Happy Thanksgiving! The Houston Food Bank is in its World Series today, operating at triple its normal function. To date, the Houston Food Bank has delivered 28 million pounds of supplies to the people of Houston.
Of course it's a day to be thankful, a chance to come together with friends and family just hours before you try to rip their heads off for a new flat-screen. I'm thankful for the Astros, for Jose Altuve, for pre-arbitration years, for George Springer, for Brady Aiken's tiny UCL, for Yuli's hair, for Mr. Kate Upton, McCullers' curveball, and for all of you. The Astros are World Series champions. If you talk politics with your family, please remember to film it and send it to astroscounty at gmail dot com.
*2017 Random Astros fact:
When Max Stassi threw out A.J. Pollock on August 17, it broke a streak of 29 straight successful stolen bases by Astros opponents, dating back to June 18.
*The out-of-options catcher Juan Centeno was placed on waivers by the Astros yesterday, clearing a spot on the 40-Man roster. The Astros would like for him to clear waivers so he can return to Triple-A and be next man up in the event of an injury to McCann or Max Stassi, whose backup job it is to lose. The 40-Man Roster now stands at 39.
Centeno played in 22 games for the Astros in 2017, hitting .231/.286/.346. In his first two games as an Astro, both against Detroit at home (May 23 and May 25) Centeno went 3x7 with two home runs, including a go-ahead solo home run off Justin Verlander. When he came back in August, he went 4x9 with another RBI. He hit .311/.354/.383 for Fresno this season and threw out 14 of 38 base runners.
*Today through Monday, BreakingT is offering a Black Friday sale in which you get 25% off the entire store and free shipping at $50. So click this link and check out the Houston collection. Get your friends and family some *actually affordable* shirts you can't get at Academy.
*Alex Bregman returned home to Albuquerque for the first time since winning the World Series, threw out the first pitch at a brand new sports complex, and signed a bunch of autographs. Bregman's dad, Sam:
I know how hard Alex worked to get to this level, and of course I'm proud of what he's done. But he's still the same kid who has to take the trash out after Thanksgiving dinner. He takes time for everyone, and he's a great person off the field. That's what really makes me proud.
*The Los Angeles Fire Department made good on a bet with HFD Station 60.
*Lance McCullers loves dogs more than he loves you.
*Richard Justice: A reason for each team to be thankful.
*Carlos Correa is in Puerto Rico throwing a party for everyone.
*Jonathan Mayo has your FAQ on Shohei Ohtani and the new posting system. Note that Ohtani is subject to international spending limits. The Rangers have the most money available to spend on him, while the Astros cannot sign anyone for more than $300,000 thanks to the international free agent spending spree they went on in 2016 that included shortstop Freudis Nova. So the only hope the Astros have in signing Ohtani is if he just wants to play in Houston. By jumping to MLB now instead of in two years, when he would be a free agent a la Yuli Gurriel, he's already shown he's willing to give up literal boatloads of money. Maybe there's some hope? An international scouting director told Mayo:
Him coming out proves it's not about money. He could wait and get a lot - way more than $10 million. It sounds like he wants to win, and will want to be in a good situation for his culture. He makes a lot of money off the field already, and he'll make more off the field here.
The New York Daily News is obviously predicting the Yankees will sign him.
*The Astros and Nationals have been sending their own workers to the Ballpark of the Seven Isles, or whatever the Spring Training facility is called, to get the stadium finished, almost a year after it "opened." Issues between the main contractor - Hunt Construction Group - and the subcontractors have led to a wide array of legal problems.
*The second part of my job ramps into high gear on Monday, so I'm reading as much as I can this weekend. As a purveyor of bizarre non-fiction, I'm currently reading (and enjoying) Marie Antoinette's Watch: Adultery, Larceny, and Perpetual Mostion by John Biggs. It's free if you have Kindle Unlimited.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
Showing posts with label International Free Agents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label International Free Agents. Show all posts
Thursday, November 23, 2017
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Tuesday Morning Hot Links
*Best wishes for a happy Independence Day to you. May your burgers be medium-rare, may your fingers remain firmly on your hand, and may your families stay away from talking politics.
*The Astros are 5-0 against the NL so far this season as they open up a two-game series with Atlanta tonight. After these two games, there are four in Toronto before the All-Star Break.
