2014 International Signing Thread

[TheCrew07]

Brewers' current signings as reported by BA.

Linked to the feature article.

 

Gilbert Lara, ss, Dominican Republic

[TheCrew07]

Pirates' current signings as reported by BA.

Linked to the feature article.

 

Yondry Contreras, of, Dominican Republic

Gabriel Brito, c, Dominican Republic

Christopher Perez, ss, Dominican Republic

Domingo Robles, lhp, Dominican Republic

Brian Sousa, rhp, Panama

Roger Santana, lhp, Dominican Republic

Adonis Pichardo, rhp, Dominican Republic

[TheCrew07]

Cardinals' current signings as reported by BA.

Linked to the feature article.

 

Junior Fernandez, rhp, Dominican Republic

Ezequiel Delgado, inf, Dominican Republic

Starlin Balbuena, ss, Dominican Republic

[brewcrewdue80]

So, If I'm reading online correctly, the Yankees have approx 22 players signed at a whopping 15mil or more pricetag. At least 9 of the supposed top 30 in rankings. With their allotment pool they are taking on roughly 13mil in penalties or spending 28mil+ this year in International funds. Let's put that in perspective, if they avg 2.5 mil in allotment yearly and followed the rules, they'd sign roughly 1 or 2 top 30 prospects a year for the next 11 years or maybe 15-16 total top 30 guys in an 11year span. They just got 9 of them in 1 year and the penalty is just 2 years of a 300k limit? So if all things remain the same, the Yankees can just go and sign 8-10 more top 30 guys in 2017 and have 17-19 top 30 kids signed internationally in just a 4 years span....vs. following the rules and it taking 11years to get 16 at best.

 

Somehow the penalty obviously doesn't fit the crime. Since the Yankees went over slot 6 times over(12times over in penalties) they should be penalized for 6-12years with that maximum limit on spending beyond 2014(300k currently)

[HiAndTight]

The narrative of Lara's defense keeps shifting further down the defensive spectrum. By next month he may be a DH.

 

Probably the same people who said Sergura couldnt play SS

 

 

I just think it's a lot easier to suggest a player can't play a premium position because it's easier to be right. Unless the guy is a smaller Arcia type guy who doesn't have a great bat, it seems like scouts throw in the caveat that any player that's bigger than normal for a position will likely end up elsewhere.

[TheCrew07]

Shohei Otani Strikes Out 16 In Complete Game In Japan

July 9, 2014 by Ben Badler

[TheCrew07]

Brewers Sign No. 5 International Prospect Gilbert Lara

July 10, 2014 by Ben Badler

[TheCrew07]

Wow... this an article to go read.

 

MLB Makes Significant Rule Changes For International Players

August 20, 2014 by Ben Badler

[TooLiveBrew]

Interesting read. Seems like this could be discussed at no end from numerous angles.

[TheCrew07]

Seven Reasons Why MLB’s New International Rules Are Backward

August 21, 2014 by Ben Badler

[reillymcshane]

Yesterday, the Cubs traded away $850,000 worth of 2014-15 international bonus slots in the deal that sent Tommy La Stella to Chicago from Atlanta.

 

I read that the Cubs are going to spend big internationally during the 2014-15 time frame - just like the Yankees did last year. The Cubs, if I recall, did the same thing in 2013, and couldn't sign any big international free agents last year as part of the penalty for blowing past their allotment.

 

Trading the slots might be a signal they are ready to splurge again. they know they are going to get nailed with the overage penalties, so what's an extra million - especially if they can use the slots to acquire a good player.

 

I'm not sure how next year's class compares to last year's, but it will pain me if the Cubs load up their farm system some more.

 

PS - There's no 2015 international signing thread, so I posted this here.

[brewcrewdue80]

But they Traded AWAY the slot bonus. Meaning they have 850k Less to spend on international signings. Or, if they do go out spend a bunch in 2015, they are paying 850k more in penalty and have a lower cap to work with before losing their ability to sign during the period in 2016.

Whats' weird is I don't recall the Cubs trading away money slots like this amount in 2014 when they obviously should with their limits. Yet now they do when they are free to spend again?