2013-14 International Free Agency Thread

[KingCubsFan]

I think it also depends on what you consider to be a "hit." Even if they never make the majors, it's more likely that the higher bonus guys will actually get a chance to play in a full season league in the US, and potentially be a meaningful prospect that could be used in a trade. A guy like Yorman Rodriguez hasn't done much in his career, but he still probably holds some trade value.

[treebird]

I'm not sure about how to find that sort of information in aggregate, but FWIW Castro signed for 45k.

 

and he's terrible so let's keep getting expensive guys

 

thanks for solving this riddle for us tt

[Bobson Dugnutt]

@JesseSanchezMLB 5m

#Cubs are staying busy. Now closing in on deal with international RHP prospect Tseng,18, from Taiwan http://atmlb.com/11ABjhF

[davell]

Very cool. It is interesting that Jimenez hasn't been announced yet. Makes me think we're still trying to add slots. But if Tseng gets much over 1.5, all the extra slot money does is save us on overage. At any rate, we'll never know. Make it an epic class and no one will care anyway.

[Guest]

There's a chance that two of the teenage IFA signings from this year (Mejia and Tseng) could start in full season ball next season. One of the nice things about signing non-16-year olds.

[davell]

Yeah, I'm already looking for Mejia in the DSL boxscores, although it may be a little longer before he's pitching in games. But he'll get some game action at some point, which is cool.

[Guest]

There's a chance that two of the teenage IFA signings from this year (Mejia and Tseng) could start in full season ball next season. One of the nice things about signing non-16-year olds.

 

Hopefully Tseng gets some serious time off and his stuff rebounds.

[Guest]

Posted on the Cubs website now

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130709&content_id=53267666&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chc&tcid=tw_article_53267666

 

The Cubs have been busy on the international market this year and are closing in on a deal with another top prospect, right-hander Jen-Ho Tseng from Taiwan, according to an industry source.

 

Tseng, who is ranked No. 29 on MLB.com's list of Top 30 international prospects, is expected to command a bonus just north of $1.5 million. The club has not confirmed the report.

 

Tseng, 18, is a known commodity in the international baseball world and was being pursued by several teams, including the Twins. The teenager is known for his upright, quick delivery and a fastball that can reach 95 mph. Poised and aggressive, Tseng also throws a curveball and slider.

 

He also has a history on the big stage.

 

A member of the 2012 World Junior Championship team, Tseng also played in the 2012 Asian Baseball Championship for Chinese Taipei. He was the youngest player named to the Chinese Taipei World Baseball Classic roster.

 

So far, the Cubs have committed $3,470,000 of their $5,520,300 bonus pool to four players: shortstop Gleyber Torres, the top player from Venezuela and third-ranked international prospect, for $1.7 million; and Colombia right-handed pitcher Erling Moreno, ranked No. 17, for $650,000. The club also signed right-handed pitcher Jefferson Mejia for $850,000 and added catching prospect Johan Matos for $270,000.

 

The Cubs have a $2.8 million agreement in place with outfield prospect Eloy Jimenez, ranked No. 1, which puts them $749,700 -- or 13.6 percent -- over their pool and into the penalty phase. Teams that exceed the pools by 10 to 15 percent are not allowed to sign a player for more than $500,000 during the 2014-15 signing period and have to pay a 100 percent tax on the pool overage.

 

In the most severe penalty, teams that exceed the pool by 15 percent or more are not allowed to sign a player for more than $250,000 during the next signing period in addition to paying a 100 percent tax on the pool overage.

 

The Cubs can still acquire $1,315,600 in slot money because the Collective Bargaining Agreement allows teams to add up to 50 percent of the initial bonus pool, which in Chicago's case was $4,557,200, but that wouldn't be enough money to keep the Cubs out of the most severe penalty.

[Guest]

Kyle (Bloomington) Thoughts on the Cubs International FA strategy of signing everyone and accepting penalties next year?

 

Klaw  (1:15 PM) Given the uncertainty in that market, and the long time to payoffs on even the best signings, the strategy has good logic behind it.

