International Free Agency Thread 2018-2019

[Regular Show]

Take that money away from the Cardinals for being cheaters.

 

Well, the Cardinals are still in the penalty phase for going over in previous years. They can't bid on the big name IFAs like the Mesa brothers during this signing period.

[Regular Show]

 

The Mesa brothers have signed with the Marlins.

 

Well, have fun reaching the big leagues, playing well and then getting traded once you reach arbitration/become too expensive.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Here are the terms:

 

 

The Orioles have about $6 million in IFA money that’s got little value now. Unless someone 17 or older blows up late or another Cuban shows up, Gaston is the only remaining top 30 prospect who could warrant 7 figures in this IFA structure.

[Tryptamine]

5M bonus for a guy most see as 4th OFer with an Almora comp as an upside. Not sure what the bidding war was all about.

[Regular Show]

5M bonus for a guy most see as 4th OFer with an Almora comp as an upside. Not sure what the bidding war was all about.

 

He could end up being better than that. I really like Victor Victor Mesa (older brother) and think he could reach the big leagues pretty fast.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

5M bonus for a guy most see as 4th OFer with an Almora comp as an upside. Not sure what the bidding war was all about.

 

Kiley McDaniel and Eric Longenhagen compared him to Almora, but that's not a universal opinion. Ben Badler disagreed with that and dropped a Victor Robles comp;

 

VVM (NY):

 

Good afternoon Ben. Victor Victor Mesa's October 5th showcase was very tight, not much information has flowed out. What can you tell us and do you feel some of the Almora comps being thrown around are too light, if so, care to throw out your own comp? Thanks!

 

Ben Badler: I wasn't at his Miami showcase (media was not allowed to go), but I've been watching him play since he was 17, and I'm told he pretty much looked the way I described him. I've never heard Albert Almora as a comp, don't know where that comes from, but that doesn't really fit. Victor Robles is a better comparison, from the speed, the defense, athleticism/explosion, the offensive profile, even the injury problems.

 

And they both rated him as the top IFA prospect this year, as did Jesse Sanchez at MLB.com.

[Regular Show]

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[/tweet]

 

Well, they certainly have interesting names in the Jimenez household.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

WTF are the Orioles going to do with their $6 million, some of which they traded for? I wonder if the Cubs can acquire some cap space on the cheap if they’ve found one of these late bloomers or someone in Asia (or even Mexico whenever that market opens up again).

 

[Regular Show]

 

WTF are the Orioles going to do with their $6 million, some of which they traded for? I wonder if the Cubs can acquire some cap space on the cheap if they’ve found one of these late bloomers or someone in Asia (or even Mexico whenever that market opens up again).

 

 

That's a good point. The Orioles worked hard to get that additional pool money. I agree there is no way they can spend it all now. Just trading it away might make them look really foolish, but they're at least getting some value back.

 

Yeah, even $1 mil can go really far for the Cubs if they can find some young talent in Mexico/Venezuela/DR. We had a good pipeline going in Mexico.

 

I'd be fine trading Duane Underwood or maybe even Dillon Maples for some additional IFA funds (only if our scouts feel like there is good talent still available/signable).

[davell]

The key to this, is getting Mexico put back in play before the next signing period. If it is, I doubt the Orioles have any semblance of an inroads yet down there.

[Regular Show]

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FYI, they have Nico Hoerner rated about the same. He's basically like a 45+ FV and he'll probably be moved up to 50 FV pretty soon.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Mike: With the Mesas and Sandy Gaston signed, who is the top IFA left (if any)?

 

Kiley McDaniel: Have referenced this in a few places, but there’s basically no consensus $500K+ prospects left right now. Asia is light, there may be some hideout guys in Mexico but that is contingent on MLB opening the country pretty quickly (which is unlikely).

 

Kiley McDaniel: 17-19 year old latin prospects always develop late and pop up in the middle six figures, some new Cubans may pop up, etc. but there isn’t a guy right now and there isn’t even a Cuban name that’s widely known that teams are waiting on–that market is pretty barren, which is why most of the new ones you hear about are 16 years old with no track record. That age group is where the Cuban talent hasn’t been picked over yet.

[davell]

The Cubs got 300k added to their pool this season, because of nullifying the deal.

[Bull]

Longenhagen says Fujinami is a reliever, when and if he comes over. Kikuchi is the best pitching prospect over there, after Ohtani, at this point.

 

The Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball have announced that they will post ace Yusei Kikuchi for Major League teams in early December (English-language link via the Japan Times). The negotiating window for the 27-year-old left-hander will begin on Dec. 5.

 

are we talking about this elsewhere? any interest?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Longenhagen says Fujinami is a reliever, when and if he comes over. Kikuchi is the best pitching prospect over there, after Ohtani, at this point.

