International Thread 2015-2016

[Tryptamine]

Well we may not be the favorites to land Morejon anymore which is really disappointing. It looks like he might wait until next period to sign.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/adrian-morejon-highlight-video/

[David]

Could've sworn I posted something about this hours ago.

[Tim]

Cue the bombadil saying he wants Ruiz most of all. Cue me saying I'm cautious after certain reports about him. And the two of us agreeing that the best approach is to simply sign them all.

[David]

yep sign them ALL

[davell]

Its a sobering thought, but now that we ARE into the new year and the vast majority of these guys aren't cleared yet, other teams have a much better shot now.

 

I know I'll be thrilled at this point if we add 2 guys between now and the deadline. If we just get one of the 1st round talents, I'm content. If we're to do more than that, we need guys getting cleared ASAP.

 

I am at least happy Badler expects Morejon to be cleared to where we at least have a shot at him.

[Tim]

Cue the bombadil saying he wants Ruiz most of all. Cue me saying I'm cautious after certain reports about him. And the two of us agreeing that the best approach is to simply sign them all.

 

Still think you're confusing Ruiz with Gutierrez, but definitely sign every single one of them.

 

I've posted the link that referenced Ruiz' second half season decline and poor showcases a couple times.

[davell]

Gutierrez and Machado have been cleared for a good length of time already. Especially Gutierrez. The best thing about that is it likely means the Dodgers aren't THAT interested in them, or they'd already have them

 

Gutierrez reports from his showcases haven't been good either, hopefully it causes his pricetag to drop. I haven't heard anything on Machado at all from a showcase standpoint. At 16 though, he's another guy that likely isn't in any real hurry to sign.

[Tim]

I've posted the link that referenced Ruiz' second half season decline and poor showcases a couple times.

 

I have a bad memory, but that really sounds like what's been said about Gutierrez. Interestingly enough, Ruiz is the Cuban pitcher most often tied to the Cubs in the Google searches I just made.

 

Is it a subscription piece from BA?

IIRC, yes.

[davell]

I remember thinking Ruiz' showcase wasn't great, but I didn't think the reports were that negative either. He had his expected velo, the command wasn't quite what was expected, if I recall. Which was disappointing, but understandable due to it being his first showcase. He's had quite a layoff. Could be wrong, but that's what I thought it was.

 

Gutierrez, with multiple showcases, had slightly less than expected velo and worse command at his latest one than it had been.

[Tim]

Ruiz, 21, was the centerpiece of a showcase game in the Dominican Republic on Monday, with Cubs president Theo Epstein among those in attendance, no surprise given that the Cubs are targeting Cuban pitchers and are already over their 2015-16 bonus pool. Ruiz, who ranked as the No. 8 prospect in Cuba in our April rankings and the top pitcher on the island overall, threw three innings in a game against mostly amateur teenagers from the Dominican Republic.

 

Scouts noticed a physical difference in Ruiz, who appears to have added around 25 pounds and is now closer to 5-foot-10, 195 pounds. He’s a good athlete who throws strikes, mixes his pitches liberally and has solid stuff across the board. On Monday, his fastball operated at 89-92 mph, though there was concern among some scouts that he didn’t have the same explosive finish to his stuff that he had in the past, though his changeup was still a lively, above-average pitch. Ruiz’s stuff did look flat in the Caribbean Series in February, and he did struggle in the second half of the 2014-15 season in Serie Nacional, posting a 4.53 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 25 walks in 45 2/3 innings after the break. Some scouts are concerned that might be a trend, especially with their durability concerns due to his size and the way his mechanics work, but he has shown midrotation starter potential when he’s at his best and should have plenty more opportunities to show teams what he has over the next couple of months pitching in the Dominican Republic, including another showcase game on Saturday.

[CubsWin]

Well we may not be the favorites to land Morejon anymore which is really disappointing. It looks like he might wait until next period to sign.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/adrian-morejon-highlight-video/

This also could be a ploy to up some offers and if they don't get there, then he might just wait. Cubs are known to find a price point they're comfortable with and stick to it, so it may not make a difference with them.

[davell]

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal 33m33 minutes ago

 

Source: Cuban teen phenom Lazarito anticipates a decision by Feb. 10. Already negotiating with teams, while a few private workouts remain.

 

Badler is reporting the Braves, Nats, and Padres all plan on decimating their IFA budgets this upcoming season. With Atlanta rivaling what the Yanks did 2 years ago, 15+ mill before penalties. The Pads are now EXPECTED to get multiples of the major Cubans currently out there, according to Badler. Article below.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/three-teams-will-break-international-bonus-pools-2016/

Edited January 26, 2016 by davell

[Cubswin11]

Hasn't it been reported that the braves already have a deal for Maitan for next year already? So not surprising they are going over.

[davell]

Hasn't it been reported that the braves already have a deal for Maitan for next year already? So not surprising they are going over.

 

Yeah, plus the really good C(Gutierrez) as well.

[Tryptamine]

I'm not all that interested in Lazarito. I'd much rather take Morejon and Ruiz and the money would likely be even.

[davell]

I'm not all that interested in Lazarito. I'd much rather take Morejon and Ruiz and the money would likely be even.

 

Who knows? Trying to read between the lines on Morejon, we WERE the favorites, then talk of him waiting, then hearing the Pads are going big on IFA's......I guess that's our main competition on him? Other than the fact he needs to be cleared obviously.

 

As for pricetags, I've honestly got no idea......But I could see Ruiz bringing a ton, based on pedigree and the fact he's fairly close to being able to contribute in the majors.....Obviously, he'll need to put together a solid showcase.