*Brian McCann, who played in Atlanta from 2005-2013, is excited to go back.
*AL West Update: North Cleburne lost to the Red Sox, Anaheim lost to Minnesota, the A's lost to the White Sox, the Mariners lost to the Royals. What a division! The Astros have a 15-game lead. On July 4.
*James Hoyt is tipping his pitches and Hinch is trying to manage the bullpen as their workload increases (in the last 14 games, the starter has only pitched through six innings once). Good quote from Hunter Atkins on what Giles told Hoyt:
They know you belong in the big leagues. Now it's time to show you can make the adjustments. You need to get yourself out of this hole.
Hinch:
I'm juggling them the best I can to keep them out of the fatigue area, but it's a lot of innings.
*This ESPN roundtable asks for the number of Astros wins at the end of the season. What you discover will surprise you!
*The Astros announced the signings of 26 international free agents yesterday. Due to the restrictions placed on the organization as a result of last year's spending, only one of those signings was a BA Top 50 prospect - Heitor Tokar, a 6'7" 250lb RHP. They're under the same $300,000 bonus cap through 2019.
*Rogelio Armenteros threw 6IP, 2H/0ER, 8K:3BB in his Triple-A debut, leading Fresno to their 11th straight win.
*In his debut for High-A Buies Creek, Forrest Whitley threw 5IP, 0H/0ER, 9K:1BB. The nine strikeouts are a career-high. In his last five starts Whitley has thrown 22.2IP, 12H/1ER, 37K:11BB. Whitley threw his 70th professional inning last night, and has 102 strikeouts to go with a 3.21 ERA/1.27 WHIP.
*Teoscar Hernandez wrote an essay to help Latino baseball players adjust to the US.
*Five years ago today, Carlos Lee was traded to Miami. Relive that exciting day by checking the to-the-minute update post.
*Jenny Dial Creech: How would you rank (a) Rick Smith, (b) Daryl Morey, and (c) Jeff Luhnow?
*FanGraphs: Is the 2B Revolution already over? (Not for Altuve).
*Travis Sawchik: Jonathan Lucroy's mysterious decline
*Former Astros Great Anthony Gose might ride his 100mph fastball to the majors.
*The Tigers are stupid:
*Umpire Angel Hernandez sued MLB for a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Hernandez claimed:
...the league routinely fails to promote minorities and that Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre has held a personal gripe against him from his days as the Yankees' manager.
*The Astros are 5-0 against the NL so far this season as they open up a two-game series with Atlanta tonight. After these two games, there are four in Toronto before the All-Star Break.
*Brian McCann, who played in Atlanta from 2005-2013, is excited to go back.
*AL West Update: North Cleburne lost to the Red Sox, Anaheim lost to Minnesota, the A's lost to the White Sox, the Mariners lost to the Royals. What a division! The Astros have a 15-game lead. On July 4.
*James Hoyt is tipping his pitches and Hinch is trying to manage the bullpen as their workload increases (in the last 14 games, the starter has only pitched through six innings once). Good quote from Hunter Atkins on what Giles told Hoyt:
They know you belong in the big leagues. Now it's time to show you can make the adjustments. You need to get yourself out of this hole.
Hinch:
I'm juggling them the best I can to keep them out of the fatigue area, but it's a lot of innings.
*This ESPN roundtable asks for the number of Astros wins at the end of the season. What you discover will surprise you!
*The Astros announced the signings of 26 international free agents yesterday. Due to the restrictions placed on the organization as a result of last year's spending, only one of those signings was a BA Top 50 prospect - Heitor Tokar, a 6'7" 250lb RHP. They're under the same $300,000 bonus cap through 2019.
*Rogelio Armenteros threw 6IP, 2H/0ER, 8K:3BB in his Triple-A debut, leading Fresno to their 11th straight win.
*In his debut for High-A Buies Creek, Forrest Whitley threw 5IP, 0H/0ER, 9K:1BB. The nine strikeouts are a career-high. In his last five starts Whitley has thrown 22.2IP, 12H/1ER, 37K:11BB. Whitley threw his 70th professional inning last night, and has 102 strikeouts to go with a 3.21 ERA/1.27 WHIP.
*Teoscar Hernandez wrote an essay to help Latino baseball players adjust to the US.
*Five years ago today, Carlos Lee was traded to Miami. Relive that exciting day by checking the to-the-minute update post.
