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2013 International Signing Period

Discussion in 'Houston Astros' started by DoitDickau, Mar 26, 2013.

  1. DoitDickau

    DoitDickau Contributing Member

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    July 2, 2013 will begin the second international signing period under the current CBA rules. It might also be the last under a free-agent structure as MLB is pushing the union to give into a international draft.

    The signing rules will be virtually the same as last year, with the big differences being that the team's signing budgets are tied to last year's records and are tradable, in season, up to half of the acquiring team's original budget. (Here's a primer on the rules: http://sbb.scout.com/2/1277773.html) For the Astros, what the new rules mean is that, by virtue of having the league's worst 2012 record, they will begin the year with the most money to spend and can also acquire additional money via trades throughout the season. Team's initial budgets have not been announced yet, but it's been estimated that Astros will have a hair under 5 million to spend this year, up from 2.9 million last year. That amount could be bumped up through trades to approximately 7.5 million total.

    Unfortunately, initial reports are that this year's crop of international prospects is down from previous years. At the very least, it is thought that there is no Miguel Sano-type elite-elite prospect out there. Although, when you are dealing with 15 and 16 year olds (the initial signing age for international prospects), a lot can change very quickly.

    In January, MLB hosted a multi-day showcase for all of the very best Latin American prospect in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The Astros were well represented at this event with at least 10 scouts there.

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Astros">#Astros</a> have at least 10 scouts here for MLB prospect showcase in DR. They'll have the most $ to spend come July 2, around $4.9M.</p>&mdash; Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/JesseSanchezMLB/status/291546430512984064">January 16, 2013</a></blockquote>
    <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

    Jason Parks from BP wrote up the event http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=19417 and included a spreadsheet of his scouting notes for all the hitting prospects https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AnPMlx4uEmECdE1GMTRxM3JiR2pWQnFqMV9YaW4yelE#gid=0

    Although it is still three months from the start of the signing period rumors are beginning to connect teams with certain players. Kiley McDaniel from Scout.com has a run down on some early rumors. http://sbb.scout.com/2/1277788.html
    As McDaniel mentions, the Astros are rumored to be after Dominican OF Eloy Jimenez for a bonus of 2.5-3.0 million. Park's notes (linked to above) has the 6'4 Jimenez as running a 6.72 60-yard dash (fastest among OF at the event); possessing a 50-60 arm (on a 20-80 scouting scale with 50 being MLB average); and 60+ raw power. Additional notes state "excellent hip rotation; easy power, some contact issues; 7 figure player."

    Ben Badler from BA also wrote up a series on the January showcase. He discusses Jimenez a little bit in the following link http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/international-affairs/2013/2614656.html
    Here's Jimenez taking BP:

    <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oDaDH9EHnE4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
     
    #1 DoitDickau, Mar 26, 2013
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2013
    1 person likes this.
  2. tellitlikeitis

    tellitlikeitis Canceled
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    Of course, the Astros will have the largest spending pool in the next international signing period, at just over $4.9 million. The exact total is $4,943,700. According to the link, these are preliminary values; the numbers will be finalized in the next few weeks. A majority of the teams won't have as much money to work with in the international market. The total pool size is projected to decrease from last year, when everyone had $2.9 million to spend.

    Like the current signing period, teams can sign up to 6 players for $50,000 or less without having them count against the pool. Low-dollar signings will also not count against the pool.

     
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  3. tellitlikeitis

    tellitlikeitis Canceled
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    Here are the penalties if a team were to exceed its bonus pool in the 2013-14 signing period. These are subject to change depending on whether an international draft is introduced.

     
  4. tellitlikeitis

    tellitlikeitis Canceled
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    Baseball America: Bonus slots

    In addition to bonus pools, teams were also assigned bonus slots. 120 total, so each team received 4.

    Obviously, the Astros, by virtue of having the worst record (I hope you haven't been living under a rock), have the highest starting slot value.

