Sox INTL signings

[jacksonianmarch]

scaff, just read the interview with yankee scout and player development guy Carlos Rios. He was asked the question about the comparison between Melky and DeLeon and he laughed, said the "unnamed AL scout" mustnt have ever seen Melky or DeLeon play and proceeded to rip apart that "unnamed scout." He said that DeLeon wont have Melky's speed, hence is more of a corner OF guy. But projects him as a young Jermaine Dye with huge power capability and good hittability as well.

 

We did sign Sosa who is a "Johnny Damon type with a better arm" that could fit into the "Melky Cabrera with better speed" category. Maybe they were confused.

[AZBlue]

Link to interview with Yankee scout?

[jacksonianmarch]

http://story.scout.com/a.z?s=303&p=2&c=656591

 

you need a scout.com membership

[scaffolds]

Jackson, Like i said before i haven't seen De leon play, but have seen Almanzar play and the tools are, baseball people who have seen both claim that Almanzar is the better project, as far as the Yankees the talk in the industry is that Cashman isn't too happy with his new International scouting director.

 

I haven't been able to verify this, but there's talk from different sources that the Sox have signed Dominican outfielder Jose Jose. Jose who not only is similar to Sox bonus baby Engel Beltre in his style of playing also looks very similar and spend some in the Red Sox Spring camp in March.

[scaffolds]

The Boston Glove is reportig that the Sox have signed the following latin players .

 

From Venezuela SS Joantoni Garcia, OF Javier Gutierrez and C Jesus Rojas.

 

From Dominican SS Rafael Espinosa and RHP Roman Mendez.

 

The Glove is also reporting that the Sox have signed Outfielder Che- Husuang Lin but he has been playing in the GCL and Australian RHP Justin Eramus but this signing took place in the Spring.

[AZBlue]

Scaf, what do you know about the Latin kids on the list?

[riverside sluggers]

boston herald

 

Sox hook on to big catch

By Rob Bradford

Thursday, July 5, 2007 - Updated: 12:19 PM EST

 

The Red Sox might not have had a first-round pick in this year’s draft, but that evidently hasn’t prevented them from securing first-round talent. According to multiple major league sources, the Sox are close to signing one of the biggest prizes in this season’s international free agent class: 16-year-old shortstop/third baseman Michael Almanzar of the Dominican Republic.

 

The Web site soxprospects.com reports the deal’s signing bonus is for approximately $1.5 million. The figure is equivilant to money usually alloted to amateurs taken in the middle of the first round. It would be the highest signing bonus ever given by the Red Sox to an international free agent. An announcement regarding all of the team’s international signees is expected within the next few days. The international signing period, when players 16 years old and up can sign, began Monday.

 

Almanzar is the son of pitcher Carlos Almanzar, who has been working out in the Red Sox organization at extended spring training. The 33-year-old Almanzar last pitched in the majors in 2005 with Texas, after which he underwent Tommy John surgery. He has not pitched since being suspended for 10 days for violating Major League Baseball’s drug policy.

 

Michael Almanzar, a 6-foot-5 right-handed hitter, is primarily an offensive player with tremendous power potential and bat speed. He projects to eventually find a home at third base, although he has primarily played shortstop to date.

[AZBlue]

I have a thought about the conflicting reports about the amount of Michael Almanzar's bonus. He may be receiving a $1.5 million bonus paid over, say, five years. The writer for the newspaper in the Dominican who reported the $3 million bonus may have misunderstood the numbers and thought it was $1.5 million plus the annual payments when, in reality, it was "only" a total of $1.5 million paid over time.

[scaffolds]

AZblue, I assume that your asking other than Almanzar, I have heard about Garcia before but i am trying to get more info on him, the rest of the Latin group is second tier.

[AZBlue]

Thanks, Scaf.

[scaffolds]

AZBlue, You welcome, with the recent signing, this how the red Sox minor league prospect comes from.

 

Dominican Republic- 44

Venezuela 32

Australia 5

Taiwan 4

Puerto Rico 3

Colombia 2

Cuba 1

Canada 1

Honduras 1

Nicaragua 1

Panama 1

Curacao 1

Mexico 0 (But 1 Mexican decent)

[AZBlue]

Scaf, I have read on a couple of sites that the Red Sox have signed Jose Jose. What do you know about him?

[scaffolds]

Scaf' date=' I have read on a couple of sites that the Red Sox have signed Jose Jose. What do you know about him?[/quote']

 

I have heard about the talk about the sox signing Jose Jose, but haven't been able to talk to someone that knows for sure if he signed or not. Jose Jose is a carbon copy of Sox dominican outfieder Engel Beltre, both of them are around 6-1 170 left handed throwers and hitters, very athletics, even their hitting swing are very similar with a slight upper cut.