*Jenny Dial Creech: How would you rank (a) Rick Smith, (b) Daryl Morey, and (c) Jeff Luhnow?
*FanGraphs: Is the 2B Revolution already over? (Not for Altuve).
*Travis Sawchik: Jonathan Lucroy's mysterious decline
*Former Astros Great Anthony Gose might ride his 100mph fastball to the majors.
*The Tigers are stupid:
Teams asking about Justin Verlander; perception is DET looking for big,big,big return w/out salary offset. Owed $70m for rest of '17,'18.'19— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 4, 2017
*Umpire Angel Hernandez sued MLB for a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Hernandez claimed:
...the league routinely fails to promote minorities and that Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre has held a personal gripe against him from his days as the Yankees' manager.
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Thursday Morning Link Dump
A few notes from last night's 6-1 win over the A's...
*Evan Gattis hit a homer! It was just his 3rd hit of the season, his first extra-base hit of the season, and his first home run since September 6, 2014, which was also the last game in which he had a hit prior to Monday. Dating back to August 24, 2014 Gattis' last four extra-base hits have all left the park.
*Collin McHugh struck out eleven batters in 5.2IP last night, the first time he's recorded double-digit strikeouts since his Astros debut on April 22, 2014, when he struck out 12 Mariners. McHugh has allowed three or fewer earned runs in 12 straight starts dating back to July 27, 2014. He's the first Astro to win seven straight starts since Andy Pettitte in 2005.
*Chris Carter is 2x30 on the season. It's worth remembering that from April 9-20, 2014 - a span of eleven games - Carter was 2x31. He's a career .175 hitter in April (yeah, but in 60 games, nine of which are in 2015).
On to the links...
*Evan Drellich notes that Collin McHugh has been relying on a slider since the end of 2014 that could be a reason for his success.
*What with Will Harris pitching well, the Astros are going to let Josh Fields stay in Triple-A for a little bit.
*FanGraphs' Kiley McDaniel writes that the Astros are linked to Dominican CF Gilberto Celestino, who will receive around a $2m signing bonus. Celestino is an "above average to plus runner" with above average arm strength and average raw power projection.
*Quad Cities' Nick Tanielu, who was hitting .412 on the young season, was transferred to Extended Spring Training.
*Here's an interesting comparison of the front-office styles of Billy Beane and Jeff Luhnow from Athletics Nation.
*One of the first Houston Urban Youth Academy graduates got a baseball scholarship.
*Evan Gattis hit a homer! It was just his 3rd hit of the season, his first extra-base hit of the season, and his first home run since September 6, 2014, which was also the last game in which he had a hit prior to Monday. Dating back to August 24, 2014 Gattis' last four extra-base hits have all left the park.
*Collin McHugh struck out eleven batters in 5.2IP last night, the first time he's recorded double-digit strikeouts since his Astros debut on April 22, 2014, when he struck out 12 Mariners. McHugh has allowed three or fewer earned runs in 12 straight starts dating back to July 27, 2014. He's the first Astro to win seven straight starts since Andy Pettitte in 2005.
*Chris Carter is 2x30 on the season. It's worth remembering that from April 9-20, 2014 - a span of eleven games - Carter was 2x31. He's a career .175 hitter in April (yeah, but in 60 games, nine of which are in 2015).
On to the links...
*Evan Drellich notes that Collin McHugh has been relying on a slider since the end of 2014 that could be a reason for his success.
*What with Will Harris pitching well, the Astros are going to let Josh Fields stay in Triple-A for a little bit.
*FanGraphs' Kiley McDaniel writes that the Astros are linked to Dominican CF Gilberto Celestino, who will receive around a $2m signing bonus. Celestino is an "above average to plus runner" with above average arm strength and average raw power projection.
*Quad Cities' Nick Tanielu, who was hitting .412 on the young season, was transferred to Extended Spring Training.
*Here's an interesting comparison of the front-office styles of Billy Beane and Jeff Luhnow from Athletics Nation.
