2016 International Signing Thread

[And That]

Update from Badler:

 

Beyond those two, Venezuelan outfielder Anderson Melendez, Dominican shortstops Yancarlos Cruz and Victor Maria, and Venezuelan catcher Roberto Molina have all been linked to the Brewers for six-figure prices.

"Those two" being Carmona and Abreu. He also mentioned that Abreu may get more money than Carmona.

[billymac]

I did some looking and couldn't find anything, anyone know when these International signings are available via trades? Could they be included in this years trade deadline?

[brewcrewdue80]

I did some looking and couldn't find anything, anyone know when these International signings are available via trades? Could they be included in this years trade deadline?

 

I'd have to believe with the new rule of June Draftees not being able to be included in a PTBNL trade until after the World Series would also be the rule here for International signees. Besides, none of them will see the field by the deadline, seeking one in a trade would be like, why didn't you just sign them?

 

FWIW, I can understand the Brewers not reaching on a high price bat and going with 6figure deals. Lara has yet to produce, Mallen/Pierre aren't doing much. Take the spread out the number of signees and hope to luck in on 1 or 2. Vs. putting all the money in to 1 player. I guess taking the route of acquiring these guys in trade when they're 18 and with some experience to go on is better to gamble on then just taking you're chances on 1 16year old.

 

Maybe with the lack of expecting to use all your Signing allotment dollars, the Brewers are saving up to give one of the slots of money in trade to improve on a deal.

[QuevedosTongue]

The Fangraphs July 2 Sortable Board projects two players to sign with the Brewers, SS/2B Jean Carlos Carmona and OF Pablo Abreu (same players that have been linked to the Brewers previously).

 

For those that want to bypass the article and go straight to the board, here is the LINK.

 

The first thing that stuck out about Jean Carlos Carmona is that his name is a combination of two Dominican players that were implicated in having falsified their ages. Jean Carlos (Batista) chronicled in the movie Pelotero alongside Miguel Sano, and Fausto Carmona (Roberto Hernandez) who pitched six years with the Indians under a false identity and age.

 

So, who do we think is older, Jean Carlos Carmona or Thon Maker?

[JDBrewCrew]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/international-prospects-watch-beyond-top-50/

 

Any Brewer signings on here?

[WV Brew]

The Red Sox have been banned from international signings. Start going after their prospects:

 

link

[LouisEly]

The Red Sox have been banned from international signings. Start going after their prospects:

 

link

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/07/red-sox-international-penalties.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MlbTradeRumors+%28MLB+Trade+Rumors%29

 

I think the bigger news is that the contracts they had with five players from the 2015-2016 signing period have been voided. Those players will retain their signing bonuses, but are free to sign with other clubs. The first $300K does not count towards a team's pools in the upcoming period.

 

Those are the guys to go after.

[And That]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/international-prospects-watch-beyond-top-50/

 

Any Brewer signings on here?

Only one, already mentioned above:

 

Another Venezuelan outfielder, Anderson Melendez, is a projectable 6-foot-2, 170 pounds, and scouts who liked him saw a line-drive bat in games with the ability to use the whole field and gap power that should improve as he puts on weight. He’s a fringy runner who will probably be a corner outfielder. The Brewers are expected to get Melendez.

[WV Brew]

I guess I assume the guys the Red Sox signed last year will now go to other big money teams if they are worth signing since they are free agents now. Don't expect the Brewers will be a factor on them. I guess I could be wrong though.

[LouisEly]

I guess I assume the guys the Red Sox signed last year will now go to other big money teams if they are worth signing since they are free agents now. Don't expect the Brewers will be a factor on them. I guess I could be wrong though.

Their contracts have been voided, but they are not true free agents. Their bonuses count towards the 2016-2017 bonus pool, except for the first $300K. Not sure what the Brewers pool was, but if the top three guys only got ~$2M total I would think they would have some room to go above the $300K exempt limit.

[splitterpfj]

The Brewers have reportedly signed SS Antonio Pinero, who was one of the kids the Red Sox had originally signed.

 

Piniero is from Venezuela, he is 6' 1", 155 - a switch hitter.

[And That]

Pinero is hitting a meek .198/.258/.198 for the Red Sox' 2nd DSL team, though he does have 7 SB in 8 attempts and not bad BB/K rates.

[patrickgpe]

Pinero signed for 375,000. does anyone have any information on him with regards to how he was rated last season. i only could find he wasn't a top 30 player.

[CheezWizHed]

What did the Red Sox do? I missed it

[splitterpfj]

What did the Red Sox do? I missed it

 

http://www.si.com/mlb/2016/07/01/boston-red-sox-international-signing-punishment

[1992casey]

http://www.si.com/mlb/2016/07/01/boston-red-sox-international-signing-punishment

This sums it up in terms that the layman can understand:

 

“The Red Sox skirted the $300,000 threshold by packaging highly regarded prospects with lesser ones, paying both similarly and allowing the players’ agent to give the lion’s share of the money to the better prospect,” Yahoo’s Jeff Passan reports.

[CheezWizHed]

Wow, that seems like a big risk for a minimal gain... These signings always seem like such a long shot and they are signing lower value prospects anyway. Now they lost two full years of signings: their restricted signings last year and their full allotment next year.

[nate82]

I wouldn't mind signing one or both of these guys before next years international signing period begins.

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/09/cuban-pitching-prospects-norge-ruiz-cionel-perez-declared-free-agents.html

[And That]

Very interesting take on MLB rules as they pertain to Venezuela and scout safety:

 

Time For MLB To End Rules That Jeopardize Safety Of Scouts

 

“Someone is going to get killed. It’s just a matter of time, and it’s on MLB when it happens, because they’re the ones who created these rules. They haven’t thought this through to any degree where they have any regard for the human lives of scouts.”

[LouisEly]

Very interesting take on MLB rules as they pertain to Venezuela and scout safety:

 

Time For MLB To End Rules That Jeopardize Safety Of Scouts

 

“Someone is going to get killed. It’s just a matter of time, and it’s on MLB when it happens, because they’re the ones who created these rules. They haven’t thought this through to any degree where they have any regard for the human lives of scouts.”

Interesting article. I wonder if it's time to prohibit signing international free agents until they are at least 17. That will give teams more time to build a longer evaluation on prospects, and give teams one more year until they have to decide whether to protect on the 40-man-roster. As it stands now, teams have to figure out whether to protect international signees who are still in A-ball.

 

In the U.S. I believe kids are ineligible for the draft unless they have graduated HS. I don't recall anyone recently being drafted who isn't at least 17 years old, and it is rare that someone graduates HS who isn't at least 17. Why should 16-year-old international players be able to sign multi-million dollar contracts but 16-year-old U.S. kids can't unless they have graduated HS?