Article: International Signing Preview

[Twins Twerp]

There is something really simple against that logic:

You need to have the right prospects to spend $$. And really after Sano, if you exclude the Cubans, there have not been many of those kind of prospects.

 

Spending $ just to spend does not make any sense (even though Ryan does it with veteran FAs.) If you are getting the equivalent of a 10th-round (rule 4) draft pick (or even an equivalent prospect if you trade the international slot) in a 16 year old AFA whom you have to pay $750K to sign, you better not spend the $ that way. If there is value, spend (and overspend,) if not, it is a waste.

 

I might be misreading or not understanding your post. Are you saying that there are not a lot of sure fire prospects internationally...or that there are not others that work out? I look at the current syatem and see it a lot like the draft...crapshoot. I agree not to spend money just because but...the more money you throw out into the international market...the more fish you hook. Just look at the top prospects in baseball. In fact you wouod find it hard to find a decent SS prospect who is not a latin american player today.

[Thrylos]

In fact you wouod find it hard to find a decent SS prospect who is not a latin american player today.

 

Agreed. But what will give you more bang for you buck at the same price? A decent average hit above average field SS, a 100 mph fireballer with a plus secondary pitch and a third work in progress pitch, or someone with decent contact and 40+ HR potential with so-so glove.

 

In my book, the SS would be ranked 3 (with the same $)

[Jeremy Nygaard]

According to Ben Badler, the Twins are showing strong interest in Lewin Diaz. Diaz is a big lefty who draws body comps to David Ortiz and is said to be getting seven figures. There's more behind BA's paywall.

[Mike Sixel]

Agreed, Bill Smith, thankfully, was the GM that brought them back into spending. I am so happy he was GM when some of these guys were there.....

[nicksaviking]

So the Phillies signed German 17-year-old Julsan Kamara. I thought the Twins had the market cornered on German prospects. He's an outfielder though, I guess the Twins can focus their International budget elsewhere.

 

Has anyone heard any updates on Aledmys Diaz? Is MLB going to take it's sweet time with the age investigation and cause him to wait an extra year to sign regardless of the findings?

[bird]

Agreed, Bill Smith, thankfully, was the GM that brought them back into spending. I am so happy he was GM when some of these guys were there.....

Again, Bill Smith didn't decide to spend more, and Bill Smith didn't decide to invest more heavily in the international market. Many people were involved in these decisions. Prior to his short stint as GM, Bill Smith eaded up the group responsible for building up the organization's capacity internationally.

[Mike Sixel]

Again, Bill Smith didn't decide to spend more, and Bill Smith didn't decide to invest more heavily in the international market. Many people were involved in these decisions. Prior to his short stint as GM, Bill Smith eaded up the group responsible for building up the organization's capacity internationally.

 

you know, this post reply by me was just bickering, so I deleted it. I'm going to try to stick to the topic, and not argue over stuff like this.

[cmb0252]

Baseball America released this article; Ten International Prospects to Watch for July 2nd.

Ten International Prospects To Watch For July 2 - BaseballAmerica.com

 

One thing I noticed was the article said the following, "The Red Sox, Royals, Blue Jays and Twins all have top 10 pool allotments and should all be in the mix to sign seven-figure players this year." While that isn't a surprise but the fact the Twins are not linked to any of the prospects in the article is. The article is riddled with X team is the favorite or Y team has been linked to player Z with no mention of the Twins. This doesn't mean they won't sign one of them but it is a little odd even with the Twins being historically tight lipped.

[rickyhawaii]

lewin diaz looks like he'd be a good prospect. i wonder if the twins have much interest in Jen-ho Tseng from Taiwan. the twins have been a little active in that market. Kuo hua lo and Chih wei hu

[maxisagod]

So the Phillies signed German 17-year-old Julsan Kamara. I thought the Twins had the market cornered on German prospects. He's an outfielder though, I guess the Twins can focus their International budget elsewhere.

 

Kamara was signed with last years international pool. The Twins already spent most, if not all of their budget from last year. In early July they'll be able to spend on international guys again.

[drjim]

Agreed, Bill Smith, thankfully, was the GM that brought them back into spending. I am so happy he was GM when some of these guys were there.....

 

I would argue that Bill Smith just happened to be GM when Target Field was approved/opened so he could reap the windfall of increased budgets in all areas of operations. It has stayed at appropriate levels under Ryan and appears it will again this year.

