International Thread 2015-2016

[Transmogrified Tiger]

are there any davenport translations available on those numbers?

 

Here's a comparison that might be a bit more instructive, to Jose Abreu:

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=gourri000yul

http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=abreu-009jos

 

Gurriel's peak last year is higher(although only 100 PA), and Abreu had a bit of a higher baseline, but in all their total Cuban numbers are similar.

[David]

well then

[David]

nothing groundbreaking but

 

[Cubswin11]

If he ends up with Atlanta I feel like there will be some sort of investigation as to how they got him and Maitan next year. Or at least pile on to the case for getting rid of the fucked up system in place

[davell]

There's definitely NOT going to be an investigation on Maitan, that's extremely common place. All teams have those types of agreements in place this far in advance. Not to mention, its no different than a high school kid giving his verbal, the player (or team) can change their mind at any point.

 

I honestly think MLB is pulling for the Braves, Pads, or any other team not spending THIS IFA period to actually get some of these guys. Anything to keep the Dodgers from continuing to wipe their asses on this current system. I think its very likely they've drug their feet in clearing these guys in order to allow more teams into the mix.

[davell]

Badler says the Cards appear to be the favorites to sign 16 year old OF Jonatan Machado, getting him to wait til July 2nd to sign.

 

Joel Sherman says Lazarito should decide today or tomorrow and just spent 4 days at the Padres complex.

 

By the way, that puts the Cards, Nats, Padres, and Phillies all as teams planning to go over next period and competition for us on any of these guys for the rest of this signing period.

[davell]

From what I'm hearing, unlikely Lazarito ends up w Cubs. Unless price came down, what he's asking for is more than Cubs are willing to offer

 

Sharma

[davell]

Lazarito hasn't made up his mind and is considering waiting til J-2, new teams evidently involved. In worse news, OF Joirge On a and LHP Adrian Morejon are now considered likely to sign with the Padres.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Lazarito hasn't made up his mind and is considering waiting til J-2, new teams evidently involved. In worse news, OF Joirge On a and LHP Adrian Morejon are now considered likely to sign with the Padres.

 

Damn. Probably the two guys I was most interested in, especially since there was no doubt Morejon would be a Cub just a few months ago.

 

There are two Cuban players in particular that the Padres are likely to sign once they become free agents: right fielder Jorge Ona and lefthander Adrian Morejon. Both players performed well in the Cuban junior leagues, dominated at their most recent international tournaments before leaving Cuba and are among the top young Cuban prospects off the island right now. Since the Padres are planning to over their international bonus pool when the 2016-17 period opens on July 2, Ona and Morejon would have to wait until July 2 to officially sign with San Diego.

 

While the Cubs were once seen as the favorites to sign Morejon, that no longer appears to be the case with the Padres jumping into the mix. Even though Morejon is just 16 (he turns 17 at the end of the month), he’s expected to command an even bigger bonus than Ona. Morejon would easily be the best pitching prospect on the traditional July 2 market if he were from Venezuela or the Dominican Republic, standing out for his combination of stuff and feel for pitching well beyond his years. Despite his youth, he’s advanced enough to pitch in a Rookie-level complex league in the United States right now and could move quickly due to his relative polish.

[davell]

Its updated in the post I've got tracking this stuff on page 1 of this thread, but here's the top 10 and what it looks like currently.....

 

1. OF Jorge Ona- Padres favored

2. RHP Norge Ruiz- Sharma says keep him on our radar

3. LHP Adrian Morejon- Padres favored(and expected to get more money than Ona)

4. IF/OF Randy Arozarena- no teams connected and is already eligible

5. RHP Ronald Bolanos- no teams connected

6. OF Lazarito Armenteros- eligible, we're connected, but appear to be longshots. Braves and Pads may be favored.

7. RHP Vladimir Gutierrez- been eligible for a while, no teams connected

8. OF Jonatan Machado- eligible, we've been connected in past, Cards are favorites

9. LHP Cionel Perez- Sharma says to keep him on the radar.

10. 3B Lazaro Vargas- no teams connected.

 

At this point, I think I'd list Lourdes Gurriel 1st or 2nd, but I definitely think he'll wait until after his birthday in October to sign, when he'll be free from restrictions.

 

At any rate, this doesn't look all that promising to me.The Dodgers are assumed to still be spending by everyone, hopefully its on guys we're not linked to.

Edited February 13, 2016 by davell

[craig]

Yes, not promising. Maybe we did spend most of the discretionary money on Heyward....

[davell]

Yes, not promising. Maybe we did spend most of the discretionary money on Heyward....

 

That's not why I'm discouraged. The money is there, even Sharma has said we've got money for these guys. The issue is most of these guys have not been cleared yet, bringing more teams into the mix. If we do get 2 of these 10, its a very solid showing, as far as I'm concerned. If we just get Ruiz, I'll be content. But I'm obviously hoping for more. We need MLB to get off their asses and clear these guys though, or its a moot point.

