International Free Agency Thread, 1/15/2022 Class

[CaliforniaRaisin]

This class would have been the 7/2/2021 class before the rule changes.

 

Prospect linked to the Cubs per Peloteros International:

 

Adán Sánchez, C, Panama

 

Prospects Linked to the Cubs by BA:

 

22. Adán Sánchez, C, Panama

28. Alexis Hernández, SS, Dominican Republic

34. Jefferson Rojas, SS, Dominican Republic

 

Eric Longenhagen's Board at FanGraphs (2/16/21):

 

Rodrick Arias, SS, Dominican Republic - NY Yankees

Jonathan Mejía, SS, Dominican Republic - St Louis

Jarlin Susana, RHP, Dominican Republic - San Diego (was eligible for the 2021 class, deferred to 2022 for a larger bonus)

Dyan Jorge, CF, Cuba - Colorado (was eligible for the 2021 class, deferred to 2022 for a larger bonus)

Cristian Vaquero, RF, Cuba - Washington

Oscar Colás, RF, Cuba - Miami

Ismael Javier, SS, Dominican Republic

 

Eric Longehangen back in 2019[/url]"]For 2021, clubs are obviously still sorting through the top talent, but Dominican shortstop Rodrick Arias is the consensus top prospect at this point, with differing opinions about the ten or so names in the mix behind him, which include Dominican right fielder Tony Blanco and outfielders Raimer Mateo and Ricardo Diaz, along with Venezuelan catcher Luis Meza, and Venezuelan shortstops William Bergolla, Diego Benitez, Ricardo Cabrera, and Javier Osoria.

 

There are two 1/15/2023 prospects who would technically be eligible in fall 2022 because of the change in the draft class period (with the old rules, they would have been eligible 7/2/2022). There's a chance a team with a most of their bonus money still available could poach them before 2023: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/international-player-update/

 

Felnin Celestin, SS, Dominican Republic - Seattle

Brandon Mayea, CF, Cuba - NY Yankees

[CaliforniaRaisin]

BA released their top 20 free agents and the Cubs are surprisingly not linked to any of them. The Dodgers, who are also one of the top teams in Latin America, aren't linked to anyone on this list.

 

That said, some Cuban free agents aren't on their board yet because BA isn't sure who will sign them so their big board will have more changes.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The Cubs are part of the base/smallest bonus pool - their bonus pool for this class is $5,179,700.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

This class would have been the 7/2/2021 class before the rule changes.

 

Prospect linked to the Cubs per Peloteros International:

 

Adán Sánchez, C, Panama

 

And BA now confirms:

 

 

BA ranks their IFAs by bonus dollars and in this year’s class, 22nd was about a $1.5 million bonus.

[Bertz]

So, like, at this point all the catchers can't be a coincidence, right? This would be I believe the fourth year in a row with a million dollar IFA catcher? Plus Hearn. Like that doesn't accidentally happen. Some ideas:

 

- The Cubs believe they have a competitive advantage in scouting teenage catchers

- They believe they have a competitive advantage in developing teenage catchers

- They believe teenage catchers are undervalued on the market

- They think catchers that young are a good bet to move off the position and thrive (maybe due to baseball IQ or work ethic?)

- The Cubs *really* do not want to venture into the trade/FA waters for a C anytime soon, so it's a priority to keep the pipeline stocked

[Cubswin11]

So, like, at this point all the catchers can't be a coincidence, right? This would be I believe the fourth year in a row with a million dollar IFA catcher? Plus Hearn. Like that doesn't accidentally happen. Some ideas:

 

- The Cubs believe they have a competitive advantage in scouting teenage catchers

- They believe they have a competitive advantage in developing teenage catchers

- They believe teenage catchers are undervalued on the market

- They think catchers that young are a good bet to move off the position and thrive (maybe due to baseball IQ or work ethic?)

- The Cubs *really* do not want to venture into the trade/FA waters for a C anytime soon, so it's a priority to keep the pipeline stocked

Yeah it’s not a coincidence. They have to believe they have an edge in identifying and developing catchers, which the track record is there (Contreras, Vic, Amaya, others in the system that get praise). I’d also guess it’s part of their roster building philosophy that having home grown and cheap/young catching is valuable and efficient and spending on catching is risky/inefficient. Plus the IQ thing you mentioned and often good enough bats they could move off the position.

