2013-14 International Free Agency Thread

[davell]

Well, that's an interesting comment:

 

Ben Badler ‏@BenBadler

Seems like they're backing away. Not much success there RT @YesThatBrooke Cubs are all-in these days when it comes to Cuban defectors.

Thats an odd comment. We know they're happy with Soler. Concepcion? Yeah, appears to be a miss. But they literally just signed the last of the known defectors. How is it even possible to be backing away? You've got Dariel Alvarez, who's not considered an elite talent. And there's Aledmis Diaz, who we've been linked to, doesn't have great scouting reports attached, and is having age questions. No one else is even known currently. If talent shows up, I see no reason at all we wouldn't be involved.

[davell]

I'll put this here, but probably should go elsewhere. Olney says MLB is willing to make major concessions to the union, in order to have an international draft. Among the concessions: Higher minimum salaries AND lesser time until players hit arbitration, plus more.

[Guest]

I'll put this here, but probably should go elsewhere. Olney says MLB is willing to make major concessions to the union, in order to have an international draft. Among the concessions: Higher minimum salaries AND lesser time until players hit arbitration, plus more.

 

Ugh.

 

I have no problem with the players getting more of the pie, but they shouldn't be [expletive] over the amateurs to do it. The new CBA and now this are a [expletive] joke.

[Guest]

I'll put this here, but probably should go elsewhere. Olney says MLB is willing to make major concessions to the union, in order to have an international draft. Among the concessions: Higher minimum salaries AND lesser time until players hit arbitration, plus more.

 

Ugh.

 

I have no problem with the players getting more of the pie, but they shouldn't be [expletive] over the amateurs to do it. The new CBA and now this are a [expletive] joke.

 

Bud is really helping the small market teams, isn't he? Sheesh.

[Rex Buckingham]

I'll put this here, but probably should go elsewhere. Olney says MLB is willing to make major concessions to the union, in order to have an international draft. Among the concessions: Higher minimum salaries AND lesser time until players hit arbitration, plus more.

 

Ugh.

 

I have no problem with the players getting more of the pie, but they shouldn't be [expletive] over the amateurs to do it. The new CBA and now this are a [expletive] joke.

 

Bud is really helping the small market teams, isn't he? Sheesh.

 

Seriously, it's like he's telling them they have to have everything go right at the same time to have a chance, or extend their potential stars as soon as they're up in the bigs.

[Guest]

@BenBadler: With an international draft, have said since CBA came out that 2014 was the target date. Just getting closer now.

 

@BenBadler: Would depend how it's set up RT ‏@BENJAROCA Will that be good or bad for latin americans prospects?

 

@BenBadler: Teams would keep academies. They go where the talent is RT @TheAdam9 Won't that hurt talent level? No reason to invest in academies, etc?

[Cubswin11]

Bud Selig really needs to go and die. The new CBA is such a POS

[jersey cubs fan]

I'll put this here, but probably should go elsewhere. Olney says MLB is willing to make major concessions to the union, in order to have an international draft. Among the concessions: Higher minimum salaries AND lesser time until players hit arbitration, plus more.

 

Ugh.

 

I have no problem with the players getting more of the pie, but they shouldn't be [expletive] over the amateurs to do it. The new CBA and now this are a [expletive] joke.

 

That's the way of the unions though. Above all else protect the current members while negotiating away the benefits of future members. Owners are willing to spend a little more now to protect costs in the future. In this case it's a pretty easy sell too, since veteran players hate money going to unproven rookies (or rookies minus 5 years). NFL and NBA each negotiated away the potential for draftees to make a ton of cash, and MLB already gave up the American amateurs.

[davell]

Raisin, guys from British Columbia are draft eligible, correct? I was looking at a Bleacher Report(consider the source) article on the top 10 IFA's and they have a C/SS named Tyler O'Neill as the 3rd ranked IFA. He's an Oregon commit, for what its worth. But, unless somethings changed, these guys aren't IFA's right? I know we drafted Darvill anyway......

[Guest]

Raisin, guys from British Columbia are draft eligible, correct? I was looking at a Bleacher Report(consider the source) article on the top 10 IFA's and they have a C/SS named Tyler O'Neill as the 3rd ranked IFA. He's an Oregon commit, for what its worth. But, unless somethings changed, these guys aren't IFA's right? I know we drafted Darvill anyway......