[CubsWin]

Yes, not promising. Maybe we did spend most of the discretionary money on Heyward....

 

That's not why I'm discouraged. The money is there, even Sharma has said we've got money for these guys. The issue is most of these guys have not been cleared yet, bringing more teams into the mix. If we do get 2 of these 10, its a very solid showing, as far as I'm concerned. If we just get Ruiz, I'll be content. But I'm obviously hoping for more. We need MLB to get off their asses and clear these guys though, or its a moot point.

If the latest reports were accurate, bring me Bolanos and I'm happy. I'll dream on Lourdes Jr., Ruiz and Ona.

[davell]

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/164578238/cubans-yulieski-lourdes-gurriel-jr-training?topicid=151437456

 

The Gurriels appear to want to be a package. Kind of cool, I have to think we'd be very serious players on this. Along with half the league probably.

[CubsWin]

AZ Phil gave a complete breakdown of the IFA signings thus far. Lots of names we haven't heard before (and may never hear again...)

 

The Cubs have signed 27 International Free-Agents (IFA) since the start of the 2015-16 International Signing Period (ISP) that began on July 2nd.

 

The 2015-16 ISP concludes on June 15th.

 

 

The 27 IFA signed by the Cubs so far are from six different countries, including ten from the Dominican Republic, six from Mexico, six from Venezuela, two from Panama, one from Cuba, one from Colombia, and one from Korea (ROK).

 

It's notable that Cubs have signed as many 2015-16 IFA out of Mexico as they have out of Venezuela, as the Cubs continue to increase their scouting presence in Mexico. (The Cubs signed three players out of Mexico in the 2014-15 ISP--RHP Jesus Camargo, RHP Hector Garcia, and 2B Carlos Sepulveda--after signing only two players out of Mexico in the previous five years).

 

The percentage of Venezuelan IFA players signed by the Cubs (so far) in the 2015-16 ISP (only 25%) is lower than it has been in the last few years, which is perhaps related to the Cubs pulling out of the Venenuelan Summer League post-2015 (which led to the disbanding of the VSL).

 

* bats or throws left

# bats both

 

NOTE: age listed is age the player was when he signed

 

PITCHERS: 10

Jose Albertos (Mexico) - age 16

Maikel Aguiar (Venezuela) - age 19

Javier Assad (Mexico) - age 17

* Faustino Carrera (Mexico) - age 16

Carlos Ocampo (Colombia) - age 17

* Brailyn Marquez (Dominican Republic) - age 16

Hector Matos (Dominican Republic) - age 16

Yunior Perez (Dominican Republic) - age 16

* Jose MacDonna (Dominican Republic) - age 19

Edison Novas (Dominican Republic) - age 18

 

CATCHERS: 4

Miguel Amaya (Panama) - age 16

Henderson Perez (Venezuela) - age 16

# Herson Perez (Venezuela) - age 18

Kevin Zamudio (Mexico) - age 17

 

INFIELDERS: 6

* Aramis Ademan (Dominican Republic) - age 16

Luis Diaz (Dominican Republic) - age 16

* Christopher Morel (Dominican Republic) - age 16

Orian Nunez (Dominican Republic) - age 17

# Yonathan Perlaza (Venezuela) - age 16

Isaac Paredes (Mexico) - age 16

NOTE: Five of the six 2015-16 IFA infielders were signed as shortstops (Nunez was signed as a second-baseman)

 

OUTFIELDERS: 7

# Jose Gutierrez (Venezuela) - age 16

* Kwang-Min Kwon (South Korea) - age 17

Fernando Kelli (Venezuela) - age 17

Eddy Julio Martinez (Cuba) - age 20

* Ruben Reyes (Mexico) - age 19

* Abraham Rodriguez (Panama) - age 16

* Jonathan Sierra (Dominican Republic) - age 16

NOTE: Kwon and Sierra are strictly corner OF (and Kwon also plays 1B), while the other five can play all three OF positions

 

Albertos, Amaya, Ademan, Diaz, Paredes, Kwon, and Sierra attended Fall Instructs in Mesa last September, and Kwon won the Instructs HR Derby (Eloy Jimenez was asked not to participate, to give others a chance to win).

[Bear Cub]

Lots of shortstop prospects in this group.

[Johnny OHagan]

Plenty of left handed hitters too...

[weis21]

Random, but it's happened over and over and over.

 

Does anyone else see this thread bumped and initially read it the title as, "Intentional Thread 2015-2016"? I swear I do that every time for some reason. then i read it in my head "intentional thread...no you dumbass you do that every single time. it's international". repeat.

 

anyway. i appreciate reading and hearing the thoughts of people that are much smarter on these players than I am. carry on!

