2015-16 International Free Agency Thread

[Guest]

[Guest]

Stupid Dodgers.

 

BA did a writeup of top available Cubans: http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/top-cuban-players-available-part-1/

 

Ona (ranked 6th amongst all unsigned Cubans, defected or not):

 

Status: Waiting for MLB to make him a free agent. Ona is subject to MLB’s registration rules and missed the May 15 registration cutoff for the 2015-16 signing period because he was in Cuba at the time. However, the commissioner’s office should give him an exemption now that they have changed their policy on Cuban players.

 

Likely Starting Assignment: low Class A.

 

Randy Arozarena (SS/OF) - 9th, high-A, Waiting for MLB to make him a free agent

Yusniel Diaz (OF) - 17th, low A, apparently signed by the Dodgers

Lazaro Armenteros (OF) - initially unranked, 16-year old, Rookie ball, Waiting for MLB to make him a free agent

[ctcf]

 

43 million is a LOT for two players. That's at least half of the bottom 5 team payrolls in 2015.

[Guest]

Stupid Dodgers.

 

BA did a writeup of top available Cubans: http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/top-cuban-players-available-part-1/

 

Ona (ranked 6th amongst all unsigned Cubans, defected or not):

 

Status: Waiting for MLB to make him a free agent. Ona is subject to MLB’s registration rules and missed the May 15 registration cutoff for the 2015-16 signing period because he was in Cuba at the time. However, the commissioner’s office should give him an exemption now that they have changed their policy on Cuban players.

 

Likely Starting Assignment: low Class A.

 

Randy Arozarena (SS/OF) - 9th, high-A, Waiting for MLB to make him a free agent

Yusniel Diaz (OF) - 17th, low A, apparently signed by the Dodgers

Lazaro Armenteros (OF) - initially unranked, 16-year old, Rookie ball, Waiting for MLB to make him a free agent

 

Can you pass along the rank and likely assignment for the top few SP on that list? I imagine Sierra is near the top but I'm not plugged in to the other names.

[davell]

I'd assume the 23 and under crowd(which Sierra isn't a part of) goes Norge Ruiz, Vladimir Gutierrez, and Cionel Perez. With 16 year old Adrian Morejon being a wild card. Could be 1st if Sanchez' reports are correct.

 

By the way, on page 14 of this thread, I've got a list of all the "known" guys and am keeping it updated with signings and moving guys around as to whether they're eligible yet or not.

[ctcf]

I'd assume the 23 and under crowd(which Sierra isn't a part of) goes Norge Ruiz, Vladimir Gutierrez, and Cionel Perez. With 16 year old Adrian Morejon being a wild card. Could be 1st if Sanchez' reports are correct.

 

By the way, on page 14 of this thread, I've got a list of all the "known" guys and am keeping it updated with signings and moving guys around as to whether they're eligible yet or not.

 

Great list! Thanks, dude.

[davell]

Man, as far as the signings.......Pretty depressing. That's some serious money and its obvious they're not stopping. I think we truly stole EJM at this point. He signed while the Dodgers were in between IFA regimes. One reason they switched was because they weren't happy with what they'd gotten out of their signings, versus the money they'd spent. Oh well, its not scared them off spending. I think I'm to the point of just hoping we get 1 of Ruiz or Gutierrez and a lesser pitcher. After seeing them do this, I think it may be best to just hope the guys not eligible yet, stay that way until the following signing period. I don't want to see them load up.

[Guest]

Man, as far as the signings.......Pretty depressing. That's some serious money and its obvious they're not stopping. I think we truly stole EJM at this point. He signed while the Dodgers were in between IFA regimes. One reason they switched was because they weren't happy with what they'd gotten out of their signings, versus the money they'd spent. Oh well, its not scared them off spending. I think I'm to the point of just hoping we get 1 of Ruiz or Gutierrez and a lesser pitcher. After seeing them do this, I think it may be best to just hope the guys not eligible yet, stay that way until the following signing period. I don't want to see them load up.

 

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[Guest]

Stupid Dodgers.

 

BA did a writeup of top available Cubans: http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/top-cuban-players-available-part-1/

 

Ona (ranked 6th amongst all unsigned Cubans, defected or not):

 

Status: Waiting for MLB to make him a free agent. Ona is subject to MLB’s registration rules and missed the May 15 registration cutoff for the 2015-16 signing period because he was in Cuba at the time. However, the commissioner’s office should give him an exemption now that they have changed their policy on Cuban players.

 

Likely Starting Assignment: low Class A.

 

Randy Arozarena (SS/OF) - 9th, high-A, Waiting for MLB to make him a free agent

Yusniel Diaz (OF) - 17th, low A, apparently signed by the Dodgers

Lazaro Armenteros (OF) - initially unranked, 16-year old, Rookie ball, Waiting for MLB to make him a free agent

 

Can you pass along the rank and likely assignment for the top few SP on that list? I imagine Sierra is near the top but I'm not plugged in to the other names.

 

That was part 1, which focused on the hitters. Part 2 hasn't come out yet but I'll post when it does.

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[davell]

The Dodgers have not only spent 88 mill on this IFA class(so far), they've also traded AWAY their actual slots in the process. I think I read somewhere today they've spent more on this, than 5 teams did on payroll in 2015. I have no idea what other bids were out there on Diaz and Estevez, but looking thru the teams, I find it extremely hard to believe anyone else was even remotely close.