 

Correct - all Canadians are draft eligible.

 

Just read the story - first off, Puerto Ricans are also draft eligible. Secondly, I think the dude was careful to just call it a ranking of the 10 international prospects and not just IFAs.

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1407690-ranking-the-10-best-international-prospects-heading-into-2013

[Guest]

Kiley McDaniel with a primer on July 2nd basics: http://sbb.scout.com/2/1277773.html

 

This year's class: http://sbb.scout.com/2/1277788.html

 

Dominican Republic:

 

• SS Obispo Aybar - age questions; McDaniel thought he was the top IFA prospect when he was 16
  
• 3B Rafael Devers - connected to the Red Sox
  
• RF Micker Zapata - linked to the Seattle, Minnesota and Cleveland - is originally from St. Thomas, so if he hadn't moved, he'd be eligible for the 2014 draft
  
• OF Eloy Jimenez - linked to Houston due to big bonus demands
  
• SS Franly Mallen
  
• RHP Mayky Perez - one of the two top arms in the class - video of Perez
  
• RHP Marcos Diplan - other top arm in the class

 

Venezuela:

 

• SS Gleyber Torres - linked to the Cubs
  
• SS Yeltsin Gudino - linked to Oakland and Seattle

 

Venezuelan SS Gleyber Torres doesn’t offer a ton of projection but has a lot of smoothness and now skills to propel him into the top group of talents in the class. The rumor circulating about Torres is to the Cubs for over $2 million.

[Guest]

Jorge Arangure joined Ben Lindgbergh and Sam Miller on BP's Effectively Wild Podcast to discuss the potential international draft: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/a/19928

 

ETA: Arangure seems to think that rather than having a separate international draft, the current Rule 4 draft (which covers the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico) would be expanded to include international prospects.

[Hrubes20]

Kiley McDaniel with a primer on July 2nd basics: http://sbb.scout.com/2/1277773.html

 

This year's class: http://sbb.scout.com/2/1277788.html

 

Dominican Republic:

 

• SS Obispo Aybar - age questions; McDaniel thought he was the top IFA prospect when he was 16
  
• 3B Rafael Devers - connected to the Red Sox
  
• RF Micker Zapata - linked to the Seattle, Minnesota and Cleveland - is originally from St. Thomas, so if he hadn't moved, he'd be eligible for the 2014 draft
  
• OF Eloy Jimenez - linked to Houston due to big bonus demands
  
• SS Franly Mallen
  
• RHP Mayky Perez - one of the two top arms in the class - video of Perez
  
• RHP Marcos Diplan - other top arm in the class

 

Venezuela:

 

• SS Gleyber Torres - linked to the Cubs
  
• SS Yeltsin Gudino - linked to Oakland and Seattle

 

Venezuelan SS Gleyber Torres doesn’t offer a ton of projection but has a lot of smoothness and now skills to propel him into the top group of talents in the class. The rumor circulating about Torres is to the Cubs for over $2 million.

 

I'm guessing the Cubs brass sees a good bit more projection than McDaniel, if they are willing to shell out $2 million for him. Assuming this is true, of course.

[davell]

Considering Theo says they want impact, I'm glad to see a connection to a high dollar guy, even if the report attached is underwhelming. That said, even if its wrong, I want Perez. Or Ho.

[Cubswin11]

Lots of fun names in there.

[Hrubes20]

Considering Theo says they want impact, I'm glad to see a connection to a high dollar guy, even if the report attached is underwhelming. That said, even if its wrong, I want Perez. Or Ho.

 

I want the Cubs to be in on him as well.

[davell]

Diplan is up to 94, according to the DPL website. For 16 and 6'0, 160, thats awfully impressive.

[craig]

..

• SS Gleyber Torres - linked to the Cubs
  
• SS Yeltsin Gudino - linked to Oakland and Seattle

 

Venezuelan SS Gleyber Torres doesn’t offer a ton of projection but has a lot of smoothness and now skills to propel him into the top group of talents in the class. The rumor circulating about Torres is to the Cubs for over $2 million.

 

Rather unenthusiastic phrasing. Of course, Baez was written up as not having much projection either, since he was already pretty filled out. So I suppose that being literal, projection is essential only if your present skills are lacking. But if like Baez you already have the serious power, you don't need to project more.

