler, Cespedes, and any other IFA's. I will say this though: In giving Concepcion a 40 man spot, I seriously doubt we'll get BOTH the others now. Wouldn't give our 40 man a whole lot of flexibility, if we did. Unless we expect Cespedes to begin in the majors.

[ctcf]

Just want to say I love the signing. Hopefully this segues into Cespedes

[PrimeTime]

“I would not throw him into the major leagues yet,” agent Jaime Torres said.”While I think he can make it really fast, I don’t think it would be advisable to do it so fast. He is only 19. But this kid has good stuff, a great makeup and he’s extremely intelligent.”

 

Concepcion’s fastball, according to scouts, is about 92 miles an hour, but he has an exception curveball and very good changeup.

 

Among the Cubs’ competitors for Concepcion were the White Sox, although Concepcion is believed to have preferred the Cubs weeks ago.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/chi-cubs-sign-cuban-lefthander-concepcion-20120202,0,92949.story

[Outshined_One]

I like.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Goldstein thinks money is too high. Of course, with this being the last chance to spend, it's going to get wacky.

 

I don't know the numbers, but from what I've heard it's much higher than expected and possibly a major league deal. Could drive up the price of Cespedes and Soler. Could this be a swallowed the cat to catch the dog situation in which it may have pushed Cespedes and/or Solers prices high enough that it could turn off most teams other than those with available money to burn, such as the Cubs? Over flexing our financial muscles so to speak?

[Brett]

Goldstein thinks money is too high. Of course, with this being the last chance to spend, it's going to get wacky.

 

I don't know the numbers, but from what I've heard it's much higher than expected and possibly a major league deal. Could drive up the price of Cespedes and Soler. Could this be a swallowed the cat to catch the dog situation in which it may have pushed Cespedes and/or Solers prices high enough that it could turn off most teams other than those with available money to burn, such as the Cubs? Over flexing our financial muscles so to speak?

 

What a terrible expression - it implies that folks would rather have the dog. I'm only sort of kidding.

[davell]

I doubt it. With this being the last time guys like Soler and Concepcion will be available, their prices are going to be sky high anyway. I do think this means Soler probably gets 30 million, instead of 20 though. I don't think Cespedes will be affected all that much though. I'll set my over/under at 55 on him now though, but mainly because I think the Marlins will pay up bigtime for him. Soler's much more important for me anyway.

[Guest]

Goldstein thinks money is too high. Of course, with this being the last chance to spend, it's going to get wacky.

 

I don't know the numbers, but from what I've heard it's much higher than expected and possibly a major league deal. Could drive up the price of Cespedes and Soler. Could this be a swallowed the cat to catch the dog situation in which it may have pushed Cespedes and/or Solers prices high enough that it could turn off most teams other than those with available money to burn, such as the Cubs? Over flexing our financial muscles so to speak?

 

What a terrible expression - it implies that folks would rather have the dog. I'm only sort of kidding.

I'm just trying to figure out what the hell it means. :-k

[Little Slide Rooter]

Goldstein thinks money is too high. Of course, with this being the last chance to spend, it's going to get wacky.

 

I don't know the numbers, but from what I've heard it's much higher than expected and possibly a major league deal. Could drive up the price of Cespedes and Soler. Could this be a swallowed the cat to catch the dog situation in which it may have pushed Cespedes and/or Solers prices high enough that it could turn off most teams other than those with available money to burn, such as the Cubs? Over flexing our financial muscles so to speak?

 

What a terrible expression - it implies that folks would rather have the dog. I'm only sort of kidding.

I'm just trying to figure out what the hell it means. :-k

 

Basically, that we overpaid one guy intentionally, for the purpose of driving another guys price high enough that other teams might lose interest. High risk, high reward. Everyone seems to say that Conepcion is a back of the rotation guy with so-so stuff, so that could be why we were as aggressive in pursuing him as we reportedly were. And who wouldn't rather have a dog than a cat? Dogs are fun. Cats are just there.

[bukie]

That's a dumb plan, because the Cubs are one of the teams interested in the other guys.

 

Plus, you said the stupid analogy backwards.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Great signing. This is good stuff. I buy that his upside goes past that of a 5th starter, which is what the only scouting report I've read said. He's big, 18, left handed, and probably more athletic than maybe given credit for (leaving room for projection).

[C.C.]

It's sad that we all get excited over this. This off season has sucked pee-pee.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

It's sad that we all get excited over this. This off season has sucked pee-pee.

 

It'd be a big deal for any team. High profile Cuban pitching talent hasn't really crapped the bed...not that I can remember.

[Sammy Sofa]

Just ignore Drinky McMidlifecrisis.

[huff]

it was rumored he had an offer weeks ago on the table...guess it was us afterall! nice pickup.

[seanimal]

he's just upset concepcion doesn't have red hair and nice toes

[Rob]

I'm happy we got him. The contract feels a touch high though.

[Little Slide Rooter]

That's a dumb plan, because the Cubs are one of the teams interested in the other guys.

 

.

 

But we also have enough available money that if Theo and Jed want one or both enough, they can afford to overpay, perhaps more so than the other suiters. Even if it was something like 8/80, while its a high risk it's not high enough that it would hurt us in the long run.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

That's a dumb plan, because the Cubs are one of the teams interested in the other guys.

 

.

 

But we also have enough available money that if Theo and Jed want one or both enough, they can afford to overpay, perhaps more so than the other suiters. Even if it was something like 8/80, while its a high risk it's not high enough that it would hurt us in the long run.

 

Of course it would hurt us in the long run if it failed. There's always an opportunity cost.

[ScrubMD]

What level is he projected to start at? High A?

I haven't heard a projection yet. My guess with his age and experience level, he would start at Peoria. But if he impresses at spring training (assuming he'll be there), he could go to Daytona, but I doubt it.

Goldstein:

He's a child. MIGHT pitch in Low-A Peoria this year.

 

If he's already done well in a league that's supposedly equivalent of high-A or AA, then that doesn't make sense.

He's 18. There's no rush. Start him in High-A and go from there.

 

I didn't say anything about rushing him, but saying he MIGHT start in low-A seems overly cautious. I'm not even saying low-A would be too low, just seems silly to imply that low-A would be a stretch.