2013-14 International Free Agency Thread

[craig]

"The Cubs have the No. 4 international bonus pool, which was $3.9 million this year, but won't be able to sign a player for more than $250K."

 

Signing twelve $250K guys would get to 3 million. That might not be a bad way to go. A dozen $250K guys,

 

Ten $250K

Ten $100K

Eight $50K

 

I suspect this will exceptionally challenging for scouts. You scout and find guys you like; but how much time can you really invest in the guys you like? Spend months scouting guy and making connections with him and his family, and just as you realize he really is a very good prospect it's all for nothing, because now he's good enough to get $300-$400K from somebody else and all your work was for nothing.

 

Kind of a conundrum. The whole purpose of scouting is to identify guys that project well. But the better they project, the less likely that you'll be in any position to sign them. Hard to decide where to spend your time.

 

Maybe it's not that bad. Maybe you do some package deals with some bus cone and it works out somehow?

[davell]

I've thought about package deals too, but I think MLB would raise an eyebrow if we signed a million dollar bonus baby inside a 10 player package for 1.3. I don't think I've ever seen that actually, the more I think about it. Urias was paid around 20% of the 2 mill the Dodgers shelled out to his Mexican League team and only his portion counted against the cap. If a situation like THAT is out there next year, it's conceivable we could get a mill type value while still adhering to our 250K limit.

[Fro]

Cubs should just hire World Wide Wes to pay all these prospects the extra bonuses over the limit during the off-years... works for Calipari at Kentucky.

 

Doubt MLB could catch him considering the NCAA comes nowhere close.

[craig]

I've thought about package deals too, but I think MLB would raise an eyebrow if we signed a million dollar bonus baby inside a 10 player package for 1.3. I don't think I've ever seen that actually, the more I think about it. Urias was paid around 20% of the 2 mill the Dodgers shelled out to his Mexican League team and only his portion counted against the cap. If a situation like THAT is out there next year, it's conceivable we could get a mill type value while still adhering to our 250K limit.

 

I was thinking more where the bus cone drives the deal. He "arranges" for four of his guys to sign with the Cubs, each at $250. Nobody is actually paid $750, so it doesn't exceed the limit. Essentially one guy is badly underpaid and three are overpaid, but the bus cone ends up with a good deal overall. (Heh; how do I make my entry box not automatically insert a space into bus cone?) That might make it easier for the bus cone to get good players in future. ("I've got a strong history of getting good players $250K deals. That other bus cone might gamble to get a million, but it's pretty unlikely; but I can pretty much promise you'll get $250K…")

[Guest]

Getting cheaper players in Latin America is a strategy certain teams have employed very well (the Rockies come to mind). The Cubs' restriction isn't some budget they installed that buscones or agents can try to negotiate arouns, it's a well known hard cap that can't be adjusted. That bit of information has to help in negotiations.

[radarluv1]

The guys we just drafted, where are they playing now? I assume its in the Cubs Dominican academy- but what I really want to know is are these kids playing games in front of independent analysts that write articles I can read, like from BA or BP?

[CubsWin]

The guys we just drafted, where are they playing now? I assume its in the Cubs Dominican academy- but what I really want to know is are these kids playing games in front of independent analysts that write articles I can read, like from BA or BP?

Ben Badler at BA has been the go to guy on IFAs for a while now.

 

Speculation is that the top two signings, OF Eloy Jimenez and SS Gleyber Torres, despite being just 17 have a shot at playing for the Cubs rookie league team in Mesa as early as this season. They'll have to earn it this spring. Many prospect gurus are listing them in the teens on their top 30 Cubs prospect lists which is saying something for an organization this deep.

 

RHP Jen-Ho Tseng, 19, will likely start stateside. The fact that he's Asian would likely preclude him from going to the Dominican Summer League.

 

RHP Jefferson Mejia is Dominican but was one year older than most signees. He's currently 19 and pitched briefly in the DSL last season, so he has a shot to pitch in the Arizona Rookie League in 2014.

 

Other top IFA signings like RHP Erling Moreno (who will turn 17 in January) and C Johan Matos will almost certainly play in the DSL next summer.

[Guest]

I put a question mark at the end here because it's unconfirmed, but it appears that 17 year old Wladimir Galindo has signed with the Cubs. Galindo was the 25th ranked international prospect per MLB.com.

 

The news comes from Galindo himself as he posted this tweet and picture. He's also wearing a Cubs jacket in his twitter photo.

 

http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/12/cubs-sign-top-ifa-wladimir-galindo/

 

Keep an eye on Galindo. The infielder has progressed in all areas of his game and has emerged as one of the top prospects from Venezuela since MLB's National Showcase in Venezuela last November. Listed as a shortstop, Galindo has also shown the ability to play third base and shined at the position at MLB's International Showcase in January.

 

Galindo could end up at one of the corner spots in the infield or make the shift to the outfield because of his size (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) and strong arm. But he might be athletic enough to stay at shortstop.