Edited April 20, 2021 by Cubswin11

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Didn’t want to share the exact BA report but it’s already on Twitter:

 

[Tryptamine]

A lot of bat first catchers, with the physical tools to stick behind the plate, but enough offensive potential to still be valuable even if they have to move to a corner.

[CubsWin]

A lot of bat first catchers, with the physical tools to stick behind the plate, but enough offensive potential to still be valuable even if they have to move to a corner.

Yeah, if Rizzo is extended, and one (or more) of these bat-first catchers develops well, they'll likely have a ready in-house replacement for him depending on the length of the extension. Also, with the electronic strike zone becoming more and more likely over the coming seasons, bat first catchers will definitely be in high demand.

 

The list keeps growing:

 

Ethan Hearn (20)

Ronnier Quintero (18)

Brayan Altuve (18)

Moises Ballesteros (17)

Adan Sanchez (15, will be 16 at signing)

[Rex Buckingham]

A lot of bat first catchers, with the physical tools to stick behind the plate, but enough offensive potential to still be valuable even if they have to move to a corner.

Yeah, if Rizzo is extended, and one (or more) of these bat-first catchers develops well, they'll likely have a ready in-house replacement for him depending on the length of the extension. Also, with the electronic strike zone becoming more and more likely over the coming seasons, bat first catchers will definitely be in high demand.

 

The list keeps growing:

 

Ethan Hearn (20)

Ronnier Quintero (18)

Brayan Altuve (18)

Moises Ballesteros (17)

Adan Sanchez (15, will be 16 at signing)

 

With the DH seeming likely to be added too, that's another slot for a bat first catcher.

[Named After Maddux]

A lot of bat first catchers, with the physical tools to stick behind the plate, but enough offensive potential to still be valuable even if they have to move to a corner.

Yeah, if Rizzo is extended, and one (or more) of these bat-first catchers develops well, they'll likely have a ready in-house replacement for him depending on the length of the extension. Also, with the electronic strike zone becoming more and more likely over the coming seasons, bat first catchers will definitely be in high demand.

 

The list keeps growing:

 

Ethan Hearn (20)

Ronnier Quintero (18)

Brayan Altuve (18)

Moises Ballesteros (17)

Adan Sanchez (15, will be 16 at signing)

 

With the DH seeming likely to be added too, that's another slot for a bat first catcher.

 

It’s like the black box/airplane joke: why don’t they just build the whole line-up out of bat-first catchers?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

On top of #22, Adán Sánchez, the Cubs have two new names on BA's list which was increased to 35: https://www.baseballamerica.com/rankings/2021-22-mlb-international-prospects-big-board/

 

28. Alexis Hernández, SS, Dominican Republic - Cristian's younger brother. Has plus speed and is able to generate easy power but not as good as his older brother. Expecting a 7-figure bonus.

34. Jefferson Rojas, SS, Dominican Republic - Has a lean, athletic build with solid bat-to-ball skills and game performance.

 

Just a reminder that BA rates their top IFAs by anticipated signing bonus.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

Pipeline dropped their top 50 ranking for the 1/15/22 IFA class. Alexis Hernández comes in at 18 (BA had him at 28 but remember, BA rates IFAs based on their projected signing bonus) and Adán Sánchez at 43 (BA had him at 22). Pipeline listed Sánchez as a 3B while BA has him as a C.

 

No mention of Jefferson Rojas, who BA ranked 34th.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/prospects/the-board/international-players/summary?sort=-1,1&type=0

 

Full Report

Prieto is the best pure hitter in Cuba. He broke Kendrys Morales' rookie hits record then broke the Series Nacional's hit streak record (40 games) in 2020 while striking out just six times in 250 plate appearances. His swing and game resemble Eric Sogard's.

[Tim]

I was all over that until the last two words.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[CubinNY]

Good to see you back posting.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

He’s only 20 so unless he wants to take peanuts compared to his actual talent like Shohei did, it’ll be a while till he’s posted.

 

 

 

 

(He struck out 19 in his perfect game last week.)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[We Got The Whole 9]

9 figure posting fee?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[sneakypower]

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[CubinNY]

No maybe he can afford new pants.