International Free Agency Thread 2017-2018

[CubsWin]

 

That's disappointing on Severino and Martinez. The Yankees also were linked to two top 20 prospects from the 2017-18 class they had slow played in case they needed funds for Ohtani.

Do you know who those two are? According to MLB.com, SS Ronny Rojas (11th overall) is the only IFA prospect listed with the Yankees being the favorite. (Not doubting your recollection just wondering who it is.)

 

Of the 6 remaining unsigned top 30 IFAs, only one is reported to be linked to another team. SS Jelfry Marte (3rd overall - released by the Twins because of vision problems) OF Raimfer Salinas (6th overall), C Antonio Cabello (8th overall), SS Osleivis Basabe (24th overall), OF Wildred Patino (25th overall) and Stir Candelario (29th overall linked to the Mariners) are all listed as unsigned by MLB.com.

 

Obviously, unless some of them choose to wait until the next signing period, the Cubs are out on these guys. And with teams like the Mariners and Angels trading for 2017-18 IFA money (and other teams with money still left to spend), one or both of them (if they don't get Ohtani) will have funds to potentially sign some of them.

 

EDIT - I guess the Cubs could be in on Marte. I think he was declared a free agent. It all depends on the severity of his vision issues.

 

They've been linked to Salinas and Cabello, though they were considered wild cards even at the start of the signing period. Actually, they're also linked to Basabe but BA has him ranked 48.

Thanks, Raisin.

[davell]

Severino gets 2.5M from the Twins. More than Maitan got. And really putting the Yanks and Mariners on Martinez and Marte.

[CubsWin]

Severino gets 2.5M from the Twins. More than Maitan got. And really putting the Yanks and Mariners on Martinez and Marte.

That makes sense for the Twins given they couldn't resign Marte without putting him on their 40-man. Take part of the Marte money and get Severino.

[CubsWin]

I wonder if, given the extreme restrictions the Braves face over the next 3 years in signing IFAs, they would value players like Jonathan Sierra, Yonathan Perlaza, Brailyn Marquez, Yovanny Cruz, Fernando Kelli, Luis Diaz, Luis Verdugo, etc. as sweeteners in a larger trade for pitching than other teams would?

 

Say a trade from surplus (for both teams) like major league ready offense (Happ and Caratini) plus someone like David Bote (or whomever) and three IFAs for Julio Teheran (coming off a down year with 20 million still owed), one of their younger pitching prospects (Wright, Soroka, Anderson, or Wentz) and AJ MInter (a lefty reliever with a good FB and control with minor league options left - 20th ranked prospect per MLB) who could ride the Iowa shuttle and provide relief depth.

 

That would leave the Braves with Newcomb (25) Foltynewicz (26), Fried (24), Gohara (21) and Sims (24) as starters with major league experience along with Allard and 3 other remaining top notch starting prospects (out of Wright, Soroka, Anderson and Wentz). They have two catchers over 30 in Tyler Flowers (32) and Kurt Suzuki (34) under contract thru this year only with Caratini waiting in the wings. Happ would replace Markakis (34) who could easily be traded with one year at 11 million left on his contract.

 

Am I in the ballpark or way out beyond the LF wall...?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

https://amp.mlb.com/263154584-ohtani-signing-changes-international-landscape.amp.html?__twitter_impression=true

 

Juan Pablo Martinez had a showcase Friday. The Rangers and Yankees with their big 2017-18 pools had a big presence there. Also working out today were 16-year old Cuban 3B/OF Malcolm Nuñez and 19-year old 3B/OF Oscar Luis Marten Nuñez.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

That's disappointing on Severino and Martinez. The Yankees also were linked to two top 20 prospects from the 2017-18 class they had slow played in case they needed funds for Ohtani.

Do you know who those two are? According to MLB.com, SS Ronny Rojas (11th overall) is the only IFA prospect listed with the Yankees being the favorite. (Not doubting your recollection just wondering who it is.)

 

Of the 6 remaining unsigned top 30 IFAs, only one is reported to be linked to another team. SS Jelfry Marte (3rd overall - released by the Twins because of vision problems) OF Raimfer Salinas (6th overall), C Antonio Cabello (8th overall), SS Osleivis Basabe (24th overall), OF Wildred Patino (25th overall) and Stir Candelario (29th overall linked to the Mariners) are all listed as unsigned by MLB.com.