[Clem Fandango]

Kyle (Bloomington) Thoughts on the Cubs International FA strategy of signing everyone and accepting penalties next year?

 

Klaw  (1:15 PM) Given the uncertainty in that market, and the long time to payoffs on even the best signings, the strategy has good logic behind it.

 

So is this to assume the strategy is they go all out this year, incur penalties for next year and play within those boundaries, then go all out the year after and then rinse and repeat?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Kyle (Bloomington) Thoughts on the Cubs International FA strategy of signing everyone and accepting penalties next year?

 

Klaw  (1:15 PM) Given the uncertainty in that market, and the long time to payoffs on even the best signings, the strategy has good logic behind it.

 

So is this to assume the strategy is they go all out this year, incur penalties for next year and play within those boundaries, then go all out the year after and then rinse and repeat?

 

The penalties are being increased pretty heavily after this year, it looks like. I'm guessing this is our only all-out year.

[Guest]

Kyle (Bloomington) Thoughts on the Cubs International FA strategy of signing everyone and accepting penalties next year?

 

Klaw  (1:15 PM) Given the uncertainty in that market, and the long time to payoffs on even the best signings, the strategy has good logic behind it.

 

So is this to assume the strategy is they go all out this year, incur penalties for next year and play within those boundaries, then go all out the year after and then rinse and repeat?

 

The penalties are being increased pretty heavily after this year, it looks like. I'm guessing this is our only all-out year.

 

Correct. The harsher penalties were set to match an international draft that ended up not being approved.

[Sammys Boombox]

Are any other teams apparently going all out like the Cubs?

[Guest]

Are any other teams apparently going all out like the Cubs?

 

Pretty sure the Rangers were doing the same... or at least were said to be doing it on July 2nd.

[Guest]

Are any other teams apparently going all out like the Cubs?

 

Pretty sure the Rangers were doing the same... or at least were said to be doing it on July 2nd.

 

Rangers are indeed doing the same and the Rays did this last year.

[illiniguy]

Are any other teams apparently going all out like the Cubs?

 

Pretty sure the Rangers were doing the same... or at least were said to be doing it on July 2nd.

 

Rangers are indeed doing the same and the Rays did this last year.

At the very least, those are two very good teams to be grouped with.

[Guest]

Who does the penalty money go to? I guessing Loria is really the most brilliant man to ever own a baseball team. He's like Emperor Palpatine. [expletive] [expletive].

[Little Slide Rooter]

Any update on Eloy Jimenez? Been a while since I've heard anything.

[RammyFanny]

Any update on Eloy Jimenez? Been a while since I've heard anything.

Jesse Sanchez ‏@JesseSanchezMLB 7m

Agent says Eloy Jimenez will sign for $2.8M on 8/1 or 8/2 at a press conference in DR. Turned down $5M from another team to stay with #Cubs.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Turned down $5M from another team to stay with #Cubs.

 

Wow.

[mul21]

Turned down $5M from another team to stay with #Cubs.

 

Wow.

 

More like holy [expletive] [expletive]!

[davell]

Awesome job building trust here. The new Academy is already paying off. That said, with us evidently ready to sign Tseng as well, I hope we aren't looking at IFA money as anything important to get in trades, since we're going to blow past the 15% overage as it is. As a throw in, to help lower our penalty is fine. I really, really want the 19 year old Cuban RHP(Leandro Linares) to be good enough to warrant a mill plus type bonus. He wouldn't be worth it for another team to go "all in" on, so our only competition could be Texas.

[Sammy Sofa]

Alright, that's pretty damn great.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Awesome job building trust here. The new Academy is already paying off. .

 

Did anyone say that had something to do with it? I thought it was reported he just loved Sosa as a kid.

[davell]

Awesome job building trust here. The new Academy is already paying off. .

 

Did anyone say that had something to do with it? I thought it was reported he just loved Sosa as a kid.

There's not a quote from Eloy or anything, but I'm at least going to think it had something to do with it. I do think it can easily be a deciding factor on guys where the offer is close. I do think I remember something about Eloy's parents valuing education though. The classrooms and all inside the academy surely couldn't have hurt with them.