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

[Mass Haas]

Latest Brewer signing for you to peek at, colbyjack:

 

Infielder Pedro Ramos, a LH bat -- unsure of home country nor whether he's a corner or middle infielder

 

We could push the Brewers to learn more, but if he's not among those on the top prospect lists you have access to, then we're fine with just waiting for the spring media guide for details. He'll be in Maryvale with those kids in the spring/summer.

[Mass Haas]

Baseball America:

RHP Edwin Linares, C Orton Rodriguez, SS Carlos Guzman

Colbyjack, do these names show up on any of your premier latin prospect lists? Three more signings for the Crew, we'll build Brewerfan Player Index pages in the spring when the media guide is out with specifics.

[colbyjack]

Sorry Mass, I can't help with any of the recent names supplied. I'll keep digging around though...

[Mass Haas]

From the Adam McCalvy article on Matt LaPorta at MLB.com:

Gord Ash, who along with Reid Nichols heads the organization's Minor League operations, announced that the team had re-established a presence in the Dominican Republic for the first time since 2003. Latin American players will spend the two months prior to Spring Training at a facility north of San Pedro. Rene Gonzalez, who will manage next summer at Helena, is running the program.

"It's a bit of a head start," Ash said. "We have not had that opportunity. Other clubs have had that opportunity."

There are currently 17 professional players at the facility, which was built by a Japanese professional baseball team. The players focus on on- and off-field topics, including strength and conditioning, community service and "learning to be an independent individual," Ash said.

"This is not like other sports. There are a number of development years involved and the players have to learn to take care of themselves. That is part of this process as well."

Ash also announced that the Brewers had added a postseason strength and conditioning camp at Maryvale Baseball Park for Minor League players, plus a preseason camp that Ash called "a head start on the season."

"The players are fresh in the spring and perhaps a little more ready to receive instruction," Ash said.

[colbyjack]

Interesting idea. I still would prefer that the Brewers have a full Dominican summer camp, but this is a nice start, and hopefully will help prepare the young Latin players for their long season in Arizona and elsewhere.

[Mass Haas]

A story on the audition camp for Virgin Island talent that took place Tuesday, as the Brewers were among nine organizations with scouts in attendance.

I believe the Virgin Islands is treated like Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, thus their players are draft-eligible, even if they do not play U.S. college ball. colbyjack will confirm.

Callix Crabbe, currently Rule 5 with the Padres, is the most famous V.I. player in Brewer history, I'd imagine.

Their site, which should have some updated info soon, is here.

[Mass Haas]

The latest Latin youngster to sign is a RHP named Francisco Rivero. We'll hope to learn about his background later this spring.

[colbyjack]

Not Brewers related, but the Reds dropped $2 million on Dominican outfield prospect Juan Duran, who draws a few comparisons to Alex Rios and even Dave Winfield in this blog entry by BA. The story is a good read, as it also gives some logistical explanations to the signing periods.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/international-affairs/2008/265719.html

[Mass Haas]

Baseball America indicates the Brewers have signed a catcher named Carlos Pena.

 

Since there is no established pro catcher by that name, we're left to assume it's another Latin kid who will make his pro debut with the Maryvale kids this summer.

[Minigoon]

So now that the Arizona camp has begun, does anyone have any info on these International signees? Are they in camp? I know the games start on Monday so we might start seeing the names in the box scores.

[Mass Haas]

When MiLB.com updates its Arizona Brewers roster page either Sunday or Monday, we'll know more. Until then, no. Notice as of Saturday night, no one new to the system since the end of last season is on the page.

[Minigoon]

That sounds good. Thanks for the link. I'll keep on eye on it.

[molitor fan]

The roster for the baby Brewers is now up.

[And That]

Thanks for the link.

 

Where are Cody Scarpetta and Josh Romanski?

[Minigoon]

60 day DL for Chad Robinson. Not a good start.

[battlekow]

Scarpetta is still rehabbing, he said July was the target return date for game action. I'd imagine that as a polished college pitcher, Romanski is headed for Helena.

[And That]

Yes, but since they're both signed, they both should be on a roster.

 

Edit: Ryan Jensen is also missing.

[Minigoon]

From the postings earlier in the thread only Outfielder Nelson Montes and Shortstop Carlos Guzman not showing on the active roster.

[TheCrew07]

60 day DL for Chad Robinson. Not a good start.

 

He wasn't all that spectacular last year either, I had actually forgotten about him until that post.

[DHonks]

what's noticeable is that despite our massive amount of OF-types in A, A+, and AA, we have VERY few in Rookie ball at both levels. We could probably use Goetz again.

[colbyjack]

I'm not so sure DHonks. Helena has Dennis, one of the biggest dark-horse sleepers in the system, and three early picks from this year's draft, Schafer, Komatsu and Dykstra . Arizona has the two notable, high-priced Dominican signees, Hitaniel Arias and Jose Garcia, as well as Erik Miller, a day-one pick last year, with Ryan Jensen as Toby pointed out being notably absent from the roster. I'd say from Arizona to Milwaukee outfield is by far the least of the organization's concern, which is a huge turnaround from a few short years ago.

 

As Mass has noted elsewhere, I'm a little surprised that Joey Paciorek is beginning the year back with the Baby Brewers. I thought he would get a bump to Helena for sure. I think this year's Arizona team could be one of their best in years, although that won't be hard to accomplish.

[battlekow]

Toby, Romanski is now listed on the Helena roster.

[colbyjack]

I'm going to steer this thread back to the international free agent market, since there are some pertinent links in the first page (although I realize some of them haven't been updated).

 

The Oakland A's reportedly have reached an agreement with Dominican RHP Michel Inoa in excess of $4 million. That's crazy.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/international-affairs/2008/266411.html

 

The international free agent market opens on July 2nd. It will be interesting to see how much the Brewers get involved given the money needed to get all of their extra draft picks signed. They certainly didn't go cheap that route, especially since they dropped 6-figures to get Stosh signed, and hopefully they will be able to get involved with one of the more notable, marquee talents. Right now, I wouldn't expect that, but I recall saying the same thing last year before the team landed Arias.

[Bambis Bombers]

Did the Brewers anyone on the first day of the international signing period? Sound like the Padres made an initial splash, per Ben Badler at BA.

[Mass Haas]

More on Inoa and the low-revenue teams here from Yahoo Sports.