    Slot 1: $3,246,000
    Slot 2 (31): $468,400
    Slot 3 (61): $316,300
    Slot 4 (91): $213,000

    So why the slot values? Ben Badler believes that MLB is inching closer to an international draft in 2014.

    Also, teams will now be allowed to trade international bonus pool space in the next signing period. There's an example trade included in the link. Trading international bonus money comes with a few strings:

    Teams can trade for up to 50% of their pool. The Astros have $4,943,700 in their pool, so they can trade for an additional $2,471,850.

    Teams can only trade slot values for the current signing period.

    When a slot value is traded, the entire amount must be traded. If the Astros wanted to trade slot #61 to say, the Indians, they have to trade all $316,300 of it.

    Teams cannot trade for additional pool space once they have used up the allotted amount.

    Three-team deals involving pool space are allowed.

    Yeah, you probably realize there's a bit of red tape involved in all of this.

    The Astros are considered a team that could trade a portion of their pool, according to Badler.

     
  5. tellitlikeitis

    tellitlikeitis Canceled
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    BA's Ben Badler reports that Aybar has been using his brother's identity.

    Dominican Shortstop ‘Obispo Aybar’ Admits To Fake Age, Identity

     
  6. BimaThug

    BimaThug Resident Capologist
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  7. tellitlikeitis

    tellitlikeitis Canceled
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    Ben Badler: Ten International Prospects To Watch For July 2

    The Cubs are rumored to be the heavy favorites for Eloy Jimenez.

    The Astros are being linked to "the top July 2 catcher on the market" in Jose Herrera, a Venezuelan.

     
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  8. tellitlikeitis

    tellitlikeitis Canceled
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    BA: Five Prospects Linked To The Astros For July 2 ($$)

    According to the article, the Cubs will probably be going all-in for Eloy Jimenez and Gleyber Torres, a SS who is regarded as the top Venezuelan on the market this July.

    "The Astros also likely to be among the top international spenders, but signs are pointing to them spreading their budget across a higher volume of players at the top of their list."

    Breakdown:

    They're all 16. As you may know, the younger the player, the more likely he is to receive a large signing bonus.

    The Astros are believed to be in the lead for C Jose Herrera, although the Diamondbacks don't look to be too far behind. This is a picture of him in D-Backs gear in an extended spring training game. I tweeted to Ben Badler about this earlier; this was his reply:

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/itsdtrain">itsdtrain</a> It's allowed, a lot of teams do it with top prospects. Same as teams bringing players into their DR academy for unofficial games.</p>&mdash; Ben Badler (@BenBadler) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler/status/336872398131449856">May 21, 2013</a></blockquote>
    <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

    The battle for Herrera could come down to the wire.

    [​IMG]

    Herrera's pretty new to catching, as he used to play third. So, it's not surprising that he's raw defensively. His bat and on-base skills should carry him early.

    The Astros are also being linked to 3 shortstops and an outfielder: Jesus Lopez (Nicaragua), Wilson Amador, Joan Mauricio (both Dominicans), and Nestor Tejada (OF, Venezuela).

    "Several scouts consider Lopez, a 16-year-old who trains with former scout Wilfredo Blanco, to be this year’s top prospect out of Nicaragua."

    According to Badler, he's a pretty steady hitter, but at the same time, Lopez might have to move to 2B. Defensively, I think he might compare to Kristian Trompiz, a SS who the Astros signed for $320K out of Venezuela last July 2. However, Lopez might be the better hitter.

    BP video of Lopez. Wilfredo Blanco is his trainer. Also has a few other videos of him in game action as well.

    <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xmK2-Kjx-8U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


    On Wilson Amador: More toolsy than Lopez. The following report really screams "Jonathan Villar."

    Joan Mauricio comes in at 6'1", 140. So he's a stick, but his frame is favorable for projection. I think he's probably the most likely of the three to stick at shortstop in the long term.

    Video:

    <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sgLmFwxStdQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


    An outfielder, Nestor Tejada trains at Carlos Guillen's academy and he elicits Melky Cabrera comparisons.