*One of the first Houston Urban Youth Academy graduates got a baseball scholarship.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Tuesday Morning Link Dump
And here's your watercooler* cheat sheet**
*Nobody still gathers around a watercooler
**Or uses an actual cheat sheet
*The Astros weren't about to blow their entire international budget on Yoan Moncada. Luhnow:
We're going to spend $17m in the draft this year. We're going to spend $4m internationally, that's a big chunk of money. We spent $20m this year in free agency. We've made a decision that $40-plus million that we're going to invest this year is better spent in the amateur draft and in free agency for where the Astros are today, rather than doing some big splash in the Cuban market.
*Mark Appel is making people happy.
*A.J. Hinch is transitioning to full workouts today, and everyone is in camp except forFausto Carmona Roberto Hernandez, who is sorting out a visa issue.
*The Astros placed second overall in ESPN's analytics usage survey. Of course, the key term is "usage" and not "success."
*Rule-5 Catcher Luis Flores is excited about his opportunity with the Astros
*Josh Fields has a slight hamstring injury
*Nobody still gathers around a watercooler
**Or uses an actual cheat sheet
*The Astros weren't about to blow their entire international budget on Yoan Moncada. Luhnow:
We're going to spend $17m in the draft this year. We're going to spend $4m internationally, that's a big chunk of money. We spent $20m this year in free agency. We've made a decision that $40-plus million that we're going to invest this year is better spent in the amateur draft and in free agency for where the Astros are today, rather than doing some big splash in the Cuban market.
*Mark Appel is making people happy.
*A.J. Hinch is transitioning to full workouts today, and everyone is in camp except for
*The Astros placed second overall in ESPN's analytics usage survey. Of course, the key term is "usage" and not "success."
*Rule-5 Catcher Luis Flores is excited about his opportunity with the Astros
*Josh Fields has a slight hamstring injury
Monday, July 7, 2014
Astros sign Dominican OF Ronny Rafael
In a move that's been expected since last week, the Astros have signed MLB.com #20/Baseball America #25 international prospect Ronny Rafael to a $1.5 million contract. Rafael, 16, is a righty-hitting OF from the Dominican Republic, and the $1.5 million bonus is, I believe, the second biggest international deal in Astros franchise history (behind only Ariel Ovando's $2.6 million in 2010). You can read Rafael's MLB.com prospect profile over here.
Evan Drellich reports that Houston has also signed OF Angel DeLeon, OF Hector Martinez, and RHP Cristofer Melendez.
Evan Drellich reports that Houston has also signed OF Angel DeLeon, OF Hector Martinez, and RHP Cristofer Melendez.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Andrew Robinson traded? Plus more int'l signings
Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca is reporting that the Astros have a trade to send minor league RHP Andrew Robinson to the Braves (with a cap tip to House of Houston for the link). Robinson, 26, was one of five Corpus Christi Hooks initially named to this year's Texas League All-Star Game before being promoted to Oklahoma City. With Corpus, he put up a 1.89 ERA with 32 K and 11 BB in 33.1 IP as a reliever; so far in 8 IP with OKC, he has a 4.50 ERA with 7 K and 0 BB. No word yet on what the return might be, but we'll update here as details emerge.
Additionally, the Astros have announced two more international signings today: Panamanian shortstops Juan Pineda and Ozziel Sanchez. Both are 16 years old and both hit right-handed; Pineda is 5'10", 145 lbs., while Sanchez is 5'11", 160 lbs. Go read Baseball America's post about the pair, along with comments from Astros international scouting director Oz Ocampo, over here.
Additionally, the Astros have announced two more international signings today: Panamanian shortstops Juan Pineda and Ozziel Sanchez. Both are 16 years old and both hit right-handed; Pineda is 5'10", 145 lbs., while Sanchez is 5'11", 160 lbs. Go read Baseball America's post about the pair, along with comments from Astros international scouting director Oz Ocampo, over here.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Tranzactionz: International Edition
Turns out that Kevin Chapman's triumphant return was more short-lived than Wade LeBlanc's Astros career. Less than 24 hours after being promoted, Chapman is back to OKC, as Anthony Bass makes his official return.
Today also marks the beginning of the international signing period, for which the Astros once again have the largest pool to spend - $5,015,400. Jeff Luhnow has promised that Houston will be active, and that's already been true, as Jesse Sanchez reports two signings so far: RHP Franklin Perez and SS Miguelangel Sierra. Each signed for $1 million.
