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2015-16 International Free Agency Thread

CaliforniaRaisin

By CaliforniaRaisin,
in Cubs Minor League Talk

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http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/mlb-makes-major-change-cuban-players/

 

Absolutely GREAT news for the Cubs. There's going to be an influx of very good Cubans(on top of what's already out there) that will be eligible to sign prior to next signing period.

 

Man, we really need to take as much advantage as we can here.

 

This could be a great opportunity for the Cubs:

 

That decision should have a broader impact beyond Estevez and Machado. Outfielder Jorge Ona, a 19-year-old who ranked as the No. 6 player in Baseball America’s April rankings of the Top 20 players in Cuba with equivalent talent of a first-round draft pick, left the country this summer and would have had to wait until the 2016-17 signing period opened on July 2 to sign. Lefthander Cionel Perez and righthander Ronald Bolanos, two young Cuban pitching prospects, were facing the same timetable. Based on the Estevez and Machado precedent, it now appears that they should all become eligible to sign at some point during the current 2015-16 signing period.

 

That’s a huge game changer given the structure of the international signing system. Four teams—the Cubs, Dodgers, Giants and Royals—have exceeded their international bonus pools and won’t be able to sign any pool-eligible players for more than $300,000 for the next two signing periods beginning July 2. The Blue Jays are also over, though not in the maximum penalty range, which means they are facing a one-year restriction of signing pool-eligible players for no more than $300,000 starting next year. But until then, those teams face no additional restrictions, other than a 100 percent overage tax on their pool-eligible signings.

 

While it looked like those players would be out of the mix for them, now things have changed, especially with the Dodgers and Cubs two teams that have historically been big players on Cuban talent. With the accelerated pace of the international market, teams have already planned out their strategies for the 2016-17 signing class, including oral agreements for some players to sign on July 2. MLB’s new ruling now could alter those plans if teams want to be involved with a potential impact player like Ona. The current 2015-16 signing class already looked to be stocked with young Cuban talent, with infielder/outfielder Randy Arozarena and righthander Norge Ruiz expected to become free agents during the current period. Cuban outfielder Yusniel Diaz, who ranked as the No. 17 prospect in Cuba in April, was able to register in time after he left Cuba this spring and is already a free agent, as is righthander Vladimir Gutierrez.

 

On 7/5, I[/url]"]Jorge Ona defected from Cuba but because MLB's rules are ridiculously dumb, he won't be eligible to sign in 2015-16 so the Cubs can't get him: http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/jorge-ona-leaves-cuba/

 

Given Ona’s talent, the demand to sign him should be high, but he won’t be signing any time in the immediate future, and several big-market teams have already knocked themselves out of the mix. Not only is Ona subject to the international bonus pools, but he is also subject to Major League Baseball’s registration policy, which is that any international player born after Sept. 1, 1995 (like Ona) must have officially registered with the commissioner’s office by May 15 before the following signing period. Since Ona has missed the cutoff to be eligible to sign during the current 2015-16 signing period, which opened on July 2, he will have to wait to sign until July 2 next year during the 2016-17 signing period.
CubsWin Myrtle Beach Pelicans

CubsWin

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Posted
Posted
http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/mlb-makes-major-change-cuban-players/

 

Absolutely GREAT news for the Cubs. There's going to be an influx of very good Cubans(on top of what's already out there) that will be eligible to sign prior to next signing period.

 

Man, we really need to take as much advantage as we can here.

Wow. Very exciting news.

 

Any one of Gutierrez, Ona, Estevez, Machado and Diaz would be great. A chance at 2 or 3? Each of these are 1st round talents. The Cubs have great depth to their system. Imagine adding possible impact talent to that depth while already having a major league team with Bryant, Schwarber, Russell, Soler and Baez on it with Rizzo, at 26, as the elder statesman.

 

Can't wait to see what happens...!

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Posted
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When are signings typically announced/done by??

 

They have till 6/15/16. Typically, most of the ones known before the signing period have already been announced and signed by now with only pop up players being left to sign.

Guest

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Guests
Posted
Posted
Eddie Julio Martinez is still unsigned, too, no?

 

Correct. Sounds like the Dodgers, Giants and Reds are the teams most linked to him. Also, evaluations on him are all over the place in the prospect media.

davell Chicago Cubs

davell

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
Kiley says there's rumors of pop up Cubans that are basically unknown currently that are going to get big money. I doubt we're done, there's way too much of an advantage to be had here for that to be the case. There's probably a dozen guys out there now that are worthy of being top 10ish or much better at this point. The Dodgers will grab the most, but I'd set the over/under at 2.5 on how many of these guys we still get.
davell Chicago Cubs

davell

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Posted
Posted (edited)

This is a work in progress, but I want to try and make a list of the top Cuban defectors currently.