 

Scouts like his big body and his raw power. Galindo also has the ability to hit for power to all fields and has a knack for putting the barrel of his bat on the ball. He is sometimes fooled by offspeed pitches and could use more game experience.

[A New Era]

I put a question mark at the end here because it's unconfirmed, but it appears that 17 year old Wladimir Galindo has signed with the Cubs. Galindo was the 25th ranked international prospect per MLB.com.

 

The news comes from Galindo himself as he posted this tweet and picture. He's also wearing a Cubs jacket in his twitter photo.

 

http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/12/cubs-sign-top-ifa-wladimir-galindo/

 

Keep an eye on Galindo. The infielder has progressed in all areas of his game and has emerged as one of the top prospects from Venezuela since MLB's National Showcase in Venezuela last November. Listed as a shortstop, Galindo has also shown the ability to play third base and shined at the position at MLB's International Showcase in January.

 

Galindo could end up at one of the corner spots in the infield or make the shift to the outfield because of his size (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) and strong arm. But he might be athletic enough to stay at shortstop.

 

Scouts like his big body and his raw power. Galindo also has the ability to hit for power to all fields and has a knack for putting the barrel of his bat on the ball. He is sometimes fooled by offspeed pitches and could use more game experience.

 

Awesome. This is what I was hoping for. Not him specifically mind you, but just sign as many restricted guys was we can since we decided to bust through the cap. Might as well load up on Talent. What is that now, 5 of MLB's top 30? That leaves Mayky Perez, Yimmelvyn Alonzo, and Wasner Peguero unsigned. I wouldn't mind signing all 3. I'm also hoping someone exciting pops up between now and the next spending period. No doubt the Cubs will at least be interested since the gloves are off.

[CubsWin]

I put a question mark at the end here because it's unconfirmed, but it appears that 17 year old Wladimir Galindo has signed with the Cubs. Galindo was the 25th ranked international prospect per MLB.com.

 

The news comes from Galindo himself as he posted this tweet and picture. He's also wearing a Cubs jacket in his twitter photo.

 

http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/12/cubs-sign-top-ifa-wladimir-galindo/

 

Keep an eye on Galindo. The infielder has progressed in all areas of his game and has emerged as one of the top prospects from Venezuela since MLB's National Showcase in Venezuela last November. Listed as a shortstop, Galindo has also shown the ability to play third base and shined at the position at MLB's International Showcase in January.

 

Galindo could end up at one of the corner spots in the infield or make the shift to the outfield because of his size (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) and strong arm. But he might be athletic enough to stay at shortstop.

 

Scouts like his big body and his raw power. Galindo also has the ability to hit for power to all fields and has a knack for putting the barrel of his bat on the ball. He is sometimes fooled by offspeed pitches and could use more game experience.

 

Awesome. This is what I was hoping for. Not him specifically mind you, but just sign as many restricted guys was we can since we decided to bust through the cap. Might as well load up on Talent. What is that now, 5 of MLB's top 30? That leaves Mayky Perez, Yimmelvyn Alonzo, and Wasner Peguero unsigned. I wouldn't mind signing all 3. I'm also hoping someone exciting pops up between now and the next spending period. No doubt the Cubs will at least be interested since the gloves are off.

Were the reports on Mayky Perez signing with the Padres for $634,000 and Yimmelvyn Alonzo signing with the Rangers for $350,000 wrong? I know these things often fall through or were unofficial to begin with...

 

Along with Peguero still being available, SS Obispo Aybar-Lara will become eligible to sign in April. Glad to have another lottery ticket in the fold. I wonder how much they paid him. Whatever it is, they had to pay MLB the exact same amount in tax.

[davell]

Very happy to see this, hopefully we snag a few more. Never heard anything on Perez or anyone else falling through the cracks, so it'll have to be pop up types. At any rate, it's one hell of a class. Pile on.

[A New Era]

Cubswin, I didn't follow as closely as you did so I believe you. I was just going by mlb.com's page. Also I vaguely remember some pitcher that people said was good, but just wasn't on MLB's list. But said he is a top 30 type. So that makes 6 of the top 30(ish). What an influx of talent. Will be really cool to see who "pops" a few years from now.

[davell]

Jefferson Mejia would have been a top 20 guy, but wasn't listed due to being a year older, as he was suspended due to age questions the previous year. BA was very high on him.

[davell]

http://sbb.scout.com/2/1361172.html

 

Yankees going to spend a [expletive] ton on IFA next year. Could turn MLB towards an IFA draft quicker and keep us from going all in again.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://sbb.scout.com/2/1361172.html

 

Yankees going to spend a [expletive] ton on IFA next year. Could turn MLB towards an IFA draft quicker and keep us from going all in again.