Perez, 16, is a 6'0", 180 lb. pitcher from Maracay, Venezuela. MLB.com has him ranked #21 in their top 30 international free agents this year; Baseball America ranks him #15. Sierra, also 16, is a 6'0", 160 lb. right-handed hitter from Altagracia de Orituco, Venezuela. MLB.com ranks him #23 in their top 30, while Baseball America has him #19. You can read their profiles and watch video on MLB.com over here, and on Baseball America over here.
UPDATE: Sanchez now reports that Houston has also signed C Brandon Benavente from Venezuela for $250,000, and they are aiming to ink MLB.com #20/BA #25 prospect OF Ronny Rafael from the Dominican Republic.
Today also marks the beginning of the international signing period, for which the Astros once again have the largest pool to spend - $5,015,400. Jeff Luhnow has promised that Houston will be active, and that's already been true, as Jesse Sanchez reports two signings so far: RHP Franklin Perez and SS Miguelangel Sierra. Each signed for $1 million.
Perez, 16, is a 6'0", 180 lb. pitcher from Maracay, Venezuela. MLB.com has him ranked #21 in their top 30 international free agents this year; Baseball America ranks him #15. Sierra, also 16, is a 6'0", 160 lb. right-handed hitter from Altagracia de Orituco, Venezuela. MLB.com ranks him #23 in their top 30, while Baseball America has him #19. You can read their profiles and watch video on MLB.com over here, and on Baseball America over here.
UPDATE: Sanchez now reports that Houston has also signed C Brandon Benavente from Venezuela for $250,000, and they are aiming to ink MLB.com #20/BA #25 prospect OF Ronny Rafael from the Dominican Republic.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Monday Lunchtime Hot Links
*Via MLBTR, we find that the Orioles and Astros had some discussions over the weekend about a deal that would involve a righty catcher going over to platoon with Steve Clevenger while Matt Wieters spends some time on the DL. Interestingly enough, the Orioles are apparently shopping former Astro Troy Patton, who is a reliever.
If any deal involves Corporan, I could see Patton coming over in a 1-for-1 trade. If the Orioles want Stassi, then it would take more than Troy Patton to get that deal done.
*Yu Darvish will not start against the Astros on Wednesday.
*John Manuel has an in-depth piece on Tyler Kolek and had nice things to say, like "a scouting director confirming he has never seen an amateur generate a higher radar-gun reading than Kolek" and "I've never seen anything like it in 20 years."
*A federal jury decided today that four Galveston police officers used excessive force during a wedding party and awarded $49,500 in damages. The jury was unable to come to a unanimous verdict on Backe's claims.
*Ben Badler has a (paywalled) look at possible $1m+ international free agents.
If any deal involves Corporan, I could see Patton coming over in a 1-for-1 trade. If the Orioles want Stassi, then it would take more than Troy Patton to get that deal done.
*Yu Darvish will not start against the Astros on Wednesday.
*John Manuel has an in-depth piece on Tyler Kolek and had nice things to say, like "a scouting director confirming he has never seen an amateur generate a higher radar-gun reading than Kolek" and "I've never seen anything like it in 20 years."
*A federal jury decided today that four Galveston police officers used excessive force during a wedding party and awarded $49,500 in damages. The jury was unable to come to a unanimous verdict on Backe's claims.
*Ben Badler has a (paywalled) look at possible $1m+ international free agents.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Astros out-spent by five teams in international free agency
Baseball America estimates that the Astros spent approximately $3.86m on international free agents in 2013, when they had almost $5m to spend.
The Rangers and Cubs each spent over $8m, and the Astros were (barely) outspent by the Dodgers, Indians, and Red Sox.
Now, as BA says:
The timeframe overlaps multiple signing periods, including the second half of the 2012-13 signing period in which Major League Baseball gave every team a $2.9 million bonus pool, as well as the 2013-14 signing period, which began on July 2 last year and had teams begin with tiered pool spaces based on reverse order of major league winning percentage from the previous season.
And let's not forget that the Astros figure doesn't include the Pool Space for Ronald Torreyes trade, nor does it include however much the Astros spent on Japhet Amador and Leo Heras.
The Rangers and Cubs each spent over $8m, and the Astros were (barely) outspent by the Dodgers, Indians, and Red Sox.
Now, as BA says:
The timeframe overlaps multiple signing periods, including the second half of the 2012-13 signing period in which Major League Baseball gave every team a $2.9 million bonus pool, as well as the 2013-14 signing period, which began on July 2 last year and had teams begin with tiered pool spaces based on reverse order of major league winning percentage from the previous season.