 

Position Players that ARE currently or will definitely be eligible....

 

OF Eddy Julio Martinez- CUBS(3 mill)

OF Yusnier Diaz- DODGERS(15.5 mill)

OF/INF Randy Arozarena(eligible)-1st round talent, top of the order type, 20 years old

OF Jonathan Machado(eligible)-very solid talent, top of the order hitter, 16 years old

2B Omar Estevez- DODGERS(6 mill)

1B Yordan Alvarez-(expected eligibility)- power hitter that may be able to stick on a corner OF spot a few years

SS Alfredo Rodriguez-REDS (6 mill)

SS Diosbel Ariel Morales-(expected eligibility)- another D heavy SS, not in Rodriguez class

OF Henry Quintero(expected eligibility)

OF Lazarito Armenteros(becomes eligible on February 10th)- Potentially elite upside, 16 years old

 

Currently INELIGIBLE Position Players

OF Jorge Ona- 1st round type, possibly best Cuban prospect available, 19 years old

Inf Lazaro Alfonzo

Inf Miguel Vargas(late defection)- 16 years old, possible elite upside, not much info available. Potential 1st rounder until we see otherwise

 

Eligible position players that are NOT tied to 23 and under rules(all teams can bid)

 

CF Guillermo Heredia(eligible now)- defensive ready CF, bat may not ever be ready, 24 years old

2B Pavel Quesada

3B Luis La O-23 years old, solid all around, profiles as 2nd division starter

2B Jose Fernandez-27 years old, excellent bat, may not stick at 2B, bat plays in majors. Phenomenal discipline

OF Yadiel Hernandez

 

Currently eligible or will definitely be top pitchers

P Vladimir Gutierrez(eligible now)-19 years old, potential late 1st type value, supposedly has struggled a bit in showcases, 91-92 average velo

P Norge Ruiz(not eligible yet though)- 20 years old, 89-93, advanced profile. 1st round talent

P Luis Estrada(not eligble yet though)

P Carlos Sierra- ASTROS

 

Currently INELIGIBLE top pitchers

Cionel Perez-19 years old, short lefty that hits 95, reliever profile, at least a 2nd round talent

Ronald Bolanos-20 years old, converted position player,94-96 with control, very solid upside, 2nd round talent

Adrian Morejon(Cubs lead)- lefty with top pick overall upside based on SOME reports, safe bet to be back end starter on others

Pedro Duran(is either 19 or over 23)

Roddy Castello

 

Eligible top pitchers not restricted to 23 and under rules

P Yasiel Sierra- DODGERS(6 years, 30 mill)

P Jorge Hernandez-25 years old, throws 95 supposedly with little control

P Julio Alfredo Martinez Wong-24 year old cagey lefty, throws upper 80s

 

Teams that overspent in 2014-2015

Boston

NYY

Arizona

Tampa Bay

LAA

 

Teams over currently THIS IFA period

LAD

Cubs

San Fran

KC

Toronto(possibly)

 

I just wanted to initially put a list out there. There are certainly more names I've seen. But I don't THINK I've missed any of the potential impact guys. That said, if BA listed anyone else in their article where they gave guys draft rankings, or Kiley or Sanchez has specifically written up an individual(not counting 90MPH throwing RHP Carlos Sierra that Sanchez wrote about, unless Badler has him listed somewhere), please feel free to post them and I'll add them in.

 

Eventually I'll edit thru this enough to put links in and videos, to help us start to gauge these guys more than we currently can.

 

If anyone I've listed belongs in a different eligibility group, please tell me as well. I'm not completely certain on all of them.

Edited by davell
Johnny OHagan Prep Ball

Johnny OHagan

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
Alfredo Rodriguez, ss

 

Report: Rodriguez was Cuba’s rookie of the year this past season, though it was a controversial honor given that Diaz had the better season but didn’t get the award because he had already fled Cuba by that time. Rodriguez, 21, hit just .265/.301/.284 in 304 plate appearances, but he won the gold glove award thanks to his slick defensive actions. He’s a smooth, agile fielder with excellent footwork, plus speed and around an average arm. Rodriguez doesn’t swing and miss excessively, but he’s an over-aggressive hitter whose bat is a long ways away and brings minimal power, so he will never hit higher than the bottom of the lineup. He should go to a Class A level once he signs.

 

Badler says he would of been ranked circa 180 in the draft just gone. You can decide if he is worth adding to the list. Eligible this period.

davell Chicago Cubs

davell

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

Yeah, I debated on him. But figured a fringe-hit SS with a glove wasn't going to be a guy we were interested in.

 

That said, someone probably pays him decent, so I'll add him.

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