An executive with one of the three clubs that has already employed this strategy said they had trouble signing all the players they had targeted, as agents assumed their pre-July 2nd offers weren’t genuine when the agents caught wind of all the rumored deals the club had in place. Agents didn’t see the strategic move this club was making, assumed bad faith in negotiations and steered their players away from signing with that club. Now that the Yankees plans are well known this early and this strategy has already been employed three times in two years, the Yankees shouldn’t have any trouble implementing their plan.

[davell]

Yeah, I have a feeling that was us.

[Fro]

I have to imagine the Yankees won't be the only team blowing past the limit next year, since they've already tipped their hand.

[jersey cubs fan]

I have to imagine the Yankees won't be the only team blowing past the limit next year, since they've already tipped their hand.

 

Multiple teams blowing past the limit is going to create an extreme rise in inflation for those costs and greatly reduce the value in blowing past the limit to any one team choosing to do so.

[Guest]

Also:

 

Sources have indicated that part of this plan was the Yankees belief that this is an above average July 2nd class. Rival executives think it is just an average class and point out that, of the 5-7 players most rumored to be signing with the Yankees, only one or two are elite players worth the big bonuses they are rumored to be getting. That’s par for the course in a market where opinions can vary wildly and players, like the Yankees top signing last year, often develop in the winter/spring before signing.

[A New Era]

Well if the yankees go [expletive] crazy, that kinda EFs our idea of our poor money being valuable to trade for prospects. :rant:

 

Guess we'll just have to settle for a handful of leftover cheapos.

[craig]

Also:

 

Sources have indicated that part of this plan was the Yankees belief that this is an above average July 2nd class. Rival executives think it is just an average class ...

 

I think the cubs went in strong because they didn't project a strong class this upcoming summer.

[Guest]

Last year's example of this, Dominican SS Cecilio Aybar (formerly Obispo Aybar) will be eligible to sign April 24th and despite being 20 years old now, but could still be inline for $1 million

 

No idea if the Cubs are interested but this is a player they can sign when he becomes eligible. He'd qualify for the 13-14 international class which the Cubs are already over on.

[davell]

There are a couple of young Cuban pitchers trying to gain eligibility, not sure of their talent levels. If this guy is anything like the website mentions, he's worth quite a bit.

 

http://rogelioarmenteros.com/Rogelio/RogelioArmenteros.com.html

[Guest]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/international-reviews-chicago-cubs/

 

Top signing: OF Eloy Jimenez, Dominican Republic, $2.8 million.

 

Seven- and six-figure signings: SS Gleyber Torres (Venezuela), RHP Jen-Ho Tseng (Taiwan), RHP Jefferson Mejia (Dominican Republic), RHP Erling Moreno (Colombia), C Yohan Matos (Dominican Republic), SS Jesus Gonzalez (Venezuela).

 

Total players signed: 27.

 

On July 2, the Cubs gave second baseman Ronald Torreyes to the Astros in exchange for their No. 2 and 3 slot values ($784,700). But acquiring more pool space proved more challenging than they had anticipated.

 

Dominican outfielder Eloy Jimenez had an agreement to sign with the Cubs on July 2 but agreed to wait to sign his contract. Once the Cubs couldn’t acquire any more pool space and became more enthusiastic about a top prospect from Taiwan, the Cubs blew past their pool space, with Jimenez getting a $2.8 million bonus (the biggest of the year for an international amateur by far) on Aug. 1, the day after the major league trade deadline.

 

Most teams would probably start Jimenez in the United States, but the Cubs prefer to have players start in their Dominican or Venezuelan academies first. Jimenez will debut in the Dominican Summer League, though a jump to the Rookie-level Arizona League at some point during the year isn’t out of the question.

 

Torres should debut in the VSL but Badler feels he'd be one of the best young hitters in the AZL if the Cubs move him stateside during the season.

 

The biggest wild card in the 2013 international signing class was righthander Jen-Ho Tseng, who entered 2013 as the potential No. 1 prospect on the international market. In September 2012, Tseng pitched in six of Taiwan’s eight games at the 18U World Championship, where he posted an ERA of 0.84 with 22 strikeouts and two walks in 21 innings. Tseng pitched briefly at the World Baseball Classic qualifier in November 2012, then the next month at the Asian Championship in Taiwan he threw six shutout innings in a crucial 7-0 win over South Korea. Tseng was so advanced that he pitched for Taiwan in the WBC last year in March as an 18-year-old, but that’s where everything seemed to unravel. Tseng’s struggles at the WBC were understandable given his youth, but his stuff and control both had gone backward, with his fastball sitting in the high-80s and his breaking stuff lacking its usual crispness. For the most part, his stuff didn’t return as the year continued. A handful of teams stayed on him, including the Cubs, who in June saw him bumping 95 again and were convinced enough to sign him for $1.625 million on July 25.

 

Tseng should start at Boise but has a chance at Kane County.

 

Mejia hit 96 this offseason and projects to top out in the upper 90s. He'll start in the US given his age. Badler made no mention of the car crash.

[Guest]

FYI, I edited the previous post with way more quotes and notes.