And let's not forget that the Astros figure doesn't include the Pool Space for Ronald Torreyes trade, nor does it include however much the Astros spent on Japhet Amador and Leo Heras.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Astros sign Bryan De La Cruz
Via Baseball America we learn that the Astros have signed 16-year old Dominican outfielder Bryan De La Cruz for $170,000.
Ben Badler wrote:
De la Cruz shows power potential from his athletic 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame and has solid tools, including speed that’s improved since the beginning of the year.
Ben Badler wrote:
De la Cruz shows power potential from his athletic 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame and has solid tools, including speed that’s improved since the beginning of the year.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Astros sign Wilson Amador
Via Ben Badler and Baseball America, the Astros have signed the 24th-ranked international free agent Wilson Amador for $400,000. This is lower than the $875,000 they had originally agreed to, but apparently an issue with the physical knocked down the signing bonus.
Badler:
Amador, 16, is 6-foot-1, 160 pounds and had shown inconsistent tools prior to July 2 after recovering from a couple of injuries to his throwing arm and hamstring, but at his best he’s shown above-average speed and arm strength while still learning to play a more controlled game.
Badler:
Amador, 16, is 6-foot-1, 160 pounds and had shown inconsistent tools prior to July 2 after recovering from a couple of injuries to his throwing arm and hamstring, but at his best he’s shown above-average speed and arm strength while still learning to play a more controlled game.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Astros acquire four international free agents
The Astros have signed four international free agents on this, the first day of the signing period. Those four players are:
16-year old Dominican SS/OF Osvaldo Duarte
SS/C Jonathan Matute
Matute, from Venezuela, is 16 years old, 5'11" and 180 pounds. Baseball America says he has quick hands and gap power. The Astros signed him for $245,000
16-year old SS Joan Mauricio
Oz Ocampo said that Mauricio was "one of the top 10 players in this year’s class – a true shortstop with projection and offensive upside." He's 6'1" and 140 pounds, so someone get that kid a glass of milk. BA says:
Once he gets bigger and stronger, he has a chance to take a step forward and see his tools improve.
The Astros signed Mauricio for $600,000.
16-year old lefty CF Nestor Tejada
Tejada trained at Carlos Guillen's academy and has "above average" speed. While Oz Ocampo says that his strength is in the batter's box.
16-year old Dominican SS/OF Osvaldo Duarte
SS/C Jonathan Matute
Matute, from Venezuela, is 16 years old, 5'11" and 180 pounds. Baseball America says he has quick hands and gap power. The Astros signed him for $245,000
16-year old SS Joan Mauricio
Oz Ocampo said that Mauricio was "one of the top 10 players in this year’s class – a true shortstop with projection and offensive upside." He's 6'1" and 140 pounds, so someone get that kid a glass of milk. BA says:
Once he gets bigger and stronger, he has a chance to take a step forward and see his tools improve.
The Astros signed Mauricio for $600,000.
16-year old lefty CF Nestor Tejada
Tejada trained at Carlos Guillen's academy and has "above average" speed. While Oz Ocampo says that his strength is in the batter's box.
What the heck is July 2?
If you're on Twitter and follow a whole bunch of baseball people, you know that something's happening today. What is it? Well, it's the beginning of the international free agent signing period. What the heck is that? Allow us to explain...
Today, the Astros - and everyone else - can sign Latin American players as young as 16 years old. This is free agency, not a draft. And the Astros, because of their God-awfulness in 2012, have the most to spend in baseball, at $4.9m.
Ben Badler wrote that ($) the Astros might not get any of the top ten players, but might spread their money around to land a bunch of six-figure free agents.