[jacksonianmarch]

I have heard about the talk about the sox signing Jose Jose' date=' but haven't been able to talk to someone that knows for sure if he signed or not. Jose Jose is a carbon copy of Sox dominican outfieder Engel Beltre, both of them are around 6-1 170 left handed throwers and hitters, very athletics, even their hitting swing are very similar with a slight upper cut.[/quote']

 

I had heard that many scouts who saw him after he was hyped left very unimpressed. I know the yankees and sox were considered to be big players for him but after the "unnamed AL scouts" said that about him, the yankee speculation died down. Who knows, those may be the same scouts who said DeLeon looked like Melky. IE, they're dumb.

[scaffolds]

Jackson, I saw Jose Jose take batting practice at the end of March and he showed a very quick bat with good pop.

[NateGrey]

.. What's the word on Carlos Flores? ..

[scaffolds]

.. What's the word on Carlos Flores? ..

 

I don't know if he has signed, but Seatle was very interested on him.

 

By the way all of the Latin players who signed recently with the Red Sox have signed 2008 contract, which means that they can practice with the team, but can't play in any organized games until 2008.

[scaffolds]

According to BA Red Sox's Craig Shipley is the hardest International scouting director to deal with for a media outlet.

[scaffolds]

The early phase of International signing finishes at the end of August.

[example1]

How excited should Sox fans be with the acquisition of Michael Almanzar scaffolds? Seems like the dude could be a monster.

[jacksonianmarch]

How excited should Sox fans be with the acquisition of Michael Almanzar scaffolds? Seems like the dude could be a monster.

 

I think Almanzar is a big acquisition, but just like with Montero last yr, it is a huge waiting game. You wont see him until next yr at the earliest, and that is assuming they send him right to the GCL or to low A ball instead of the DSL.

[scaffolds]

How excited should Sox fans be with the acquisition of Michael Almanzar scaffolds? Seems like the dude could be a monster.

 

Anytime an organization sign a 16 yrs there's risks, but the 6-5 185 right hander hitter is the top hitter for this signing period.

 

Jackson, Almanzar signed a 2008 contract and he should start his carreer in the GCL.

[example1]

Anytime an organization sign a 16 yrs there's risks, but the 6-5 185 right hander hitter is the top hitter for this signing period.

 

Jackson, Almanzar signed a 2008 contract and he should start his carreer in the GCL.

 

It seems pretty rare to pay 1.5 m or 2m for a 16 year old.

 

With Tejada and Beltre they have a number of very long term projects who the Sox may be happy to have in a few years.

[scaffolds]

Well, the word is that the Sox paid 3M to Almanzar.

[scaffolds]

For those who are interested in the Sox signing of International prospects, its nice to see the Sox signing some of those Latin prospects, but it won't much if the Sox don't sign some coaches who can comunicate with them and help them to develop.

[scaffolds]

There's only 15 days left on the early phase of the International signing. According to the Boston Glove the Red Sox signed the first European player in years when they signed German RHP Jennel Hudson. Hudson who is 6-5 and its 17 yrs has been playing in the ML European baseball Academy in Italy.

 

The Puerto Rico Winter league has cancel its 2007-2008 season because bad economic issues on the island.

[sox junky]

Scaff:

 

Earlier you mentioned that you were going to look for more information about Joantoni Garcia the SS Boston signed out of Venezuela. What have you found out?

 

My big question is: Is this the same person as Olivar Garcia who Baseball America and Chris Kline specifically linked to Boston before the international signing period opened up.

 

Also, what's going on with Jose Jose?

 

Are you hearing about any other international free agent signings?

 

Thanks

[scaffolds]

Scaff:

 

Earlier you mentioned that you were going to look for more information about Joantoni Garcia the SS Boston signed out of Venezuela. What have you found out?

 

My big question is: Is this the same person as Olivar Garcia who Baseball America and Chris Kline specifically linked to Boston before the international signing period opened up.

 

Also, what's going on with Jose Jose?

 

Are you hearing about any other international free agent signings?

 

Thanks

 

I haven't been able to confirm any other Sox signing lately, with the early phase of International signing coming to an end in a couple weeks might be able to do it.

[scaffolds]

I got some International signing news to pass along. First of all Dominican Jose Jose who spend a few days in Spring training with the Red Sox hasn't signed with a ML organization, the same can be said about Venezuelan SS Oliver Garcia. The Sox signed a Venezuelan short stop by the name of Joantoni Garcia, but they aren't the same player.

 

The Red Sox have signed recently LHP Israel Perez and middle infielder Luis Uruella (I believe that's how his last name is spelled) they are both Dominicans. Perez who i saw pitch in the 2006's Fall is 6-3 170 Is long with a loose arm, smooth and very fluid mechanics, he throws a heavy fastball and a solid CB with good depth. Besides Almanzar he may be the top prospect signed by the Red Sox in the early phase of the International signig. I don't have a scouting report on Uruella for now.

[Rdsxmbnt]

regarding Jose Jose and Oliver Garcia, they haven't signed with the Red Sox, but do they remain possible candidates?