International Free Agents -- Latest: Baseball America discusses the DSL

[colbyjack]

The International Free Agent signing period began at the first of this month, and once again GlobalBaseball.com is a good resource to stay up to date on the lot of the early activity.

 

Here's another site that has been updating what players are signing with which teams:

 

www.freewebs.com/internat...ningpe.htm

 

No surprise, the Yankees and Red Sox are leading the way, with the Braves, Mariners and Mets in the mix. This isn't the greatest year for international prospects, at least not on the level of last year's talented group, and given how much the big boys are squeezing the market, spending big money without thinking twice, I wouldn't expect the Brewers to be very active this year.

 

Speaking of the free spending Yankees and Red Sox, word has it both teams have signed quite a few of their draftees, both teams again taking quite a few players that had fallen due to signability concerns in later rounds. They're waiting to announce these signings due to the commissioner's office involvement, but once again both teams are making sure money is not getting in the way of their budding minor league systems.

[0729]

The latest issue of Baseball America reported the Brewers signed Domincan top prospect outfielder Itaniel Arias Guzman. BA also reported a $450,000.00 signing bonus.

I have not seen this reported elsewhere. If true, this is a significant signing. The Brewers supposedly won the bidding over 7 other teams. Guzman is reported to be 6'5", 17 years old and per one scout quoted in the BA article, reminiscent of Jermaine Dye.

[colbyjack]

Thanks for sharing 0729, that's great news (so much for the Brewers not being active http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif ). I'm happy to see the Brewers jump in and spend some $$$ on one of the more exciting prospects available.

 

Guzman is already 210 pounds at 17 years of age, and is expected to get a lot bigger. BA's report on him, which included comments from an AL scout, noted that the biggest concern with him are his long arms, and how he likely would be susceptible to inside fastballs if he's not able to shorten his long swing.

 

Big-time power potential, and profiles as a prototypical RF.

 

Another name for serious P50 consideration...

[homer]

Just out of curiosity, would this kid see AZ this season?

[TheCrew07]

I wouldn't think so, VISA issues and what not have to be taken care of before they can come here and play.

[colbyjack]

Most international free agents sign a contract for the next year, so I'm guessing Guzman signed an '08 deal and will likely attend instrux in the fall.

[0729]

I think those suggesting an 08 Zona league debut for Guzman are likely correct. One of the Brewers' top Latin signs in 06 was Edgar Trejo who is 17. He made his debut this summer in the Zona League, is hitting third and by most a stat analyses is doing just fine, hitting over 300. Howvever, one distinction with Trejo and Guzman, if my memory is correct, is that Trejo was a very late sign----maybe even after the 06 season was completed.

[Mass Haas]

Edgar Trejo signed on November 1st according to the media guide.

[colbyjack]

There's a new name on the international free agent market, Dominican SS Edward Salcedo, who didn't turn 16 until July 30. Salcedo is a true 5-tool talent, represented by Scott Boras and being courted by the usual suspects (Yankees, Mets, Mariners...apparently the Red Sox already spent enough money on Latin shortstops this summer).

 

Baseball America has noted that there are a couple of mid to small market clubs still in the running as well, although Salcedo is expected to sign for much more than the $1.5 million the Red Sox dropped on Michael Almanzar.

 

The Brewers have made a few surprising moves on the international market the past few years, and while I'm not optimistic about them competing with the likes of the Yankees and Mets, I'm hoping they have one more surprise up their sleeve.

 

Salcedo's signing according to the story at BA is expected to be finalized at some point this week.

[colbyjack]

BTW, Salcedo particpated at Perfect Game's National Showcase in mid-June as a 15-year old, more than holding his own with and against the top players in the nation, mostly high school seniors to be, many of whom who were on display during the Aflac All-American Classic which was televised last weekend.

 

http://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=123749

 

Man alive, how many people out there looked anything like this kid at 15 years old? I think I was still trying to break the Mendoza mark for height (5'http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif.

[Mass Haas]

colbjyjack, Baseball America reports the Brewers signed OF Nelson Montes.

 

Don't have anything else to go on, wondering if he was among the mid-tier "known" kids in international circles.

[colbyjack]

Nope, nothing on Montes. That doesn't mean he's not a prospect, but none of the handful of places that I look to find info on the top international guys has him listed.

[colbyjack]

This shouldn't be a surprise...from a chat with Peter Gammons a couple of days ago:

 

http://chats.boston.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=auditorium&webtag=bc-sportsmain

 

The Yankees have already spent more than $8 million internationally, and are expected to sign Dominican shortstop Edward Salcedo for more than $4.5 million.

[colbyjack]

The news on Salcedo has been surprisingly quiet the past month, as his bonus aspirations without a doubt are slowing the process down. I have heard quite a few rumors that the Yankees in fact were not close to signing Salcedo, and a few more that indicated the Indians had out-bid everyone for the young phenom's services. Nothing more than rumors...

 

Baseball America is reporting that one of the better Cuban players in recent years, Alexei Ramirez, has defected to the Dominican Republic, and once he gets through the unblocking process he will be become an international free agent free to sign with any club (link to BA's blog, which includes video of Ramirez):

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=597

[Mass Haas]

Baseball America reports that the Brewers have signed OF Jose Garcia, not to be confused with the pitcher of that name who threw for Helena this year, or the former starting pitcher Jose Garcia who topped out at AAA in 2002.

