International Thread 2015-2016

[CubsWin]

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

Albertos got some love in the spanish language article announcing he'd signed with the Cubs. It said some scouts thought he was a top-3 talent of all IFA pitchers. I'd never heard of C Henderson Perez until you posted this and he got the same money as Amaya.

[CubsWin]

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

I've read reports on Yunior Perez and Javier Assad in minor league camp this spring with similar velocities and saw them both when I visited Mesa. I was surprised. Under the radar signings. The Cubs scouts continue to impress.

[craig]

Thanks for all the info, friends. Very fun, very encouraging. Albertos as a 94-mph $1.5, that's very cool. Perez as a tall power conversion guy who's already gaining consistency, that's very cool. Two $1.25 catchers, that's hopeful. >$18 spent from those notes, at well over $30M given the tax, and perhaps still the possibility that there may be more who still sign, or that they don't know about, that's cool too.

 

INteresting to have a couple of $$ guys from Mexico, and interesting that despite seeming to pull out from Venezuela, they still got three Venezuelan kids on that list.

[Johnny OHagan]

75% of mexican bonuses go to the team therefore only quarter of bonuses mentioned above go against the cubs bonus pool.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I merged the two threads.

[Tim]

Make this one happen, Theo.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Make this one happen, Theo.

 

Yeah, Gutierrez is one of the few guys who seems willing to sign in his period. I hope they get him.

 

Seeing how so many guys are willing to wait till the next period and how Moncada is probably the best prospect still in the minors, it bums me out he wasn't willing to wait for the Cubs.

[craig]

75% of mexican bonuses go to the team therefore only quarter of bonuses mentioned above go against the cubs bonus pool.

 

That would seem to make Mexico an obvious niche place to target. Same for everybody, of course....

[craig]

Make this one happen, Theo.

 

Yeah, Gutierrez is one of the few guys who seems willing to sign in his period. I hope they get him.

 

Seeing how so many guys are willing to wait till the next period and how Moncada is probably the best prospect still in the minors, it bums me out he wasn't willing to wait for the Cubs.

 

96 with a hammer curve and projectable, that's a dream combo. Gutierrez has himself situated in a nice place, where he can get bids from this year's teams and next year's. So he's got a pretty full opportunity. Cubs have already spend $30, and sounds like he'd likely cost a bunch more x 2. But that would be really cool.

 

Seems silly to even relate the international market for a teenager to what's happening with the big-league club. But, I almost feel like the great start for the big-league Cubs makes it very likely that there will be October revenue coming in. More projected revenue, more ability to fund a prospect you like.

 

Hopefully they go after this guy and it works great.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Cubs had a solid presence at Vladimir Gutierrez' final showcase:

 

Baseball America[/url]"]The Astros, who are planning to break their international bonus pool when the 2016-17 signing period opens on July 2, had the deepest crew of evaluators on hand, according to those in attendance. The Dodgers, who are over their current bonus pool, also had a strong presence at the event.

 

The Cubs and Royals (both over their current pools) as well as the Braves, Cardinals, Padres and Reds (all going over their pools on July 2) were among the other clubs with a notable contingent in town to watch Gutierrez. The Orioles, Brewers and Marlins also had scouts on hand at the workout, which didn’t draw the enormous crowds that some Cuban showcases had, but had several top evaluators there.

 

On Friday, the lanky 6-foot-3 Gutierrez threw around 75 pitches, with around 30 pitches to warm up on the mound, then another 45 or so split over three innings of a simulated game against low-level hitters from the Phillies’ extended spring training squad. Reports on Gutierrez’s velocity generally ranged from 93-96 mph, consistent with what he showed at his previous showcase last month. That’s an increase from what Gutierrez was throwing in Cuba, and he’s hit 97 mph recently in private showings.

 

Gutierrez also impressed scouts in attendance with his curveball, showing sharp bite and tight spin, though while he generated a lot of weak contact, he didn’t get much swing-and-miss. Gutierrez was mostly a two-pitch guy in Cuba, and while he occasionally flashed an average changeup there, his changeup got mixed reviews today, and he sprinkled a slider in as well that wasn’t as good as his curve.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Fonz (Milwaukee): Is there any buzz about unsigned Cubans that you can share with us (like Ona and Morejon to the Padres)?

 

Ben Badler: The Padres are still likely to sign Morejon and Ona. The latest buzz I’ve heard on Morejon is that his stuff continues to trend in the right direction, with his fastball reaching 95 mph.