[kab21]

They might not link the Twins to any of those players but the Twins have a significantly larger bonus pool to spend than teams like the Yankees, Rangers and A's. At the end of the day it's the money that does the talking regardless of who has been linked to player X.

[nicksaviking]

While that isn't a surprise but the fact the Twins are not linked to any of the prospects in the article is. The article is riddled with X team is the favorite or Y team has been linked to player Z with no mention of the Twins. This doesn't mean they won't sign one of them but it is a little odd even with the Twins being historically tight lipped.

 

I think it is this mostly. The Pirates were the ones supposedly to sign Sano, the Twins were a dark horse in that contest. I remember hearing the Twins attached to the other Cuban defector, OF Darial Alverez, but he does not fall within the rules of the International budget. I'd suspect the tight-lips would apply to guys who would need to be signed out of that pool. Games surely are being played.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Baseball America released this article; Ten International Prospects to Watch for July 2nd.

Ten International Prospects To Watch For July 2 - BaseballAmerica.com

 

One thing I noticed was the article said the following, "The Red Sox, Royals, Blue Jays and Twins all have top 10 pool allotments and should all be in the mix to sign seven-figure players this year." While that isn't a surprise but the fact the Twins are not linked to any of the prospects in the article is. The article is riddled with X team is the favorite or Y team has been linked to player Z with no mention of the Twins. This doesn't mean they won't sign one of them but it is a little odd even with the Twins being historically tight lipped.

 

They have 4M to spend. I personally don't care if they spread it out or go after 2 or 3 upper tier guys, but quite honestly, if the kid's position is P, SS, or C, they ought to be in on him.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I think it is this mostly. The Pirates were the ones supposedly to sign Sano, the Twins were a dark horse in that contest. I remember hearing the Twins attached to the other Cuban defector, OF Darial Alverez, but he does not fall within the rules of the International budget. I'd suspect the tight-lips would apply to guys who would need to be signed out of that pool. Games surely are being played.

 

This is true, but the Twins WERE linked to Sano. Granted the Pirates were considered the front runners, but those of us following it knew that Minnesota had interest, though admittedly, few thought it would happen. This is my concern with not hearing the Twins. I'll be a bit disappointed if they don't spend that money. This may be the last shot they get to really go after top end talent, and the cash is use or lose it.

[30whales]

This is true, but the Twins WERE linked to Sano. Granted the Pirates were considered the front runners, but those of us following it knew that Minnesota had interest, though admittedly, few thought it would happen. This is my concern with not hearing the Twins. I'll be a bit disappointed if they don't spend that money. This may be the last shot they get to really go after top end talent, and the cash is use or lose it.

 

Just curious, was this board around when Sano signed? If so, what was the reaction like?

[diehardtwinsfan]

This board wasn't here. I was on BYTO when that happened. People were quite happy about it.

[InfraRen]

Darren Wolfson:

 

Radcliff on the international free agent market, which opens July 2: "It has depth. There a lot of position players we like. There's enough pitching. We have the fourth-most money to spend. We are a major player." One player the Twins like is Dominican outfielder Lewin Diaz.

 

[gunnarthor]

Just curious, was this board around when Sano signed? If so, what was the reaction like?

 

Twinkie Town (and Pirates version Bucs Dugout) were pretty vocal about it. Pirate fans were absolutely crushed. The ESPN boards, back when they were good, had some stuff on it too. I never posted at BYTO.

[gunnarthor]

This is true, but the Twins WERE linked to Sano. Granted the Pirates were considered the front runners, but those of us following it knew that Minnesota had interest, though admittedly, few thought it would happen. This is my concern with not hearing the Twins. I'll be a bit disappointed if they don't spend that money. This may be the last shot they get to really go after top end talent, and the cash is use or lose it.

 

I'm sorry I can't find the link but I just read something that said the Twins looked like they'd be the most aggressive team in the intl market this year. I thought it was on baseball america but I can't find it .... sorry. Anyhow, the Twins have made a few nice signings since Sano - Felix Jorge and Mineras (sp) last year. They've been linked to all the big guys already so it should be a fun signing period for us.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm sorry I can't find the link but I just read something that said the Twins looked like they'd be the most aggressive team in the intl market this year. I thought it was on baseball america but I can't find it .... sorry. Anyhow, the Twins have made a few nice signings since Sano - Felix Jorge and Mineras (sp) last year. They've been linked to all the big guys already so it should be a fun signing period for us.

