Other than Pedro Leon, when's the last time the Astros spent big with their international bonus pool? I don't say that to defend the trade. I just find is mildly disappointing that they rarely ever make a splash on the bigger international names.
$1.7M about 7 months ago. Glad you're keeping up your all-important Prospect Lists The Astros' international bonus pool came in at $5,925,000 for 2024 and the team decided to spread that money around to a few different guys instead of going after one of the top names on the market. The biggest name that they signed was Cuban outfielder Cesar Hernandez who the team signed for $1.7 million and who ranked among the top 50 players available. The 20 year old Hernandez is a tooled up center fielder that should hit for power from the left side in addition to having top of the scale speed. Other notable bonuses the team handed out included Dominican infielder Franchely Silverio who got $600,000 as well as outfielder Amauri Ramirez who also got $600K. Cuban outfielder Luis Rives was also a significant signing as a 19 year old switch-hitter who impacts the ball regularly from both sides of the plate and who can play anywhere in the outfield with a cannon for an arm. Rives' bonus came in at $900,000.
What is the hit rate of any of these signees making it to AA where the prospect come out to play? 10%?
"when's the last time they spent big..." "...rarely make a spash on the international market" is what you said, right? I was simply trying to provide information. You can do with it what you will.
That is just his personality, he is what we call a red a$$. He is being sarcastic because the success rate is so low on the bigger signings that even major fans do not remember who we sign. The Astros typically will spread their spending of international money over 3-4 guys instead of one. We have gotten some guys that are like top 10 in their class under Crane, but we are almost never higher than that.