Brewers among favorites to sign Dominican OF Jose Pena

[battlekow]

Not really sure where to put this, but the draft forum seemed most appropriate.

 

BP's Kiley McDaniel is reporting that the Brewers are, along with the Giants and Indians, favorites to sign the 6'4"/195 Pena. He's being compared to Jermaine Dye and Juan Gonzalez and wowed the scouts last month in a showcase against the Canadian Junior National Team when he homered off Jake Eliopoulos (a top-three rounds draft talent). McDaniel has Pena as the sixth-best international prospect this signing year and says that Pena's expected bonus has increased from $500K to $1M-$1.5M in the last couple weeks. Happily, McDaniel has video of Pena hitting.

 

McDaniel also has the Brewers, along with the Rangers and Pirates, as favorites to sign 6'5"/210 1B Jacob Beltre, the 16th-rated prospect, who is expected to command a $400K-$600K bonus.

[Never Outhustled]

One of the Brewers scouts is an assistant coach on the Canadian Junior National team, so you know the Brewers got a real good look at this kid. Cool to see us finally playing with the big boys in the D.R.

[battlekow]

For perspective, $1.5M would more than double the previous record signing bonus from the Brewers, the $710K given to Rolando Pascual.

[colbyjack]

I'm happy to hear that they will continue to be active with their efforts in Latin America. Thanks for sharing that. I may end up moving this thread to the minor league forum where we have an old thread dedicated to the international signing period.

[battlekow]

McDaniel mentioned in the comments of his most recent article that the Brewers are also interested in RHP Daniel Sanchez from Venezuela, who is widely believed to be 19 rather than his claimed age of 16, and would therefore appear likely to be suspended for a year and ineligible to sign until next year. McDaniel's scouting report on Sanchez:

Sanchez has quite a range of possible bonuses. He opened the eyes of the 20-plus teams that attended an open workout in Maracay, as his fastball sat in the low 90s and touched 95, and he also flashed an above-average slider and feel for a changeup; he also showed advanced pitchability. Every scout there had one of two immediate reactions: he's a potential $2 million bonus baby, but also "there's no way this guy is 16." After digging on this one for over a month, I still don't know what to make of it. The vast majority of teams say that they've known he was older than 16 for months, but a few teams contend that they have documentation proving that he's 16. There has been unconfirmed talk about the US consulate in Venezuela reaching a decision on a travel visa and/or passport, but the bottom line is that there hasn't been a concrete announcement that I'm aware of regarding Sanchez's age. The rumor on what his age might be is that Sanchez is 19, and I have him ranked here because, in that event, he would presumably be suspended for a year, then sign for a bonus in the low six-figure range, because his talent is very real. That being said, don't mistake Sanchez having a ranking with me having any idea what's going on here.

[BrewPackBuck]

Thats very cool to see the Brewers getting into Latin prospects more. Im hoping for more of a big splash with this market this year. Sign 2 or 3 of these kids with high potential would be awesome but most likely wont because of hte money aspect, we will see.

 

Edit: lengthy quoted text not necessary

[battlekow]

BA's Ben Badler on Pena:

Jose Pena, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound right fielder has flashed some power in game situations from the right side of the plate, showing average speed and a plus arm. Pena has shown well in front of some teams, including a workout in front of the Dodgers' brass and at a showcase last month in the Dominican Republic where he hit a home run off Canadian lefthander Jake Eliopoulos, the Blue Jays' second-round pick. "He's grown bigger and stronger," said one scout. "He's the kind of guy who you might get out the first time, but he adjusts and finds a way to figure it out."

[battlekow]

Kiley McDaniel expects Pena to sign with the Padres, but Jorge Arangure says the Brewers (and Indians) are still in the game and trying to "snatch him away". Pena also will work out for the Yankees tomorrow, but they might not be as interested in him.

 

Also, Ben Badler says the Brewers are still interested in Jacob Beltre, along with the Giants and Cubs.

[battlekow]

Jorge Arangure tweeted a bunch about Jacob Beltre today:

• Beltre was talked about as a first baseman, but he actually wants to catch. You can add the Cardinals to the Brewers, Cubs, and Giants on the list of interested teams.
• He's a converted third baseman, and he sees catching as his fastest route to the big leagues, but he's still learning the position and is a "big guy".
  
• He likely won't sign until after July 2nd. It sounds like the interest in him is just now mushrooming, so waiting to sign will make him a lot money.
• He's expected to get a six-figure bonus.
  

[battlekow]

McDaniel now says he expects Pena to sign with someone other than San Diego, and about a week after the deadline.

 

McDaniel says no teams expect Beltre to stick at catcher, but Arangure says they might be content to sign him as one and let him move off it later. McDaniel upped his bonus prediction for Beltre slightly to $400K-$700K.

 

The Brewers are now also interested in ("all over") shortstop Damian Arredondo. Ben Badler's mini-scouting report: "Plus-plus runner, plus hands, plus arm. Bat needs a little work, but has tools." Both Arangure and McDaniel say the Yankees are heavily into Arredondo, and McDaniel thinks he'll fetch upwards of $500K.

[Never Outhustled]

McDaniel mentioned in the comments of his most recent article that the Brewers are also interested in RHP Daniel Sanchez from Venezuela, who is widely believed to be 19 rather than his claimed age of 16, and would therefore appear likely to be suspended for a year and ineligible to sign until next year.

The Brewers should have a pretty good idea of his age, as he is the brother-in-law of Brewers Latin America scout Freddy Torres.

[1e Corbeau]

Arangure says Pena to the Brewers is a done deal, via Twitter. Bonus amount TBA.

 

Link

 

And, of course, BK beats me to it by... an hour http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Jarjohm]

It's mostly just a rehash of what's already here and on Brew Crew Ball, but I made a post on the signing over at Right Field Bleachers. There's another video and a couple more scouting quotes that I was able to dig up.

 

Exciting news. It's nice to see the Brewers land a high upside international player like this and that they're willing to take the risk. Hopefully it works out.

 

EDIT: Corrected link

[BrewCrewRising]

Where does Pena rank in terms of Mateo and Sano? I have to admit I don't know a lot about the international free agent class. Arangure said via Twitter that really there were about 3 FA to be excited about, and then a huge drop off. Just wondering if Pena is after that drop off.

[battlekow]

He's not in the class of Mateo and Sano, at least as it's perceived at the moment. The evaluations on all these guys are so uncertain that it's hard to say anything for sure, but Pena is in the second tier of guys as it stands now. That's not to say we shouldn't be very excited about the signing, especially for the price it came at. It's basically like getting another high-round draft pick, which is always fun (just ask Ben Sheets).

[battlekow]

Jacob Beltre ended up signing with the Padres for just $60K.