 

Obviously, unless some of them choose to wait until the next signing period, the Cubs are out on these guys. And with teams like the Mariners and Angels trading for 2017-18 IFA money (and other teams with money still left to spend), one or both of them (if they don't get Ohtani) will have funds to potentially sign some of them.

 

EDIT - I guess the Cubs could be in on Marte. I think he was declared a free agent. It all depends on the severity of his vision issues.

 

They've been linked to Salinas and Cabello, though they were considered wild cards even at the start of the signing period. Actually, they're also linked to Basabe but BA has him ranked 48.

 

The Yankees signed Salinas and Cabello today with all that leftover Ohtani money:

 

[tweet]

[/tweet]

 

Osleivis Basabe signed with the Rangers today.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

According to Arizona Phil, the Cubs have signed 4 more international free agents in December: http://www.thecubreporter.com/12152017/cubs-sign-cuban-catcher

 

P Moises Diaz (age 16)

P Francisco Fermin (19)

P Luis Ramos (19)

C Brayan Mancilla (18)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Badler says the Yankees, Marlins and Rangers are the favorite for Cuban 21-year old CF Julio Pablo Martinez. Of those three teams, the Rangers have the most cap space. He hasn't been cleared yet as a free agent.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/sung_minkim/status/959579507920314369[/tweet]

[weis21]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/sung_minkim/status/959579507920314369[/tweet]

missed opportunity imo based solely on how many "bae" references he could have had. MLB twitter accounts would have feasted on it.

 

*bae hits homer clip*

 

MLB twitter acct: bae is looking hot tonight

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The Cubs have made four February signings, per Arizona Phil: http://www.thecubreporter.com/02162018/cubs-sign-cuban-catcher

 

Among the signings is 21-year old (turns 22 next month) RHSP Raidel Orta. He reportedly received a $10,000 signing bonus.

 

A veteran of Serie Nacional (the Cuban major league), Orta defected from Cuba two years ago and hasn't pitched competitively since, but he was rated Cuba's #20 prospect by Francys Romero (oncuba.com) going into the 2015-16 season.

 

The Cubs have signed 17-year old Cuban OF-3B Kevin Moreno to a minor league contract and he has been assigned to the AZL Cubs. Moreno says Kris Bryant is his favorite player, and the Cubs are his father's favorite MLB team.

 

Moreno was not selected to play on the Federacion Cubana de Beisbol 16U or 18U Junior National teams and he has not played in Serie Nacional (the Cuban major league), either, so not much is known about him.

 

Unlike other Cubans signed by MLB clubs over the years, Moreno is - NOT - a defector. He will be coming to the U. S. on an H2B work visa (just like other international players who reside in foreign countries). But because the U. S. embassy in Havana stopped processing visas last summer, Cubans who wish to obtain a travel or work visa to the U. S. must apply in person at the U. S. embassy in Bogata, Colombia.

 

So just like their foray into Mexico over the past three or four years has produced some of the best young talent in their system, once again it appears the Cubs are ahead of the curve as far as "working the system" by scouting and signing younger Cubans who are not defectors before they become well-known from playing in international tournaments or in Serie Nacional. (At 17 years and eight months of age, Moreno is the second-youngest Cuban player ever signed by an MLB organization -- LHP Adrian Morejon signed with the San Diego Padres in 2016 when he was 17 years and five months old).

 

Two other February signings are 17-year old outfielder Josue Fernandez and 19-year old pitcher Johan Lopez.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

BA just ranked him #60 in their top 100 overall prospects.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Per Arizona Phil:

 

3/24 UPDATE:

 

The Cubs have signed three more International Free-Agents (IFA):

 

LHP Jesus Gomez

RHP Andy Hernandez

INF Juan Mora

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Ben Badler's Cubs 2017-18 review: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/international-reviews-chicago-cubs-2017/

 

