Does this Iglesias signing deserve it's own thread?

[VA Sox Fan]

Sox announce Iglesias signing

 

Posted by Adam Kilgore, Globe Staff September 8, 2009 07:34 PM

 

The Red Sox officially announced the signing of Cuban shortstop Jose Iglesias to a four-year major league contract and added him to their 40-man roster. Iglesias, 19, will participate in the Arizona Fall League for the Mesa Solar Sox in October.

 

Iglesias, who is 5 feet, 11 inches, and 175 pounds, is regarded as an elite defensive player. He established residency in the Domincan Republic before he signed with the Red Sox. His contract, which is worth $8.2 million including a $6 million signing bonus, will begin next season

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Added him to the 40 man roster. Did I miss this some where else? Thanks.

[msubulldogs21]

Wow. I read this as "Iglesias singing" and was like, wut?

 

I got ya now.

[VA Sox Fan]

Wow. I read this as "Iglesias singing" and was like, wut?

 

I got ya now.

 

Julio: "To all the girls I've loved before" ha ha

[CrespoBlows]

He'll be in the AFL.

[BSN07]

Can he hit?

[Dojji]

if you think Gonzo can hit, then you'll think Iglesias can hit.

[VA Sox Fan]

It's been a complete joy to have Gonzo at SS.

 

Maybe the new youngster will become a hitter...in time.....

[example1]

It doesn't matter if he can hit if he fields like Ozzie Smith. If he's as good a defender as people think he is then he can contribute very quickly to the MLB club and really cement their up the middle defense. With Iglesias and Ellsbury (or Lin or Fuentes or Westmoreland, etc.,) up the middle this team should be a really solid club defensively.

 

I don't care what the defensive metrics say, Ellsbury tracks down balls as well as anyone. His arm leaves a lot to be desired, but that isn't the case with other CFs in the system (especially Lin). I think the club only has room for one "all glove, no hit" player, but that could be at SS or in CF and they would be okay.

 

EDIT: in 1985 Smith hit .276/.355/.361. He was also 83 FRAR and 50 FRAA and put up a 10.4 WARP. For a point of reference, Mark Teixeira has never put up a 10+ WARP season, and neither has Manny Ramirez.

 

Players can absolutely contribute huge wins to a team without much of a bat.

 

I'm pretty excited about this guy.

[VA Sox Fan]

It doesn't matter if he can hit if he fields like Ozzie Smith. If he's as good a defender as people think he is then he can contribute very quickly to the MLB club and really cement their up the middle defense. With Iglesias and Ellsbury (or Lin or Fuentes or Westmoreland, etc.,) up the middle this team should be a really solid club defensively.

 

I don't care what the defensive metrics say, Ellsbury tracks down balls as well as anyone. His arm leaves a lot to be desired, but that isn't the case with other CFs in the system (especially Lin). I think the club only has room for one "all glove, no hit" player, but that could be at SS or in CF and they would be okay.

 

Glad to hear it all. Especially about the "fielding like Ozzie Smith".

 

I have NO complaints with Ellsbury either.

 

Thanks.

[Dojji]

I've heard the hype before. Anyone remember Argenis Diaz? Was supposed to be the great defensive wiazard of the future for Boston. Only he screws up routine plays because he has the attention span of a moth.

 

I'll believe it when I see it in action.

[BoSox21]

I'll believe it when I see it in action.

 

how about waiting until he isn't 19?

[Dojji]

sure. He gets all the time in the world in the minors for all of me, but I'm not counting on hall of fame caliber defensive tools from the guy until we actually have some kind of performance sample. every shortstop that isn't a slugger gets the same hype.

[example1]

sure. He gets all the time in the world in the minors for all of me' date=' but I'm not counting on hall of fame caliber defensive tools from the guy until we actually have some kind of performance sample. every shortstop that isn't a slugger gets the same hype.[/quote']

 

No they don't.

[BoSox21]

I'm all for waiting until we actually see the guy play to make a judgement but the guys who have actually seen him play already decided he was worth a four-year deal. It's worked out well enough with Tazawa so far.