[mdwilla]

Badler at BA had a big update on Cuban free agents today that included the Cubs among others. Anyone has the info on the Cubs? Not having a a big draft pool this year and losing our top two picks it would be nice to snag a few more Cubans free agents to deepen the system.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Badler at BA had a big update on Cuban free agents today that included the Cubs among others. Anyone has the info on the Cubs? Not having a a big draft pool this year and losing our top two picks it would be nice to snag a few more Cubans free agents to deepen the system.

 

Not every player was linked to team but he did link the Cubs to Norge Ruiz (along with the Dodgers) and Vladimir Gutierrez (along with the Dodgers and Giants).

 

Badler reiterated Morejon was linked to the Padres and Lazarito to the Padres with the Dodgers and Braves waiting in the wings.

[Tim]

Also want the Cubs to sign Gutierrez, who looked much more impressive in his recent workout.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/gutierrez-cuba-workout-vladimir/#QsCVeA2iiF8QY4xG.97

 

He touched 94-96 mph in the first inning, dipped to 92-93 more consistently in his second inning but once again touched 95 in the third “inning.” He pitched out of the windup and the stretch.

 

Blessed with an athletic but skinny frame, Gutierrez generates his velocity from long, lanky levers. The 20-year-old still has room to add strength as he matures as he has very little musculature on his upper body. He’s athletic and projectable with a fast arm and a history of success.

 

In other words, he’s once again showing signs that he’s worthy of a big contract. If he was eligible for the June draft, multiple scouts suggested that he’d be a first-round talent.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Cubs paid 12 of the 40 biggest non-Cuban IFA bonuses last year:

 

6. Jonathan Sierra, OF, Dominican Republic - $2.5 million

10. Aramis Ademan, SS, Dominican Republic - $2 million

15. Jose Alberto's, RHP, Mexico - $1.5 million

21. Henderson Perez, C, Venezuela - $1.25 million

T-23. Miguel Amaya, C, Panama - $1.2 million

T-23. Kwangmin Kwon, OF, South Korea - $1.2 million

T-28. Cristopher Morel, SS, Dominican Republic - $800,000

T-28. Isaac Paredes, SS, Mexico - $800,000

T-35. Yunior Perez, RHP, Dominican Republic - $600,000

T-35. Brailyn Marquez, LHP, Dominican Republic - $600,000

40. Jose Gutierrez, OF, Venezuela - $550,000

 

Eddy Julio Martinez had the 6th biggest Cuban bonus at $3 million.

[craig]

Those 12 add up to $16.6. Almost all is above the tax line, so that's got to be $30-million in actual costs for those 12 guys alone. May not be done, but even if they are, we can hardly complain that they've been cheap.

 

Hopefully the scouting was wise and some of the $$ turns into actual big-league value players.

[Johnny OHagan]

Eddy Martinez 18 January 1995 CF $3,000,000 C

Yonathan Sierra 17 October 1998 OF $2,500,000 D

Aramis Ademan 13 September 1998 SS $2,000,000 D

Jose Albertos 7 November 1998 SP $1,500,000 M

Miguel Amaya 9 March 1999 C $1,250,000 P

Henderson Perez C $1,250,000 V

Kwang Min Kwon 12 December 1997 OF $1,200,000 SK

Yonathan Perlaza 10 November 1998 SS $1,000,000 V

Isaac Paredes 18 February 1999 SS $800,000 M

Christopher Morel 3B $800,000 D

Yunior Perez 1 December 1998 SP $600,000 D

Brailyn Marquez 1 November 1998 SP $600,000 D

Jose Gutierrez OF $550,000 V

Luis Diaz 1 April 1999 SS $350,000 D

Orian Nunez 3 September 1998 2B $300,000 D

Faustino Carrera SP $250,000 M

Abraham Rodriguez OF $100,000 P

[Johnny OHagan]

The Cubs gave two pitchers $600,000 bonuses last year, including 17-year-old Dominican righthander Yunior Perez. He trained with Franklin Ferreras originally as a shortstop but moved to the mound around a year before signing. At a projectable 6-foot-4, 190 pounds with a high waist and long arms, Perez has the makings of a future power arm. His velocity was inconsistent before signing, but he’s already been up to 93 mph with good movement and late finish, with a chance to be throwing in the mid-90s or better in the next few years. He’s also shown ability to spin a breaking ball that could develop into an average pitch, with a fairly easy delivery and good arm action, especially for a conversion guy.

Found the above the most interesting in BA's article.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/international-reviews-chicago-cubs-2015/#WV4hErJBSeKB70p5.97

 

Other interesting notes;

Paredes, Ademan, Albertos & possibly Sierra playing in AZL. Ademan best prospect from IFA signings.

Christopher Morel injured. Out until mid season at least.

Marquez 92 mph Albertos 94. Javier Assad (150k) 94

Apparently several teams didn't even get an opportunity to see Henderson Perez. Cubs signed him early i'd say