International Free Agency Thread, 1/15/2024 Class

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Had to start the thread 5 days into the 2023 signing period because of Fernando-mania:

 

 

From the 1/15/23 thread (initially posted on Dec 20, 2022):

 

 

https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/12/20/fernando-cruz-leodalis-leo-de-vries-and-jose-perdomo-highlight-mlbs-upcoming-2024-international-amateur-class

 

Cruz may be the most famous of the 2023-2024 international free agents, well-known in both private and public scouting circles going back to the early parts of 2020. The 5-foot-11-inch Dominican shortstop currently weighs in at 155 pounds but has seen a growth spurt of late, some scouts saying he’s closer to 6 feet these days. Cruz is a lean, wiry, “true” shortstop with significant athleticism and fluid actions in everything he does.

 

“Yeah, he’s probably the complete package in this class,” one AL international scouting director said. “If you’re doing a comparison, it’s a bit like Roderick Arias. Just balanced and complete. Nothing weak about his game. He does it all. And it’s polished already.”

 

An NL international scouting director agreed.

 

“If there was a draft and we had the No. 1 pick, he’d be the guy, no doubt,” he said. “He’s the consensus best player. And with the history of Dominican players and shooting up boards and the competition he’s seen, he’s the guy.”

 

For now, Cruz projects a hit-over-power bat with plus to double-plus contact skills and a willingness to take the baseball to all fields. He receives rave reviews for his approach and patience at the plate. Scouts like the power upside, though they admit it may never exceed solid average at peak. Cruz is already an above average runner with a strong throwing arm and firecracker actions with the hands and feet on the dirt.

 

A showcase standout since before his teenage days, Cruz is lauded in scouting circles for his consistency in front of crowds and against advanced competition. The looseness, ease and fluidity with which he operates has folks excited for how the player will mature as he adds strength and explosion.

 

The Cubs are the favorites to sign Cruz next January and he figures to command one of the biggest signing bonuses in the class.

[craig]

Top two guys got $5.6 and $4.7 this year. Cubs base was ~$5.3. With $0.5 reduction for Swanson signing, Cubs will be at ~$4.7. (Pre-inflation.).

 

Will the Cubs need to trade for cash to afford a #1 guy?

[Hrubes20]

Top two guys got $5.6 and $4.7 this year. Cubs base was ~$5.3. With $0.5 reduction for Swanson signing, Cubs will be at ~$4.7. (Pre-inflation.).

 

Will the Cubs need to trade for cash to afford a #1 guy?

 

No way to know what the agreed upon terms were. But given that they've been on this kid for 2 years already, they aren't going to risk not being able to meet the agreed upon price. Pretty likely that he agreed to a deal around $4 million.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Longenhagen rated Cruz as the third best IFA on 2024, with a 45 FV and expects him to sign for $4.5 million:

 

Full Report

Cruz shines in a showcase setting. He has gorgeous infield footwork and actions, turning the baseball around in the blink of an eye. He can make strong, accurate throws from all kinds of platforms, and could eventually be a special defensive player. While his swing can be a little noisy and long, Cruz is loose and athletic in the box, has good bat speed, and he can spray contact to all fields. Mechanical polish isn't terribly important at this stage, the talent piece of the evaluation is, and in this regard Cruz is a complete, exciting player with big upside. He and the Cubs reportedly have a verbal agreement for about $4.5 million.

 

The Padres and Braves have higher rated IFA signees and the kid the Padres are signing might be the best IFA signee since Wander. Really crazy that Cruz could go from the best to third (even if it’s just one ranking) in less than a year but that’s teenagers for you.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The Cubs have a pool of $5,152,200 in 2024, amongst the 8 lowest teams.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Quote

Fernando Cruz, SS, Dominican Republic 
Team: Cubs

Starlin Castro signed with the Cubs in 2006 and became the organization’s No. 1 prospect entering the 2010 season, reaching the big leagues at 20 and spending 2010-15 as Chicago’s big league shortstop. His cousin, Cruz, is one of the premier players eligible to sign in 2024 and looks set to follow in his footsteps with the Cubs, with Cruz’s bonus expected to be around $4 million. Cruz is 5-foot-11 with strong hands and forearms that help him generate excellent bat speed for 16. Some scouts thought Cruz showed some swing-and-miss tendencies against live pitching, but he is able to let the ball travel deep and drive the ball with authority to right-center field or turn on pitches on the inner third for home run power to his pull side. Cruz is a plus runner and an explosive athlete at shortstop. Like a lot of young shortstops, there are times where he can play out of control, but he has the hands, range, instincts and arm strength that give him a good chance to handle shortstop long term.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

4 hours ago, TomtheBombadil said:

https://www.mlb.com/news/the-top-mlb-international-prospects-for-2023-24?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage

I’m assuming MLB.com skipped out on listing the likely signing org jic there’s a draft? Can that happen? 