 

The Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball have announced that they will post ace Yusei Kikuchi for Major League teams in early December (English-language link via the Japan Times). The negotiating window for the 27-year-old left-hander will begin on Dec. 5.

ei

are we talking about this elsewhere? any interest?

 

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2519&p=312731&hilit=kikuchi#p312673

 

Cubs probably won't spend on him since they are locked in to 5 starting pitchers financially.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I’m not bothering to start a 2019-2020 thread yet:

 

Big Joe Mufferaw: Do we have another generational prospect coming in the next few years? intl, draft or cuba or japan?

1:53

Kiley McDaniel: 2019 J2 class looks strong up top, Draft has one real standout guy right now but not generational yet, Cuba is tapped except for when new 16 year olds pop up, Japan nothing Darvish/Ohtani level

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[Bear Cub]

Felix kind of reminds me of Jorge Solar.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

This looks good for the players:

 

Cubs will probably lose Serrano now (probably to the Orioles).

 

Since June, MLB has banned Mexican League signings, with the case of Tijuana Toros righthander Florencio Serrano the catalyst for the commissioner's office. Serrano, who had signed with the Cubs for $1.2 million but is now back with the Toros, will become one of the top prospects available for the remainder of the 2018-19 international signing period, which closes on June 15.

 

Another prominent Mexican League prospect who had been caught in limbo, catcher Fernando Villalobos, has been expected to sign with the Brewers. He ranked as Baseball America's No. 34 international prospect for July 2 last year in the current 2018-19 signing period.

[Regular Show]

This looks good for the players:

 

Cubs will probably lose Serrano now (probably to the Orioles).

 

Since June, MLB has banned Mexican League signings, with the case of Tijuana Toros righthander Florencio Serrano the catalyst for the commissioner's office. Serrano, who had signed with the Cubs for $1.2 million but is now back with the Toros, will become one of the top prospects available for the remainder of the 2018-19 international signing period, which closes on June 15.

 

Another prominent Mexican League prospect who had been caught in limbo, catcher Fernando Villalobos, has been expected to sign with the Brewers. He ranked as Baseball America's No. 34 international prospect for July 2 last year in the current 2018-19 signing period.

 

It sucks losing Serrano, but hopefully the Cubs can sign some good prospects in Mexico. We had a good pipeline going before MLB barred clubs from coming to agreements during this current signing period.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Florencio Serrano will sign with the Rangers on March 26th:

[CaliforniaRaisin]

BA did their Cubs review of their IFA signings: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2018-19-international-reviews-chicago-cubs/

 

The Cubs signed 29 players in calendar year 2018. Ben Badler highlighted the big names:

 

• RHP Richard Gallardo - Was 89-93 when he signed but ticked up to 95 at Dominican instructional league. Had nice words for his 3rd pitch, the change.
  
• OF Jose Lopez - Shows sound grasp of the strike zone. Still has the big hitch and arm bar but his quick hands and bat speed makes up for it now.
  
• SS Rafael Morel - Good bat speed, fast-twitch player/good raw athlete (sounds like Chris...and apparently their dad was a former pro basketball player)
  
• LHP Joel Machado - Topping out at 89
  
• OF Yohendrick Pinango - Also a good eye for the strike zone with a patient approach
  
• SS Pedro Martinez - Signed in last year's class for low 6-figures. Played in the DSL last year.
  
• C Pablo Aliendo, Venezuela - Signed last May so class of 17-18 too. Played in the DSL last year.

[CubsWin]

BA did their Cubs review of their IFA signings: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2018-19-international-reviews-chicago-cubs/

 

The Cubs signed 29 players in calendar year 2018. Ben Badler highlighted the big names:

 

• RHP Richard Gallardo - Was 89-93 when he signed but ticked up to 95 at Dominican instructional league. Had nice words for his 3rd pitch, the change.
  
• OF Jose Lopez - Shows sound grasp of the strike zone. Still has the big hitch and arm bar but his quick hands and bat speed makes up for it now.
  
• SS Rafael Morel - Good bat speed, fast-twitch player/good raw athlete (sounds like Chris...and apparently their dad was a former pro basketball player)
  
• LHP Joel Machado - Topping out at 89
  
• OF Yohendrick Pinango - Also a good eye for the strike zone with a patient approach
  
• SS Pedro Martinez - Signed in last year's class for low 6-figures. Played in the DSL last year.
  
• C Pablo Aliendo, Venezuela - Signed last May so class of 17-18 too. Played in the DSL last year.

That's the first I've heard Pablo Aliendo being mentioned as a "big name". Good to know...

[CaliforniaRaisin]