International signing period coming soon

[jacksonianmarch]

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=arangure_jorge_jr

 

The above article tabs the Red Sox as the likely destination for one of the top INTL SS's available this season. His name is Jose Vinicio. Here's the quote.

 

A source said shortstop Jose Gregorio Vinicio, who is on the initial roster to participate in the exhibition series with the Latin American all-stars, is likely to sign with the Red Sox for a $2 million bonus.

 

Of note, this signing class is going to be a bit different than yrs past. The past 3 seasons have had a lot of guys in the above average range with a handful of top prospects in the bunch (Ynoa last yr, Montero, Almanzar, De Leon, etc). This yr, the depth isnt there in that above average category, but the upper echelon talent has improved significantly. SO last yr, the sox and yankees spread out their bonuses and did not end up going much further than the 1 million dollar mark on upwards of 7-9 players. This yr, we may see both teams handing out 3-4 7 figure bonuses, but only signing 4 or 5 guys.

 

I will try to dig something up on this SS that the sox are to sign.

[jacksonianmarch]

Reports will be filtering along today. The sox got Vinicio, they have also been linked to Daniel Sanchez, a player who is rising to the top in terms of being the best RHP in the INTL period.

[BSN07]

Thanks for the update Jacko. The 2 seem like good high upside signings. I look forward to anything else you can find on them.

[jacksonianmarch]

Vinicio is the only one that I have seen confirmed. He signed for $2mil. He is considered the second best SS on the market, but the best SS who will likely stay at the position (Sano is expected to move to 3b at some point).

[yankeessuck013]

One scout described shortstop Jose Gregorio Vinicio, whom the Boston Red Sox will sign for $2 million, as a raw hitter who might one day hit 15-20 home runs. The scout said Vinicio has good size, though his body has not yet fully developed. Vinicio will be Boston's top signee this year.

[Cocos Disciples]

Sano hasn't signed yet, right? Are the Bucs still the front-runners?

[jacksonianmarch]

the investigation into his age hasnt been finished, so he cannot sign yet

[Cocos Disciples]

Ahhh. He's 32.

 

The Twins, Pirates and Orioles are the teams known to have interest in Sano, an infielder with power potential. Pittsburgh is believed to have made an offer for him too. Check out his photo on the Post-Gazette site. It’s believed that the Twins offer is around $3 million.

-some newspaper

[jacksonianmarch]

the investigation will take awhile, so he might not be signing for another few months. If they do find that he is older than he says, then he will get suspended for one yr

[Looch Ness Monster]

The Red Sox are in serious talks to sign Cuban shortstop Jose Iglesias for about $8MM, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com. No deal is complete, but Heyman's sources are optimistic that the sides will agree. Iglesias, who is listed as 19, defected from Cuba last year. Scouts rave about Iglesias' defense, comparing him to defensive whiz Ozzie Smith. In spite of his "deluxe" hands and arm, some question how much he'll hit.

 

However, Kiley McDaniel of Baseball Prospectus wrote last month that most scouts believe Iglesias will hit enough to be a major league regular. While his hitting "leaves a bit to be desired," McDaniel confirms that Iglesias has unusually impressive defensive skills.

[Spudboy]

 

Why spend 8 mil? Just go find Pokey Reese!

[Looch Ness Monster]

Why spend 8 mil? Just go find Pokey Reese!

 

I don't think they'll actually spend $8 million. I think it's just the bluff of the agent.

[Rdsxmbnt]

we signed him for 8mil

[jacksonianmarch]

they must think he will hit eventually. Or, they are thinking he could be a short term option.

[example1]

they must think he will hit eventually. Or' date=' they are thinking he could be a short term option.[/quote']

 

Or he could be their defensive-whiz SS of the future...

 

In 1985 Ozzie Smith posted a 10.4 WARP with the following batting line:

.276/.355/.361, 6 HR, 54 RBI, 22 2B, 70 Runs.

 

A nice, but unspectacular offensive season.

 

In 1992, at the age of 37, Ozzie posted a 9.3 WARP with the following batting line:

.295/.367./.342, 0 HR, 31 RBI, 43 SB, 73 R.

 

Two entirely mediocre seasons with a great glove at SS can still be really, really valuable to a team. This guy's glove is referred to as Ozzie Smith-like. I know nothing about him, merely that when your glove is that good at SS you win games for your team in other ways.

[jacksonianmarch]

I agree, a great glove at SS is great to have. But I have a feeling it has more to do with the fact that the kid could solve a long term problem in the short term if he truly is close to MLB ready. Cause I dont think the sox truly believe that Lowrie is a long term fit at SS.

[Dutchy]

I agree' date=' a great glove at SS is great to have. But I have a feeling it has more to do with the fact that the kid could solve a long term problem in the short term if he truly is close to MLB ready. Cause I dont think the sox truly believe that Lowrie is a long term fit at SS.[/quote']

 

I doubt the Red Sox have made a decision on Lowrie yet, but they have to be happy with what they've seen when he's healthy. His patience approach at the plate an his defense fit the team's philosophies quite well.