 

:|

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[CaliforniaRaisin]

MLB is investigating the Red Sox over potential package deal signings in 2015. MLB comes off looking pretty bad in the investigation:

 

Baseball America[/url]"]Major League Baseball is investigating the Red Sox over their 2015 international signings, focusing on whether the team signed multiple Venezuelan players in “package deals” and whether that would be considered a circumvention of MLB’s international bonus pools, according to multiple international sources.

 

During the process, MLB officials questioned players as young as 16 individually, according to multiple sources, and threatened to suspend them if they were not truthful. The commissioner’s office acknowledged the questioning but said no players were threatened with suspension.

 

...

 

The players, most of whom are still 16 or 17 years old, did not have their parents or any representation with them. According to multiple sources, MLB officials told the players that if they lied, the commissioner’s office would suspend them. They asked the players to give them their banking information and said they would investigate their bank accounts, according to those sources. Some of the players broke down in tears.

 

“They put a lot of pressure on them, like they were criminals,” said one source. “They’re trying to put pressure on the kids to talk to them.”

[David]

the whole IFA thing is so shady and icky feeling. still creeped out by that pirates guy in pelotero.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Really annoying the Cubs couldn't sign him:

 

Among Cuban players, the Padres are still the favorites to sign Morejon, who has been up to 95 mph with an easy delivery and good feel for his secondary pitches

 

The Cubs can only max out at $300k for each player Theo sign next year.

[davell]

I'm holding out hope for Gutierrez. I'm very disappointed Ruiz STILL hasn't even been cleared, when most guys coming over months later have been.

[davell]

Ronald Bolanos was cleared today. No idea if he's willing to sign within the next 2 weeks though. Geez, I want one more addition though.......

[Tim]

I'm holding out hope for Gutierrez.

I think this is our last hope at this point. He must be asking for the moon from the '15-'16 bonus pool teams, knowing he has them over a barrel.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

For the next time the Cubs can spend big money on IFAs (unless there's a draft): [tweet]

[/tweet]

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Ben Badler[/url]"]CUBAN PLAYERS AND TEAMS GROWING FRUSTRATED WITH MLB FREE AGENCY PROCESS

 

Major League Baseball on Monday cleared Yulieski Gurriel to sign, an action that increased frustrations among Cuban players and teams, while again raising questions about how the commissioner’s office dictates which players are eligible to sign.

 

For many Cuban players, waiting for MLB to clear them to sign is a long process. Outfielder Jorge Ona, righthander Norge Ruiz and lefthanders Adrian Morejon and Cionel Perez are among the top young Cuban players who left their country last year and are subject to the international bonus pools. Yet all four players—and many others—are still waiting for the commissioner’s office to clear them. That is despite the fact that all of them left Cuba before Gurriel did.

 

Here’s when Baseball America reported that each player left Cuba:

 

Norge Ruiz – May 2015

Cionel Perez – May 2015

Jorge Ona – July 2015

Adrian Morejon – October 2015

Yulieski Gurriel – February 2016

 

...

 

For young players subject to the bonus pools, the timing of when MLB clears them to sign can have a significant impact on their future and their earning power. On Wednesday, the 2015-16 international signing period closes, followed by a two-week closed period where no signings are allowed until July 2, when the 2016-17 signing period begins.

 

Once the current 2015-16 signing period ends, the Blue Jays, Cubs, Dodgers, Giants and Royals won’t be able to spend more than $300,000 on any player subject to the bonus pools, a penalty for exceeding their pools during the 2015-16 period. Unless those players get cleared by Wednesday, they will lose the ability to negotiate a deal for more than $300,000 with the Dodgers and Cubs, two teams that have been heavyweights when it comes to spending on international free agents and Cuban players in particular.

[cwood218]

 

 

... Unless those players get cleared by Wednesday ... lose the ability to negotiate ... with the Dodgers and Cubs

 

This is a conspiracy to thwart one of our waves!!!!

[davell]

Well, tomorrow is the last day for us. Badler sees the Dodgers making moves by then, but doesn't bring any other team up. Hopefully there's a surprise left for us somehow. Sucks Ruiz and Perez aren't eligible yet, as they were 2 of the guys we were really interested in.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

 

:x

 

I'm going to be pissed if the Dodgers ridiculous spending made MLB intentionally drag their feet and bring down the Cubs too.

[Tim]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

 

:x

 

I'm going to be pissed if the Dodgers ridiculous spending made MLB intentionally drag their feet and bring down the Cubs too.

aw, hell. That sucks.

[davell]

Gutierrez, Lazarito, and Arozarena were the only 3 of those that have eligibility. Whether its meant to mean NO ONE is signing or if CF Jonatan Machado or RHP Ronald Bolanos may be signing, is still technically up for debate. Even still, Badler has acted like the Dodgers were the only one still attempting to do anything.