Florencio Serrano, RHP, Mexico (age 18) - $1.2 million bonus

Luis Verdugo, SS, Mexico (age 17) - $1.2 million

Reivaj Garcia, SS, Mexico (age 16) - $500,000

Saul Vazquez, LHP, Mexico (age 17) - $450,000

Manuel Espinoza, RHP, Mexico (age 17) - $400,000

Fabian Pertuz, SS, Colombia (age 17) - $300,000

Alexander Ovalles, OF, Dominican Republic (age 17) - $300,000

Alexander Guerra, C, Cuba (age 21) - $300,000

Brailin Peña, OF, Dominican Republic (age 16) - $225,000

Nestor Heredia, SS, Venezuela (age 17) - $200,000

Widimer Joaquin, 3B (age 17) - $200,000

Jorge Remon, RHP, Panama (age 17) - $180,000

Orlando Zapata, MIF/CF, Venezuela - $160,000

Misael Garcia, LHP, Dominican Republic (age 16) - $150,000

Jonathan Rodriguez, OF, Dominican Republic (age 17) - $150,000

Willy Cabrera, RHP, Dominican Republic (age 17) - $125,000

Carlos Morfa, OF, Dominican Republic (age 17) - $125,000

[Hrubes20]

Ben Badler's Cubs 2017-18 review: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/international-reviews-chicago-cubs-2017/

 

Florencio Serrano, RHP, Mexico (age 18) - $1.2 million bonus

Luis Verdugo, SS, Mexico (age 17) - $1.2 million

Reivaj Garcia, SS, Mexico (age 16) - $500,000

Saul Vazquez, LHP, Mexico (age 17) - $450,000

Manuel Espinoza, RHP, Mexico (age 17) - $400,000

Fabian Pertuz, SS, Colombia (age 17) - $300,000

Alexander Ovalles, OF, Dominican Republic (age 17) - $300,000

Alexander Guerra, C, Cuba (age 21) - $300,000

Brailin Peña, OF, Dominican Republic (age 16) - $225,000

Nestor Heredia, SS, Venezuela (age 17) - $200,000

Widimer Joaquin, 3B (age 17) - $200,000

Jorge Remon, RHP, Panama (age 17) - $180,000

Orlando Zapata, MIF/CF, Venezuela - $160,000

Misael Garcia, LHP, Dominican Republic (age 16) - $150,000

Jonathan Rodriguez, OF, Dominican Republic (age 17) - $150,000

Willy Cabrera, RHP, Dominican Republic (age 17) - $125,000

Carlos Morfa, OF, Dominican Republic (age 17) - $125,000

 

That was a good read. I like what Badler had to say about both Pertuz and Ovalles. The Verdugo section did not sound great about his bat.

[davell]

What's awesome is they found a way to spend 5.975 mill when their budget was under 5 mill. Not even including sub 100k guys.....

 

The lefty pitcher, Garcia, has some interesting notes.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

For some reason this bit on Misael Garcia cracked me up, I think it's how it underscores the absurdity of scouting 16 year olds:

 

Leading up to July 2, Garcia was 6 feet, 170 pounds and was throwing in the mid-to-upper 80s. He’s grown taller and added strength (6-foot-2, 195 pounds) and now has touched 92 mph.

[CubsWin]

Yet one more IFA signing before the new period begins...

 

The Cubs have signed 18-year old Dominican INF Flemin Bautista.

 

So the Cubs have signed 37 IFA so far in the 2017-18 International Signing Period (ISP), including 16 from the Dominican Republic, nine from Mexico, five from Venezuela, three from Cuba, one from Colombia, and one from Panama.

 

Seven of the 37 (R. Garcia, Guerra, Mora, K. Moreno, Orta, Pertuz, and Verdugo) are presently at Cubs Extended Spring Training in Mesa (Pertuz and Verdugo also attended post-2017 AZ Instructs in Mesa), while the other 30 will be having Spring Training at the Cubs Dominican Academy in Boca Chica next month before making their pro debut in the DSL. (The seven 2017-18 IFA at Cubs EXST in Mesa are competing for jobs at Eugene or with one of the two AZL Cubs teams, but it's just as possible that one or more of the seven could be sent to the DSL if the Cubs believe the player is not yet ready for more-advanced competition in the U. S.).

To clarify the ones that are currently in Mesa, that list reads:

 

Luis Verdugo, SS, Mexico (age 17) - $1.2 million

Reivaj Garcia, SS, Mexico (age 16) - $500,000

Fabian Pertuz, SS, Colombia (age 17) - $300,000

Alexander Guerra, C, Cuba (age 21) - $300,000

Raidel Orta, RHSP, (age 22) - $10,000

Kevin Moreno, OF-3B, (age 17) - No bonus info

Juan Mora, IF, (age 18) - No bonus info

[CubsWin]

FWIW, here's an extremely outdated write-up on Raidel Orta from 3 years ago...