 

I suspect the Cubs may tend to value smoothness and present polish over projection and wow tools, to some degree. A year ago the reports on Almora at this point were not gushers; smooth and polished and smart, but neither his power nor his speed nor his arm were "wow" tools. Some think he has the swing to project solid 20-HR power, maybe 25. But I suspect it's more because they think he'll hit the ball than that his actual raw power projects well above average.

 

Last summer, the report on de la Rosa were similar: scouted as a good, alert player, but didn't project big power or SS tools or speed. Maybe you get a .300 hitter with 15-18 HR power who plays a polished 2B, but no chance at a HR title.

 

I wonder if Torres isn't more along the Almora/de la Rosa style, and if that isn't more the style of player the Cubs like?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

It does kind of feel like "Wow, the Cubs must see more upside than the reports" is something we say an awful lot.

[Guest]

It does kind of feel like "Wow, the Cubs must see more upside than the reports" is something we say an awful lot.

 

I bet Red Sox fans said that a lot about guys like Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Daniel Bard, Casey Kelly and Jackie Bradley Jr.

[davell]

Yagyu at PSD found a Spanish article on Torres and Hrubes translated it for everyone. The scout mentioned Franklin Barreto(last years prize) as a comp. Said he's likely to make the majors in 4 years. He can hit and has what should translate to 15-20 homer pop. Averagish defensively at SS, but with good movement. Sounds good to me. Seems like yet another upside type with a higher floor than most.

[davell]

Thinking strategically, if we do get Torres......Lets say he costs 2.2 mill. Early estimates had us with an IFA budget of 4.7 mill. How would you go about using tge rest? Do you sign a pair of million dollar bonus types? Do you spread it out much, much more than that? I'm really talking myself into hoping we go after Perez. He's obviously got the size to be a potential beast. And it actually seems that recently, the true high end Central American arms have found immediate success in the US. Heredia, Sanchez, and Osuna coming to mind, off the top of my head. That said, I wouldn't dare shoot the rest of our wad on one guy, but if he could be had for 1.5, it'd give us a mill to spread around over 5-6 other guys. Same theory applies for me with Ho as well.

[Hrubes20]

Thinking strategically, if we do get Torres......Lets say he costs 2.2 mill. Early estimates had us with an IFA budget of 4.7 mill. How would you go about using tge rest? Do you sign a pair of million dollar bonus types? Do you spread it out much, much more than that? I'm really talking myself into hoping we go after Perez. He's obviously got the size to be a potential beast. And it actually seems that recently, the true high end Central American arms have found immediate success in the US. Heredia, Sanchez, and Osuna coming to mind, off the top of my head. That said, I wouldn't dare shoot the rest of our wad on one guy, but if he could be had for 1.5, it'd give us a mill to spread around over 5-6 other guys. Same theory applies for me with Ho as well.

 

Given what seems to be an almost guaranteed international draft in 2014, I completely ignore MLB's assigned IFA budget for the #2 pick. I sign everybody I want, for as much money as I feel is a good investment.

[Guest]

Thinking strategically, if we do get Torres......Lets say he costs 2.2 mill. Early estimates had us with an IFA budget of 4.7 mill. How would you go about using tge rest? Do you sign a pair of million dollar bonus types? Do you spread it out much, much more than that? I'm really talking myself into hoping we go after Perez. He's obviously got the size to be a potential beast. And it actually seems that recently, the true high end Central American arms have found immediate success in the US. Heredia, Sanchez, and Osuna coming to mind, off the top of my head. That said, I wouldn't dare shoot the rest of our wad on one guy, but if he could be had for 1.5, it'd give us a mill to spread around over 5-6 other guys. Same theory applies for me with Ho as well.

 

Given what seems to be an almost guaranteed international draft in 2014, I completely ignore MLB's assigned IFA budget for the #2 pick. I sign everybody I want, for as much money as I feel is a good investment.

 

Actually, I asked Ben Badler what was there to stop a team from going all out this year with a draft likely next year and he said there would probably be some sort of penalty similar to penalties for overspending in the Rule 4 draft. I wouldn't give up a potential top 10 pick in next year's IFA draft, especially when next year's class appears much stronger.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Yeah, MLB would certainly just dock teams draft picks instead of signing restrictions if they switched to a draft. The league doesn't strike me as the type to just say "lol, you got me with that loophole" and let it go.