[Dojji]

OK, that was a bit of hyperbole, but there's usually a couple "next Ozzie Smiths" every single international free agent period.

 

All I'm saying is give the kid a chance to prove what he is or isn't in the minors before going nuts over him.

[CrespoBlows]

Name a few.

[Dojji]

I'm all for waiting until we actually see the guy play to make a judgement but the guys who have actually seen him play already decided he was worth a four-year deal. It's worked out well enough with Tazawa so far.

 

That would be great. I'm generally nervous about well-hyped Latin prospects. Here's hoping this is one of those exceptions.

[BoSox21]

That would be great. I'm generally nervous about well-hyped Latin prospects. Here's hoping this is one of those exceptions.

 

What does it matter? Is there a shortstop prodigy in the system I'm not aware of that's gonna be blocked by Iglesias now?

[Dojji]

You can tell people have preemptively fallen in love with the guy when someone brings up the fact that all we have right now is hype and wants to wait to see him in action, and everyone bristles as if that guy insulted their mother.

[CrespoBlows]

You can tell people have preemptively fallen in love with the guy when someone brings up the fact that all we have right now is hype and wants to wait to see him in action' date=' and everyone bristles as if that guy insulted their mother.[/quote']

 

No, we're calling you out for engaging in hyperbole.

[BoSox21]

if you think Gonzo can hit' date=' then you'll think Iglesias can hit.[/quote']

 

that's a pretty firm judgement on the guy.

[Dojji]

I'm basing that on the same scouting reports you're using to call him the next Ozzie Smith.

[Dojji]

Name a few.

 

Argenis Diaz and Yuniesky Betancourt spring to mind almost immediately.

[Dipre]

Argenis Diaz and Yuniesky Betancourt spring to mind almost immediately.

 

Betancourt was never given Ozzie comparisons.

[BoSox21]

I'm basing that on the same scouting reports you're using to call him the next Ozzie Smith.

 

Have I once poked you with a boner caused by touting Ozzie Smith-like abilities? No, I haven't so don't put words in my mouth. I'm going strictly on the fact that the guys who have developed a pretty good farm system gave a 19 year old kid a four-team major league contract and a spot on the 40-man.

[CrespoBlows]

Argenis Diaz and Yuniesky Betancourt spring to mind almost immediately.

 

Betancourt used to be a terrific defender, until he got fat. Diaz? You mean people other than soxprospects hyped him up?

[ORS]

Looks like Dojji is tired of being a punching bag for going to one extreme so now he's going to the other.

 

None other than: Argenis Diaz

 

One of these days, he'll resort to making reasonable, rational posts instead of this attention whoring that's going on now.

[CrespoBlows]

He needs to start writing more haiku about the Bruins.

[Dipre]

I have been having the same argument with yankee fans on pinstripes plus about Ramiro Pena. He has a plus glove and plus range but projects to hit .250-.270 with no power. Unless your rotation is 5 deep with sinkerballers' date=' you'd be taking the hit there.[/quote']

 

This is a fantastic nugget of wisdom i'll keep close to use against Jacko in the near future.

 

Thank you VERY MUCH ORS.

[Dojji]

Looks like Dojji is tired of being a punching bag for going to one extreme so now he's going to the other.

 

None other than: Argenis Diaz

 

One of these days, he'll resort to making reasonable, rational posts instead of this attention whoring that's going on now.

 

I guarantee you every Sox fan forum in the world would spend every single offseason Diaz spent in Boston arguing between the defensive spectrum folks making points about how he made the pitching better and fans who watch baseball for the offense trying to figure out how to get a SS who can hit.

 

Full on squee, that.

 

Imagine asking for opinions about a prospect in a forum about opinions on prospects. Such an unreasonable thing to expect.

 

Quite obviously, Argenis Diaz' stock has dropped -- a lot -- since last offseason because the errors got a lot worse this year. When I said it the statement was true. What changed was not my opinion, but Diaz' performance.

 

And I might as well admit this now while we're at it: Diaz' poor performance this year has a lot to do with why I'm wary about Iglesias.