[Dipre]

[table]Topic|Team|Content

Prospect|Yankees|The player in question is made of 150% pure awesomeness. Fear us.

Prospect|Sox|He could be good, but this is why he won't be.

Signing|Yankees|This is the missing piece. We'll win 160 games, and the umps will screw us out of 2.

Signing|Sox|Risky move, overpaid here, they'll regret this.

Injury|Yankees|They don't get hurt. Hypothetically, if they did, the recovery will be speedy with no impact to ability.

Injury|Sox|Everyone is a ticking time bomb. Once hurt, they'll never heal right.[/table]

[Dutchy]

[table]Topic|Team|Content

Prospect|Yankees|The player in question is made of 150% pure awesomeness. Fear us.

Prospect|Sox|He could be good, but this is why he won't be.

Signing|Yankees|This is the missing piece. We'll win 160 games, and the umps will screw us out of 2.

Signing|Sox|Risky move, overpaid here, they'll regret this.

Injury|Yankees|They don't get hurt. Hypothetically, if they did, the recovery will be speedy with no impact to ability.

Injury|Sox|Everyone is a ticking time bomb. Once hurt, they'll never heal right.[/table]

 

Wow, that chart really does fit every comment Wacko Jacko makes!

[jacksonianmarch]

The Boston Red Sox reportedly signed 19-year-old Cuban infielder Jose Iglesias to an $8.2 million deal, surprising many in the international scouting community. After Iglesias and LHP Noel Arguelles worked out for teams earlier this year, most pegged both to receive offers in the $1-3 million range.

 

"Exorbitant," one team executive, who attended Iglesias' workout earlier this year, described the signing. "It's crazy, but to each his own. The bat is questionable."

 

"He's a real small shortstop or second baseman with zero power," one industry source said.

 

The Cubs also had shown great interest in Iglesias.

 

"Absolute insanity," one National League international scouting director wrote in an e-mail about the signing. "That number ($8.2 million) would have made him the first or second player selected in the draft and I do not see that. He will play next year at 20 years old. It's one thing to project a 16- or 17-year-old Latin American player who would be sophomore or junior in high school, but a kid that would have already been draft eligible? Wow."

 

Several talent evaluators agree that being Cuban helped Iglesias in his negotiations. Cuban players often carry a certain mystique, though admittedly very few position-player defectors have had success in the majors. A Dominican player of the same age and same skill set as Iglesias would have struggled to get $100,000, the talent evaluators argue.

 

insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog...=ESPNHeadlines

[Rdsxmbnt]

Thanks for posting that rave review. But frankly I'll take my chances that the Red Sox scouting and developing team (i.e. the best in all of baseball) knows more about what they are doing then a couple nameless scouts and executives.

[jacksonianmarch]

that being said, the sox have not been good at all of late in terms of INTL signees. Their bread and butter has been the draft. Whereas NY seems to have done well in the INTL period but have only recently done adequately in the draft.

[Spudboy]

Thanks for posting that rave review. But frankly I'll take my chances that the Red Sox scouting and developing team (i.e. the best in all of baseball) knows more about what they are doing then a couple nameless scouts and executives.

 

Still, $8.2 mil seems a little high.

[jacksonianmarch]

It does. Regardless, I dont necessarily agree with the ESPN insider POV, as it is typically wrong when it comes to amateur players, but it is something to keep an eye on. Theo made his bones by choosing SS defense over offense in an extremely unpopular move at the time. By signing this guy for big money, he continues that trend. That being said, there is a certain level to where the lack of bat detracts from spectacular glove. Theo must think that this kid can at least hit to some level of mediocrity to be worth that kind of money

[Rdsxmbnt]

that being said' date=' the sox have not been good at all of late in terms of INTL signees. Their bread and butter has been the draft. Whereas NY seems to have done well in the INTL period but have only recently done adequately in the draft.[/quote']

 

Way too early to make any type of call on the Sox international signings. Sure we haven't had a Montero type talent come through yet, but Tazawa, Lin, Tejeda, Almanzar, Doubrout, Pimentel, and Navarro have all shown (at a minimum) flashes of good things to come and most are still 20 years old or younger.

 

Plus in this case Iglesias is 19 and projects as a High-A level hitter right now, so I'd have to imagine they'd be willing to take a greater chance on someone who's more advanced then say a 16/17 year old who'd have to start off in the DSL.

[jacksonianmarch]

I am talking about over the last few seasons. We have seen Ramirez, Pena, Aceves, Wang, Cano, Melky, Cervelli, Miranda, and a few others make at least a debut in NY with most making meaningful contributions in NY. The Sox have been predominately restocked through the draft with some INTL potentials in the minors. I would still say the yankees' INTL FA stock in the minors currently is still head and shoulders above the sox with Tazawa and Almanzar being the best sox possibilities. I think Theo is trying to fix that. But, the yankees have been in the dominican for yrs and have a lot of inroads into Venezuela and Panama. The Sox really are about a decade behind the yankees in this aspect, even though they are probably the second or third most active franchise in that tiny country.