Raidel Orta (RHP). Industrial 18 years 1.75m / 70kg

 

Orta is a natural starter with great projection in Cuban baseball. His walk rate is normal for an 18 years old pitcher. However, his slider is mature and consistent and his fastball reaches 90 mph. Perhaps there is no an 18 years old pitcher RHP with the talent of Orta in Cuba.

Per AZ Phil, Orta is veteran of Serie Nacional (the Cuban major league) who defected from Cuba two years ago and hasn't pitched competitively since. At least when he was 18, he was pretty darn small. 1.75m and 70kg converts to 5'9" and 154 lbs. Not pitching competitively for so long, being 22 already (just turned) and getting only $10,000 for a signing bonus isn't very exciting so there's no reason to have much expectation here, but the Cubs are nothing if not thorough and they must've seen something in him.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

5/4 UPDATE:

 

The Cubs have signed three more International Free-Agents:

 

C Pablo Aliendo

OF Rafael Herrera

C Malcom Quintero

 

So the Cubs have signed 40 IFA so far in the 2017-18 International Signing Period (ISP), including 16 from the Dominican Republic, nine from Mexico, five from Venezuela, three from Cuba, one from Colombia, and one from Panama.

 

https://www.thecubreporter.com/05042018/cubs-sign-cuban-catcher

[CaliforniaRaisin]

For some reason this bit on Misael Garcia cracked me up, I think it's how it underscores the absurdity of scouting 16 year olds:

 

Leading up to July 2, Garcia was 6 feet, 170 pounds and was throwing in the mid-to-upper 80s. He’s grown taller and added strength (6-foot-2, 195 pounds) and now has touched 92 mph.

 

Garcia made BA’s top 10 sleeper prospects from the 2017-18 class who are trending up:

 

Baseball America[/url]"]Misael Garcia, LHP, Cubs

 

A 16-year-old from the Dominican Republic, Garcia signed out of Nolan Pena’s program for $150,000 in July, but his stock has improved since then. Leading up to July 2, Garcia was 6 feet, 170 pounds and was throwing in the mid- to upper 80s. He’s grown taller and added strength (6-foot-2, 195 pounds) and now has touched 92 mph. He is a good strike-thrower and has advanced feel to spin a curveball that could develop into an out pitch.

[CubsWin]

In disappointing and somewhat surprising news, the Cubs have released RHP Florencio Serrano. He was signed for $1.2 million (the same amount as SS Luis Verdugo) out of Mexico. Serrano has/had a fastball that sits in the low 90s and topped out at 94 MPH with a sharp-breaking curveball that was talked about as a possible plus pitch in the future. Serrano was ranked as the 29th best IFA prospect by BA.

 

We knew something was up as Serrano was not in ExST and was not listed among those at the Dominican Academy. A few weeks ago I asked AZ Phil, who broke this news last night, if he knew why Serrano hadn't reported. He didn't respond. I assumed that meant he didn't know. He confirmed that in his post yesterday.

 

The Cubs have released 2017-18 IFA RHP Florencio Serrano Jr (Mexico). His contract may have been voided (I'm not sure of the circumstances).

[CaliforniaRaisin]

In disappointing and somewhat surprising news, the Cubs have released RHP Florencio Serrano. He was signed for $1.2 million (the same amount as SS Luis Verdugo) out of Mexico. Serrano has/had a fastball that sits in the low 90s and topped out at 94 MPH with a sharp-breaking curveball that was talked about as a possible plus pitch in the future. Serrano was ranked as the 29th best IFA prospect by BA.

 

We knew something was up as Serrano was not in ExST and was not listed among those at the Dominican Academy. A few weeks ago I asked AZ Phil, who broke this news last night, if he knew why Serrano hadn't reported. He didn't respond. I assumed that meant he didn't know. He confirmed that in his post yesterday.

 

The Cubs have released 2017-18 IFA RHP Florencio Serrano Jr (Mexico). His contract may have been voided (I'm not sure of the circumstances).

Damn.

[davell]

Damn, I'd love to get the story on that.