Here are the Top 30 International Free Agents (according to Ben Badler). We'll update this list with any news we come across today:
1. Eloy Jimenez, of, Dominican Republic
2. Gleyber Torres, ss, Venezuela Signed with Chicago Cubs for $1.7m
3. Rafael Devers, 3b, Dominican Republic Signed with Boston for $1.5m
4. Luis Encarnacion, 3b, Dominican Republic
5. Leonardo Molina, cf, Dominican Republic
6. Marcos Diplan, rhp, Dominican Republic Signed with Texas for $1.3m
7. Yeyson Yrizarri, ss, Venezuela/Dominican Republic Signed by Texas for $1.375m
8. Yeltsin Gudino, ss, Venezuela
9. Micker Zapata, of, Dominican Republic Signed by Chicago White Sox for $1.6m.
10. Jose Herrera, c, Venezuela Near a deal with Arizona
11. Carlos Herrera, ss, Venezuela Expected to sign with Colorado
12. Marten Gasparini, ss, Italy Signed with Kansas City for $1.3m
13. Erick Julio, rhp, Colombia Agreed with Colorado
14. Jesus Lopez, ss, Nicaragua Signed with Oakland
15. Lewin Diaz, of/1b, Dominican Republic
16. Erling Moreno, rhp, Colombia Meeting with Chicago Cubs
17. Carlos Hiciano, ss, Dominican Republic Signed with Oakland
18. Freddy Rodriguez, of, Venezuela
19. Mayky Perez, rhp, Dominican Republic
20. Nicolas Pierre, of, Dominican Republic Signed with Milwaukee
21. Greifer Andrade, of, Venezuela
22. Cristhian Vasquez, of, Venezuela
23. Jen-Ho Tseng, rhp, Taiwan
24. Wilson Amador, ss, Dominican Republic
25. Ali Sanchez, c, Venezuela Signed by New York Mets for $690,000
26. Michael de Leon, ss, Dominican Republic
27. Ricardo Sanchez, lhp, Venezuela
28. Carlos Talavera, of, Venezuela
29. Anderson Franco, 3b, Dominican Republic Signed with St. Louis
30. Luis Carpio, ss, Venezuela
Potential Astros targets (again: $):
Jose Herrera (#10)
Jesus Lopez (#14)
Wilson Amador (#24)
Wander Franco
Nestor Tejada
Jake Bowey
Today, the Astros - and everyone else - can sign Latin American players as young as 16 years old. This is free agency, not a draft. And the Astros, because of their God-awfulness in 2012, have the most to spend in baseball, at $4.9m.
Ben Badler wrote that ($) the Astros might not get any of the top ten players, but might spread their money around to land a bunch of six-figure free agents.
Here are the Top 30 International Free Agents (according to Ben Badler). We'll update this list with any news we come across today:
1. Eloy Jimenez, of, Dominican Republic
4. Luis Encarnacion, 3b, Dominican Republic
5. Leonardo Molina, cf, Dominican Republic
8. Yeltsin Gudino, ss, Venezuela
15. Lewin Diaz, of/1b, Dominican Republic
18. Freddy Rodriguez, of, Venezuela
19. Mayky Perez, rhp, Dominican Republic
21. Greifer Andrade, of, Venezuela
22. Cristhian Vasquez, of, Venezuela
23. Jen-Ho Tseng, rhp, Taiwan
24. Wilson Amador, ss, Dominican Republic
26. Michael de Leon, ss, Dominican Republic
27. Ricardo Sanchez, lhp, Venezuela
28. Carlos Talavera, of, Venezuela
30. Luis Carpio, ss, Venezuela
Potential Astros targets (again: $):
Jose Herrera (#10)
Jesus Lopez (#14)
Wilson Amador (#24)
Wander Franco
Nestor Tejada
Jake Bowey
Friday, April 12, 2013
Astros can trade their international free agent bonus pool
Baseball America has a new post up on the international free agent signing period (set to begin July 2), and discusses the new wrinkle in the process in which teams can trade their bonus pool.
It's definitely an interesting read, and Ben Badler lists the Astros as potential sellers. Why?
Because no team needs to spend $5 million to be successful in the international market.
They have so much money available that they could trade away some of it for actual real-life players, and not just fictional international free agents (I do not mean that snarkily in any way, shape or form). Other teams (Rangers, Dodgers, Yankees - to name a few of Badler's "sellers") don't have near as much money, and could use some extra.
It's definitely an interesting read, and Ben Badler lists the Astros as potential sellers. Why?
Because no team needs to spend $5 million to be successful in the international market.
They have so much money available that they could trade away some of it for actual real-life players, and not just fictional international free agents (I do not mean that snarkily in any way, shape or form). Other teams (Rangers, Dodgers, Yankees - to name a few of Badler's "sellers") don't have near as much money, and could use some extra.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)