 

Lazarito, despite the tremendous hype, is a 16 year old. I know there are rumors of him turning down 15 mill to play in Japan and speculation his pricetag can reach Moncada levels......As a 16 year old, unless teams truly see him as a Bryce Harper type(and early reports are they don't), I don't see teams shelling that kind of cash out for a kid that far out. If the Dodgers want to, they can outbid the field easily.....But at 16, I think we'll see teams(even the Dodgers) bid rather accordingly.

 

But yeah, I'd take Ruiz and Morejon over him, if we can choose a scenario.

[Cubswin11]

Ray A.: Are the SF Giants linked to Cuban prospect LAZARITO at all? They already went over on Fox, so it seems smart for them to gamble on this potential superstar.

Klaw: I spoke to three scouts who saw him in San Cristobal last week. Not one said he was a “potential superstar” or even close to that.

[davell]

Jesse Sanchez ‏@JesseSanchezMLB 4m4 minutes ago

 

Sources: Cuban players Yander La O (INF), Henry Quintero (INF), catcher Oscar Valdez and Anibal Sierra (SS) were declared free agents by MLB

 

La O is fairly significant, but he's a 3B, so I doubt we've got a lot of interest there. Not subject to bonus pools. Sierra is a glove first SS, Quintero was very well regarded(2B) until he got fat. Also not subject to bonus pools. Valdez is a guy I'm not aware of.

 

At any rate, it's good to see some guys getting cleared, we just need it to be some of the others(Morejon, Ruiz, Bolanos, Cionel Perez, Jorge Ona) to happen pretty quickly.

[davell]

Here's a make shift list of the Cubans, as of now.....

 

OF Eddy Julio Martinez- CUBS (3 MILL)

OF Yusnier Diaz- DODGERS (15.5 MILL)

2B Omar Estevez- DODGERS (6 MILL)

P Carlos Sierra- ASTROS (UNKNOWN)

P Yaisel Sierra- DODGERS (6-30 MILL)

SS Alfredo Rodriguez- REDS (6 MILL)

 

Eligible players restricted to IFA guidelines

 

IF/OF Randy Arozarena(1st round talent)

OF Jonatan Machado (supplemental, 2nd round talent) Cards considered favorites

OF Lazarito Armenteros(??????? as to what his talent level is)

SS Annibal Sierra ( no hit, all glove guy-Arrubarruena with no attitude)

P Vladimir Gutierrez(1st round talent....May not be that anymore?)

P Johan Oviedo(18 yrs old, 94-96 mph)

 

Ineligible players(may become eligible at any time)

1B/3B Yordan Alvarez-20 has pop, position in question

OF Lazaro Alfonzo-21 good hitting corner OF

OF Jorge Ona-19(1st round talent) power prospect, profiles as a corner OF with middle of the order potential. Padres considered favorites

SS Diosbel Ariel Morales-20- glove first guy with no bat

3B/OF Lazaro Vargas-16(1st round potential, but very late defection) has power and excellent lineage

P Norge Ruiz-21(1st round talent) 89-93, excellent pedigree. Cubs interested in him.

LHP Luis Estrada-21 92-93, needs control

LHP Cionel Perez-19(very solid potential, if not 1st round) 95+, smaller guy, likely winds up in pen. Cubs interested in him.

P Ronald Bolanos-19(very solid potential, if not 1st round) was just clocked 94-96 with control, newer to pitching

LHP Adrian Morejon-16(1st round potential)91-93, with control and command. Padres considered favorites

LHP Pedro Duran-24- upper 80's, LOOGY upside

P Roddy Castello-23- upper 80's to low 90's, control guy

 

 

Eligible players not subject to IFA rules

CF Guillermo Heredia-24 glove ready, bat may develop

2B Pavel Quesada-27 known as a good hitter, has pop

3B Luis La O(very solid, if not 1st round talent) good defensively, decent bat, not a ton of pop

OF Yadiel Hernandez-27, 4th OFer type, good OBP, comped to Nava. Cubs interested in him

P Jorge Hernandez-25, supposedly throws 95, but only has FB

LHP Julio Alfredo Martinez-24 crafty, upper 80's, possibly LOOGY

 

Some of the ages are likely wrong, I'm going mostly off memory here. A few of the comments are fuzzy too...Alfonzo, Alvarez, Duran, Castello in particular) Plenty of others are out there, both eligible and not. But these guys all have received at least a tiny bit of pub when they defected or from showcases.

Edited May 10, 2016 by davell

[CubsWin]

Sounds like Bolanos and Ona would great gets if they become available before the June 15th deadline.

[davell]

Here's my order of preference at this point.....

 

10. 3B/OF Vargas

9. LHP Perez

8. CF Machado

7. RHP Gutierrez

6. OF Armenteros

5. RHP Bolanos

4. IF/OF Arozarena

3. LHP Morejon

2. RHP Ruiz

1. OF Ona

[davell]

Badler had a piece today on the IFA's that aren't pool restricted. Anything of note with the Cubs in it, by any chance?

[Tim]

Badler had a piece today on the IFA's that aren't pool restricted. Anything of note with the Cubs in it, by any chance?

- we gave a private workout to Heredia, along with the Astros and "several other teams"

 

That's it for any teams attached to any players.

[davell]

Badler had a piece today on the IFA's that aren't pool restricted. Anything of note with the Cubs in it, by any chance?

- we gave a private workout to Heredia, along with the Astros and "several other teams"

 

That's it for any teams attached to any players.

 

Ah thanks, Tim. He's been out there an awful long time after becoming eligible.

[davell]

Sources: Braves express strong interest in Cuban teen Lazarito Armenteros. Private workout scheduled for Sat in DR https://t.co/9psWWpuktA