Fernando Cruz ended up the third ranked SS to open:

 

There won't be an International Draft during this CBA. I was thinking it was more likely due to Pipeline being a part of MLB and wanting to distance itself from the unsavory handshake deals with 14 year olds that rightfully get a lot of bad publicity.

[CubinNY]

De Vries has a beautiful left-handed swing. Linked to the Padres. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The Cubs officially signed Cruz for $4 million today (the third biggest bonus overall in baseball this class). They’re also expected to sign Dominican OF Robin Ortiz (98th biggest bonus) and RHP Yander María, both for less than $1 million bonus.

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

BA did their IFA reviews with the DSL season starting next week: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/chicago-cubs-2024-international-review/

SS Fernando Cruz - $4 million
OF Robin Ortíz - $400k
RHP Yander Maria - $200k - has developed into one of the better pitching prospects in this class

Sleepers:

SS Juan Monso - $40k
SS/CF Enyel Rosario - $30k

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Signing period closes tomorrow.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

7 other last minute signings besides José Ureña: https://www.thecubreporter.com/cubs-sign-eight-ifa-close-2024-isp

Quote

The Cubs signed eight International Free Agents (IFA) at the close of the 2024 ISP (12/15).

RHP Anthony Feliz (age 18 - Dominican Republic) 
RHP Anhuar Garcia (age 20 - Mexico) 
RHP Luis Mata (age 19 - Venezuela) 
OF Jahni McPhee (age 17 - Bahamas) 
RHP Jubrayker Salaya (age 17 - Venezuela) 
RHP Jose Urena (age 18 - Dominican Republic) 
LHP Darlin Ventura (age 17 - Dominican Republic)  
RHP Geovanny Villarroel (age 17 - Venezuela) 

All eight have been placed on the Restricted List (the Cubs 70-man International Reserve List is full).

A. Garcia pitched for Leones de Yucatan in the Mexican League in 2023 & 2024, so the Cubs must pay a release fee to Yucatan equal to 35% of the player's signing bonus (but the release fee does NOT count against the Cubs ISBP). Also, because he was older than 18 when he was signed by the Cubs, A. Garcia will be under club control for six years instead of seven (unless he is added to the Cubs MLB 40-man roster in the meantime).  

 

[Jason Ross]

Big IFA flip

[Rcal10]

9 minutes ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Big IFA flip

So if they are spending here does that mean no Sasaki?

[Tryptamine]

14 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

So if they are spending here does that mean no Sasaki?

Pretty much, unless they have some really out of the box plan

[Jason Ross]

35 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

So if they are spending here does that mean no Sasaki?

Maybe. Maybe not. I hate saying this, but teams will break agreements with these kids in the case of Sasaki. I also wonder if throwing the entire IFA budget at him isn't necessary. If money was a sticker, he would have waited. This is, and has always been, about contract-number-2. Much like how Ohtani is cool with taking $1m and deferring due to sponserships, and I don't mean to suggest Sasaki is as marketable, but Sasaki may have enough sponserships in his pocket that he wouldn't need the whole thing.

[Bertz]

This has zero bearing in Sasaki.  You operate in case you're not getting him until you do.  The only team that can/could act at all presumptive about it is the Dodgers.

If you get Sasaki you have to kill your 2025 IFA class and realistically blow up damn near every relationship you have down in LatAm.  It's not like this handshake agreement is any more unbreakable or any less horsefeathers to break than the others.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

7 hours ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Big IFA flip

Mentioned more details here yesterday: 

BA had it first.

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

7 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

So if they are spending here does that mean no Sasaki?

If he signs with any team besides the Dodgers or Padres, that team will have to back out of their 2025 handshake agreements (the Dodgers aren't linked to any of the top 50 bonuses in 2025 and the Padres are only linked to the 47th biggest bonus in the class).

[Jason Ross]

1 hour ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

Mentioned more details here yesterday: 

BA had it first.

 

Oooh! Missed that! You're so on top of this I should have realized you beat me to it. Absolutely the king, my guy.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

11 hours ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Oooh! Missed that! You're so on top of this I should have realized you beat me to it. Absolutely the king, my guy.

No worries. I just linked to that because it had a few more details (I didn't want to post too much because Ben Badler came by here once a while back asking for us to delete some of the BA premium info I had posted).

[Jason Ross]

5 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

No worries. I just linked to that because it had a few more details (I didn't want to post too much because Ben Badler came by here once a while back asking for us to delete some of the BA premium info I had posted).

All I hear is Ben Badler talked to you. Details be damned.