 

We won't know a thing about this Jose Garcia until next spring, but hopefully it's a successful under-the-radar Latin signing, like Edgar Trejo apparently was, because the higher profile Brewer Latin signings (Mercedes, Peralta, Pascual) haven't produced much as of yet, although Roque has had his moments.

[colbyjack]

Thanks for finding that Jim. Garcia was one of the more promising Dominican prospects as the international period opened up. Scouts were already talking about he and Arias-Guzman last spring as two of the more notable names to keep an eye on this year. Garcia is 16 years old, and here is a write-up of him (subscribers only) from Baseball America:

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/features/264316.html

 

The rough report is that he's built like a linebacker, chiseled and cut, although his tools don't play up to his physical appearance and his movements are somewhat stiff. He has fringe average speed and a average to below average arm which will likely restrict him to left field. His power is his most impressive tool, although there are holes in his swing that means he likely will strike out a lot and won't hit for a high average until he starts making the necessary adjustments.

 

That said, in a BA chat concerning the international free agent period, Chris Kline guessed that Garcia (Jose Ricardo Garcia for those looking for news on him) could command $500,000-600,000. Even if he didn't get that much, he still likely commanded six-figures, with another tip of the cap to the Brewers for landing another prominent Dominican player, two power-hitting outfielders from this year's class.

 

Remember when the OF depth was a big problem for the Brewers organization just a couple of years ago? They changed that in a hurry, just like that gaping hole they had at third base a couple of years ago http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif.

[colbyjack]

Update on Salcedo per BA:

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=599

 

A few weeks ago, after Edward Salcedo burst upon the international scene as the 'it' guy, several media outlets reported the 16-year-old Dominican shortstop had signed with the Yankees. Then there were rumors he had signed with the Mariners.

 

But in reality, Salcedo's agent Scott Boras is still taking offers, and it appears the rumors of Salcedo signing were merely ploys to try to get other clubs to react with higher offers. So far, no one has met Boras' asking price for Salcedo, rumored to be in the $3.5 million range.

 

At least five clubs are currently in negotiations with Boras, but the Yankees and Mariners aren't considered to be players at this stage in the game. Surprisingly, medium-market clubs including Cleveland have emerged as being active suitors, according to several sources.

 

Salcedo, who only turned 16 on July 30, was expected to sign in early August, but Boras is apparently willing to wait. Calls to the Boras Corporation were not immediately returned Wednesday.

 

"This is a high priority guy a lot of clubs are after, and his agent is playing that the right way right now," said one international scouting director. "He's got all the time in the world. They're just waiting for the biggest offer."

 

And a scouting report on the Cuban defector, Alexei Ramirez (subscribers only):

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/features/264874.html

 

Roughly, he's a very good athlete with a very strong arm and pretty good wheels, possibly a top of the order guy. He is projected to hit for average, but probably not much power. He projects to play at either SS or RF.

[Mass Haas]

RHP Jose Sanchez the latest Brewer latin signee.

 

Perhpas colbyjack will find a note on him for us, or, like OF Nelson Montes, a more discreet signing...

[colbyjack]

I couldn't find anything on Sanchez from the few resources I have to check on some of the more appealing names on the market. Trying to do a search for "Jose Sanchez" isn't exactly an easy thing. Its like searching for Joe Smith.

 

I do wonder if he turned 16 in the last month or so. The international free agent signing period is goofy, as I've read some comments that the second phase has recently been opened after being shut down in late August or September at some point. The current period should be open until the end of the year, and it is in this time period that we may see Salcedo get signed.

 

Anyway, thanks for sharing that Mass.

[colbyjack]

BA has a list of international signees from July 2 - August 20th on their homepage (subscriber based content):

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/news/265060.html

 

Only two signees during that time as already reported in this thread, Hitaniel Arias from the Dominican Republic (16 years old), and Venezuelan outfielder Nelson Montes (18 years old).

 

Two signees is on the lower end of the spectrum, but keep in mind that this is only the first signing period (as evidenced by two other reported signings as noted above). The Cubs, Orioles and Phillies also had two signees a piece, while the Giants had the fewest with only one after making a big splash a year ago by signing Angel Villalona.

[TheBrewer]

does anyone have reports and or rankings on all the intl free agents

[colbyjack]

Unfortunately no, and from what I've seen, no such thing exists. BA had maybe 3-4 scouting reports on some of the more prominent players that were available before they ended up signing, but there is no rankings or reports afterwards, largely because not much is known about these players.

[TheBrewer]

who were the most prominent guys that were available before they had been signed? do you have any links on BA to those guys as mentioned above

[colbyjack]

Check out the right-hand side of the bottom of this page at BA under "international affairs." A little further up you'll see the players featured under their "scout's view" section. Jose Ricardo Garcia is one of the names listed, and under the archive you can also find reports for Michael Almanzar, Kelvin Deleon, Itaniel Arias Guzman and Julio Teheran. All of the info is subscriber based.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/

 

Otherwise, just run some google searches. I've seen a few message boards on other fan sites try to keep up with the bigger names available on the international free agent market. Just do a Google search of some of the names listed above and I'm sure that will take you places with information on other prominent players.

[TheBrewer]

hey thanks appreciate it