    Video:

    <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ytOJFDDjcXQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


    If all 5 signed with the Astros, their projected combined price tag could be in the neighborhood of $4 million. Even if the Astros did sign all 5, they would still have some money left over to pursue other players later in the signing period, or they could even trade some of it away to help bolster other areas in the system. Their bonus pool is $4.94 million.

    As I mentioned in post #4 of this thread, each team has 4 assigned bonus slots. They also received a base allotment of $700,000. So the Astros technically have a slot value of $3.9 million with slot #1 and the base allotment combined.
     
  9. DoitDickau

    DoitDickau Contributing Member

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    Awesome, thanks for the post.
     
  10. tellitlikeitis

    tellitlikeitis Canceled
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    Minor League Ball: 2013 International Free Agents

    This is about 3 weeks old, but...

    4 of the 5 guys linked to the Astros in the BA article make an appearance here. Also, we get their birthdays in a comment at the end of the story.

    Jose Herrera, DOB: 2/24/97

    Wilson Amador, DOB: 12/14/96

    Nestor Tejada, DOB: 4/17/97

    Joan Mauricio, DOB: 10/22/96

     
  11. tellitlikeitis

    tellitlikeitis Canceled
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    There will NOT be an international draft in 2014.

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Sources: Major League Baseball will not implement an international draft for the 2014 season. Story coming on Yahoo! Sports.</p>&mdash; Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/340486650209644544">May 31, 2013</a></blockquote>
    <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
     
  12. tellitlikeitis

    tellitlikeitis Canceled
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    MLB.com: Top 30 International Prospects

    For the lazy:

    30. Marten Gasparini, SS, Italy
    29. Jen-Ho Tseng, RHP, Taiwan
    28. Nicolas Pierre Figueroa, OF, Dominican Republic
    27. Michael De Leon, SS, Dominican Republic
    26. Carlos Hiciano, SS, Dominican Republic
    25. Wladimir Galindo, 3B, Venezuela
    24. Emmanuel De Jesus, LHP, Venezuela
    23. Yeyson Yrizarri, SS, Dominican Republic
    22. Franly Mallen, SS, Dominican Republic
    21. Bryan Lizardo, 3B, Dominican Republic
    20. Greifer Andrade, OF, Venezuela
    19. Lucas Tirado, SS, Dominican Republic
    18. Yimmelvyn Alonzo, SS, Dominican Republic
    17. Erling Moreno, RHP, Colombia
    16. Anderson Franco, 3B, Dominican Republic
    15. Carlos Herrera, SS, Venezuela
    14. Erick Julio, RHP, Colombia
    13. Jose Virgilio Almonte, OF, Dominican Republic
    12. Luis Encarnacion, 3B, Dominican Republic
    11. Yeltsin Gudino, SS, Venezuela
    10. Lewin Diaz, OF, Dominican Republic
    9. Mayky Perez, RHP, Dominican Republic
    8. Marcos Diplan, RHP, Dominican Republic
    7. Jose Herrera, C, Venezuela
    6. Rafael Devers, 3B, Dominican Republic
    5. Leonardo Molina, OF, Dominican Republic
    4. Wasner Peguero, OF, Dominican Republic
    3. Gleyber Torres, SS, Venezuela
    2. Micker Zapata, OF, Dominican Republic
    1. Eloy Jimenez, OF, Dominican Republic
     
  13. tellitlikeitis

    tellitlikeitis Canceled
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    Baseball America: Top 30 for July 2

    Bold denotes that the Astros have been linked to the player.

