01/15/26 - New International Signing Period Updates

[wibadgers23]

Where do we think guys like Frontado and Moneys fall in our top 30?

[snoogans8056]

1 hour ago, wibadgers23 said:

Where do we think guys like Frontado and Moneys fall in our top 30?

They don’t make it. Our list is pretty bonkers.

[biedergb]

I see Moneys in the 22-26 range like Antunez last year based on potential.

Frontado could be fringe top 30 and hold a spot based upon potential and reputation like DiTuri did

But yes seeing who will likely be in the 21-30 slots and how they could be 11-20 on most lists including Brewers from 2-3 years ago.

[Austin Tatious]

Spencer did a phenomenal job.  Lucky to have him here.  I’ve got not much more than a hunch because these are basically lottery tickets.  I felt like the ‘25 class was underwhelming but I like this group.  It’s a tough ask to be as good as ‘24 but I like some of these profiles a lot.  

I admit my take is closer to a horoscope than actual analysis.  But looking at skill sets, positional profiles, frame and athleticism I like a few of these guys a lot for guys so young that the age of 20 years old is still a ways off.
 

Could Moneys turn into a Rafael Devers?  Will Salazar’s arm and switch hitting be key in turning him into a top catching prospect? Will Frontado emerge as a quality defender at short with his good hit tool and pedigree?  

Let’s see what happens but I like the profiles even if I’m functioning closer to a fortune teller than providing anything credible.  

[SF70]

5 hours ago, Austin Tatious said:

Spencer did a phenomenal job.  Lucky to have him here.  I’ve got not much more than a hunch because these are basically lottery tickets.  I felt like the ‘25 class was underwhelming but I like this group.  It’s a tough ask to be as good as ‘24 but I like some of these profiles a lot.  

I admit my take is closer to a horoscope than actual analysis.  But looking at skill sets, positional profiles, frame and athleticism I like a few of these guys a lot for guys so young that the age of 20 years old is still a ways off.
 

Could Moneys turn into a Rafael Devers?  Will Salazar’s arm and switch hitting be key in turning him into a top catching prospect? Will Frontado emerge as a quality defender at short with his good hit tool and pedigree?  

Let’s see what happens but I like the profiles even if I’m functioning closer to a fortune teller than providing anything credible.  

Even the best international system in the game can’t hit it out of the park with each and every class. Last years class, at least positionally, was a below average class so the odds favor this years class being much better, and after reading the SR’s I’m optimistic it will be.

Taylor Green sounded awfully excited about this class and that has me stoked as well.

[Ro Mueller]

Beating the Cubs again, this time with a young international signing, caught by @Spencer Michaelis 

 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Just now, Ro Mueller said:

Beating the Cubs again, this time with a young international signing, caught by @Spencer Michaelis 

 

 

Here's the Tweet which Spencer was referencing: 

[Ro Mueller]

It looks like we’ve signed another international prospect, OF Mathias Lugo: https://x.com/bkfan09/status/2019504960287699041

[Spencer Michaelis]

3 hours ago, Ro Mueller said:

It looks like we’ve signed another international prospect, OF Mathias Lugo: https://x.com/bkfan09/status/2019504960287699041

Lugo is part of the 2028 class, but they have reached a pre-agreement with him for that class.

[Austin Tatious]

The Brewers have just reached a pre- agreement with one of Juan Soto’s sperm for the 2043 class.  

[Ro Mueller]

 

[markedman5]

 

[MilwaukeeBeers]

I get that these Latin reporters are probably saying the truth here, but I can't help but be perplexed by how irresponsible some of their player comps are. De Vries is arguably the best prospect in baseball. Anything the Brewers do in the Latin market I am all in on. These are literal children, but for better or worse this is the way it's done. And boy the Brewers can work this market. Gone are the Melvin days where they didn't sign a single player. I am excited to see the fruits of it down the line. Seems like they are getting in on more high end guys from what these reporters have said. 

[biedergb]

10 hours ago, MilwaukeeBeers said:

Gone are the Melvin days where they didn't sign a single player

Well he signed a bunch. Back then it was more of a quantity over quality idea as they were trying to establish in the LA market. I still remember the first international FAs that I read about in the late 1990s or was it 2000 - Cristian Guerrero who was Vlad”s cousin, and Hector Garcia.  Neither panned out but the team did sigh a bunch, and then tried a few high dollar signings I have to look it up, and then more recently in the past 10 years it has been a quality and quantity approach and going to Venezuela and Panama and Nicaragua to the regions that were not already “owned” by the Yankees/Dodgers etc.

i think the approach of quality and quantity, the solid presence in DR, Venezuela and other places, the investment into scouting and the facilities have put the Brewers on a far better place for the IFA market than the 2000s or most of the 2010s.

[cragi]

how does it work in terms of years of player control when you sign someone that young?

[biedergb]

8 minutes ago, cragi said:

how does it work in terms of years of player control when you sign someone that young?

he is not signed per se, and will only officially be signed in January 2030, then will have the normal number of years for an internation signee (which I have to look up) but in 2030 it may be different rules as well.

[Team Canada]

Tangential to pre-agreements, article about the state of international signings and potential for instituting a draft:

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/48370191/mlb-2026-international-draft-cba-talks-labor-dominican-republic-fraud-abuse-steroids-broken-deals

 

[biedergb]

6 hours ago, Team Canada said:

Tangential to pre-agreements, article about the state of international signings and potential for instituting a draft:

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/48370191/mlb-2026-international-draft-cba-talks-labor-dominican-republic-fraud-abuse-steroids-broken-deals

 

Wow, this paints such an ugly scene for latin american scouting.  But in a big money sport I guess it is inevitable, and while difficult to state I am sure the Brewers are guilty (as is every MLB team) in perpetuation some of these problems, including the so far reported (and obviously never confirmed because it would be illegal to do so) pre-acuerdas with 13 year olds.

I am not a fan of the international draft per se, but this if all substantiated would change my mind, and I suspect that was the intent of the article.

[MilwaukeeBeers]

I would be open to an international draft IF it gives small markets a leg up or first crack with international talent. It would help the competitive balance of the league as an alternative to a salary cap. 

[nate82]

I’m not sure an international draft would fix anything.

[wallus]

We seem to be better than average at international scouting and procurement now so let's hold off on a draft