 

I was referencing an article posted earlier where the Twins were never mentioned. I do hope you are right. That money is use or lose, so they may as well spend it and stock pile the farm system with anyone that has a reasonably high ceiling.

[InfraRen]

"Hi, I may be a twin in July!" - Lewin Diaz

 

http://dplbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Lewin-Diaz-2013.jpg

 

Dude is 16 years old, and does NOT much smaller than David Ortiz. Been given an early comp to Ryan Howard attributes and body-wise:

 

http://dplbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/2013-DPL-Elite-Travel-Team-tour-Ortid-Diaz-700x463.jpg

 

 

 

Click http://dplbaseball.com/scouts-corner/lewin-diaz-of-2013/

[cmathewson]

Why would they deal some of their pool away in the deepest year in a long time? Why is this "more likely".

[Jeremy Nygaard]

They have an allotment greater than what they typically spend, so it's more likely that they trade some away than add more, especially when teams that like to spend don't have it available. It's an asset that they should use and I'm not opposed to it being used as a trade chip.

[kab21]

They have an allotment greater than what they typically spend, so it's more likely that they trade some away than add more, especially when teams that like to spend don't have it available. It's an asset that they should use and I'm not opposed to it being used as a trade chip.

 

FWIW this is your speculation. It's a deep year apparently and the MLB payroll is down significantly. The last time MLB payroll was significantly down was the year Sano, Kepler and Polanco signed IIRC. People insisted then that draft budgets and salary budgets are separate but I don't think that was a coincidence. We will see but I think the Twins will spend all of it this year. A trade of some of it wouldn't be shocking either in a deadline deal to get a better prospect back though.

[CwK]

Ben Badler at BA just posted some tidbits about July 2 and the buzz surrounding some of the prospects. But, it's behind the money wall. Is anyone a member or read anything lately?

[nicksaviking]

I don't but good timing bringing this thread back up. It should be a hot one now that the draft is over.

 

I haven't seen it posted anywhere on the site but the Twins appear to be one of the 7 suitors for Cuban defector Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez. He is 26 and Cuban so he doesn't qualify for the international signing rules. This obviously could put the Twins at a disadvantage as they don't generally out bid other team for free agents but it's worth keeping an eye on. He's supposed to have a workout for June 20th.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

I read it this morning. There are six names mentioned. Three linked to teams (none being named the Twins) and three who aren't.

 

Gonzalez is an interesting name to follow. But you're right... "out-bidding" teams isn't a specialty of the Twins. (Unless we're talking about Nishioka, which we'd all rather forget.) It would be a quite a coup if the Twins could get something done with the Cuban (especially with the Dodgers always lurking).

[Pitz]

Like others have said, I hope the Twins take full advantage of their international signing pool asset, one way or another.

In regards to the original article. The situation with the Rangers and Jairo Beras seems RIDICULOUSLY SHADY. I can't believe that MLB approved the deal, the Rangers didn't face any punishments, and Beras only had to sit out a year (which in reality amounted to only about a month). In another article on BA, Badler discusses another player with a similar situation and says this at the end of the article:

"If Aybar would have tried to copy Beras, it appears unlikely that MLB would have approved his contract. Then again, major league rules indicate that the league shouldn’t have approved Beras’ contract either, so while it probably would have been a longshot, it’s hard to say for certain that it wouldn’t have worked."

Should 'Obispo Aybar' Have Tried To Copy Jairo Beras ...

[diehardtwinsfan]

I don't but good timing bringing this thread back up. It should be a hot one now that the draft is over.

 

I haven't seen it posted anywhere on the site but the Twins appear to be one of the 7 suitors for Cuban defector Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez. He is 26 and Cuban so he doesn't qualify for the international signing rules. This obviously could put the Twins at a disadvantage as they don't generally out bid other team for free agents but it's worth keeping an eye on. He's supposed to have a workout for June 20th.

 

He wouldn't likely need much time in the minors, fills a position of need for the next wave, and doesn't count against the cap... This, to me, is a no brainer... Then again, I'd have thought going after that Cuban SS would be a no brainer as well.