 

There's no doubt in my mind that a draft is coming after this. Unfortunately, there's also no doubt in my mind that it'll be set up horribly.

[davell]

.@BenBadler has more notes on where Cuban players could end up, including Alfredo Rodriguez https://t.co/RVOzZpMT3p https://t.co/ya7wX3EVwa

 

Badler mentions the Reds as the likely team for SS Alfredo Rodriguez. In much more important news, he lists US the favorites for P Adrian Morejon(please become eligible). He lists the Dodgers as being in on basically everyone but does expect us to continue signing guys too.

[Guest]

.@BenBadler has more notes on where Cuban players could end up, including Alfredo Rodriguez https://t.co/RVOzZpMT3p https://t.co/ya7wX3EVwa

 

Badler mentions the Reds as the likely team for SS Alfredo Rodriguez. In much more important news, he lists US the favorites for P Adrian Morejon(please become eligible). He lists the Dodgers as being in on basically everyone but does expect us to continue signing guys too.

 

The Dodgers are involved in just about everyone, but some believe the Cubs may be the favorites for Adrian Morejon, a 16-year-old lefthander.

 

Morejon would be a welcome addition to a Cubs farm system that leans heavily toward position players. He first pitched on the international stage in Taiwan in a 12U tournament in 2011, then was the MVP of the 15U World Cup last year in Mexico. Morejon beat the United States in the gold-medal match by throwing a 124-pitch complete game with 12 strikeouts, one walk and seven hits allowed in Cuba’s 6-3 victory. He’s not that big (5-foot-11, 165 pounds), but he showed a good fastball at the time for a 15-year-old lefty (mid-to-upper 80s, touching 91), feel to spin a curveball and feel for pitching beyond his years. Morejon isn’t a free agent yet and will need the commissioner’s office to grant him an exemption to sign during the current signing period, like they did with Estevez and outfielder Jonatan Machado, since he was in Cuba this summer and missed the May 15 registration cutoff for the current 2015-16 signing period.

 

Badler didn't mention if any other players are linked to teams besides Rodriguez with the Reds, as davell mentioned. Didn't touch on Ona or Lazarito.

[Tedward]

If we get Morejon, I'm hoping he turns out better than the last "high profile" Cuban lefthander that we signed - Concepcion. Is he still even in the organization?

[Proven Veteran]

If we get Morejon, I'm hoping he turns out better than the last "high profile" Cuban lefthander that we signed - Concepcion. Is he still even in the organization?

 

 

I'm not getting excited about any 16 year old pitcher.

[davell]

I'll gladly take talent of any age. It's not ideal for it to be 16 years old obviously. But if he's a candidate talent-wise to go 1-1 in the upcoming amateur draft and we get him, I'll be plenty excited. We NEED pitching, we may see a few breakouts this upcoming season if things work out right, but we're lagging behind in that department. I want as much Cuban pitching as I can get out of Ruiz, Gutierrez, Morejon, Perez, and Bolanos.(not to mention a guy like Sierra, who's unrestrcited to the IFA rules) Hitting is gravy as far as I'm concerned at this stage of where we're at, especially after getting EJM, and the likelihood the Dodgers pay insane amounts for the Ona's and Armenteros' of the world.(I'd be thrilled, just not expecting it)

 

At any rate, adding as many of these guys as we can is very important to me. We're picking near the end of the draft this year(or hopefully not at all) and the talent won't be like what we've grown accustomed to. Adding guys like this, that'd be considered 1st round talents helps us out a ton. And it seems that they're on our radar by Theo saying we're looking at adding pitching to all levels of our organization.

[craig]

...

He’s not that big (5-foot-11, 165 pounds), but he showed a good fastball

....

 

Hmm, pretty short.

[Guest]

don't tell gato

[davell]

Sanchez' report on Morejon is MUCH better than Barker's. 91-93, plus command, plus makeup, throws 4 pitches......With one scout saying he's the best arm available in IFA or the 2016 draft.....

[davell]

I refuse to look, but there's a guy on PSD that says the Cubs must of signed Brailyn Marquez, he's in a Cubs uniform on Facebook. As are 2 IF, Christopher Morel and Orian Nunez. I've got no idea who those 2 are, but Marquez is the best lefty in the class(Cubans aside) and we had been rumored to have an agreement with him.

[Bear Cub]

I am the guy on PSD that posted the Facebook info on these three players. I have no other info other than their pictures. Good looking kids arent they? Orian Nunez was listed in the Transaction page for the Cubs last month. AZ Phil has him listed also.

[davell]

Cool. Glad to apparently have Marquez, some extremely nice upside there.

 

On a side note, Theo was at a showcase this weekend for P Jorge Hernandez and Norge Ruiz.

[craig]

I am the guy on PSD that posted the Facebook info on these three players. I have no other info other than their pictures. Good looking kids arent they? Orian Nunez was listed in the Transaction page for the Cubs last month. AZ Phil has him listed also.

 

Thanks for info, Bear Cub.

[davell]

Ruiz was 89-93 and Cionel Perez was 93-94 at the showcase. No report on Hernandez.

[Guest]

Ruiz was 89-93 and Cionel Perez was 93-94 at the showcase. No report on Hernandez.

 

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