    30. Luis Carpio, SS, Venezuela
    29. Anderson Franco, 3B, Dominican Republic
    28. Carlos Talavera, OF, Venezuela
    27. Ricardo Sanchez, LHP, Venezuela
    26. Michael De Leon, SS, Dominican Republic
    25. Ali Sanchez, C, Venezuela
    24. Wilson Amador, SS, Dominican Republic
    23. Jen-Ho Tseng, RHP, Taiwan
    22. Cristhian Vasquez, OF, Venezuela
    21. Greifer Andrade, OF, Venezuela
    20. Nicholas Pierre, OF, Dominican Republic
    19. Mayky Perez, P, Dominican Republic
    18. Freddy Rodriguez, OF, Venezuela
    17. Carlos Hiciano, SS, Dominican Republic
    16. Erling Moreno, RHP, Colombia
    15. Lewin Diaz, OF/1B, Dominican Republic
    14. Jesus Lopez, SS, Nicaragua
    13. Erick Julio, RHP, Colombia
    12. Marten Gasparini, SS, Italy
    11. Carlos Herrera, SS, Venezuela
    10. Jose Herrera, C, Venezuela
    9. Micker Zapata, OF, Dominican Republic
    8. Yeltsin Gudino, SS, Venezuela
    7. Yeyson Yrizarri, SS, born in Venezuela, living in the Dominican Republic
    6. Marcos Diplan, RHP, Dominican Republic
    5. Leonardo Molina, CF, Dominican Republic
    4. Luis Encarnacion, 3B, Dominican Republic
    3. Rafael Devers, 3B, Dominican Republic
    2. Gleyber Torres, SS, Venezuela
    1. Eloy Jimenez, OF, Dominican Republic

    In the subscribers section, Ben Badler reports that the Astros are losing ground to the Diamondbacks in the battle for Jose Herrera, and they're the favorites for Lopez and Amador.
     
  14. juicystream

    juicystream Contributing Member

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    Wish we were chasing some pitching.
     
  15. tellitlikeitis

    tellitlikeitis Canceled
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    BA: Team-By-Team International Forecasts ($$$)

    The Astros will be spreading the wealth amongst several players.

    We've known for quite some time that the Astros have been high on Dominican shortstops Wilson Amador and Yoan (formerly Joan) Mauricio, and Venezuelan OF Nestor Tejada. They've also had Venezuelan C Jose Herrera on their radar and were long considered to be the favorites to get him. Now, it looks like Herrera's leaning towards Arizona.

    Ben Badler writes that the Astros are also a possible landing spot for another Domincan SS, Wander Franco, who could get "a mid-six-figure bonus." Another name that has popped up, according to Badler, is Jake Bowey, a C from Australia.
     
  16. tellitlikeitis

    tellitlikeitis Canceled
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    In the addendum to the subscribers section (best of the rest), Badler writes that Mauricio, surprisingly, has some power in batting practice.

    Wander Franco is the nephew of the Aybar brothers, Willy (Dodgers, Rays) and Erick (Angels). He doesn't have great tools, but Badler notes that he's performed well in game situations. He's a switch-hitter who "shows a solid hitting approach" and has gap power. He's a shortstop for now, but he might be a better fit at 2B or 3B in the long term.

    The Astros are the favorites to land another Venezuelan OF, Jonathan Matute.

     
  17. tellitlikeitis

    tellitlikeitis Canceled
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    Ben Badler (@BenBadler): MLB told teams that the signing period doesn't begin until 9 am ET tomorrow. So no opening your July 2 presents at midnight this year.
     
  18. TimPoopura

    TimPoopura Member

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    If we don't land any top guys I'm just not sure what we do with our massive signing pool. I know it's tradeable, but what would a team trade for it? No one would give up prospects to get money to go get younger, more risky prospects.
     
  19. thegreekdbag

    thegreekdbag Member

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    They're going to use it to sign a few guys in the high six to low seven figures range. Jesus Lopez probably gets near a million and looks like a quality SS prospect. That's a better strategy than going all out for one guy when there is no Sano or Miggy in this class.
     
  20. Rockets12

    Rockets12 Member

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    They want quantity over quality. Sign many guys with a chance for some of them to become good, instead of signing one big guy and have him be a bust and be left with nothing.
     

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