Article: International Signing Preview

[nicksaviking]

The Royals signed Gasparini. I've never seen him play so I'm unfarily catagorizing him, but even though the Twins need SS help, I was very skeptical about the talents of a SS from Europe. Probably a dumb stereotype considering the success of Kepler, but how much quality competition can a European kid see? At SS, I want them to see a ton.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

I can confirm the Twins made a bid on Verkerk. He's weighing his options: sign to play pro ball or continue playing for the Dutch National team in the Euro Championships. (Not sure he could do both... working on it.)

 

Verkerk could sign and still play in the Euro Championships later this month. The dilemma he feels is that if he plays well, he could stand to make more money. Regardless, Twins are in the hunt.

[johnnydakota]

Texas spent more money that is correct. But "bare minimum" is extremely disingenuous. They signed a couple of top 30 prospects and spent comparable to any non-Texas team and more than many other teams.

 

I know I'm a raging homer but I find that to be an acceptable investment.

 

They spent less in 2012 then they paid for Sano...in fact didnt they spend about 2.5 million?

 

Plus here is the big piture ,it was the last chance to grab every avalible player with out restrictions .....and we need help in 2 areas middle infield and a slew of starting pitchers.... Instead we just hired an extra brinks truck to haul the extra profit to the owners bank

[TwinsFanInPhilly]

Mike Radke?

[James]

They spent less in 2012 then they paid for Sano...in fact didnt they spend about 2.5 million?

 

Plus here is the big piture ,it was the last chance to grab every avalible player with out restrictions .....and we need help in 2 areas middle infield and a slew of starting pitchers.... Instead we just hired an extra brinks truck to haul the extra profit to the owners bank

They did spend about $2.5 M internationally. Which, oddly enough, was the bonus pool size for every team last year. This is the first year where international bonus pool money coincides with last year's record.

 

They were able to spend more than that to sign Sano because there was no cap to how much a team could spend on international signings before. So you really can't complain about not spending enough and compare it to a time when their signing bonus money wasn't capped. Apples and Oranges there.

[diehardtwinsfan]

They did spend about $2.5 M internationally. Which, oddly enough, was the bonus pool size for every team last year. This is the first year where international bonus pool money coincides with last year's record.

 

They were able to spend more than that to sign Sano because there was no cap to how much a team could spend on international signings before. So you really can't complain about not spending enough and compare it to a time when their signing bonus money wasn't capped. Apples and Oranges there.

 

 

This. There was a cap in place of 2.5M, and the Twins spent 2.5 M. I don't get what it is that is being complained about here. The Twins have been out spending the majority of their peers in this area for quite some time and it has netted prospects like Sano, Kepler, Goodrum, Lewis Thorpe, Minier, etc.

[maxisagod]

The Royals signed Gasparini. I've never seen him play so I'm unfarily catagorizing him, but even though the Twins need SS help, I was very skeptical about the talents of a SS from Europe. Probably a dumb stereotype considering the success of Kepler, but how much quality competition can a European kid see? At SS, I want them to see a ton.

 

Yeah I'm guessing the logic for the Twins was something like, we like Gasparini, but not as much as we liked Kepler, so why should we spend 1/2 million more on him when there is equal talent who's played against better competition getting less right now.

 

I'm wonder if the fact that Gasparini got 1.3 million and Zapata getting 1.6 for the White Sox had anything to do with the fact they're both great English speakers? Could that drive up their value by hundreds of thousands?

[Red Bull]

You would think the Twins would be all over the top INTL prospects considering how much payroll they have cut the last few years? I guess its typical Twins to sit around and let all the real talent go.

[CwK]

This. There was a cap in place of 2.5M, and the Twins spent 2.5 M. I don't get what it is that is being complained about here. The Twins have been out spending the majority of their peers in this area for quite some time and it has netted prospects like Sano, Kepler, Goodrum, Lewis Thorpe, Minier, etc.

 

Goodrum is from Georgia. Second round pick. But, I agree with you. International Free Agency is huge for netting top prospects.

[Chance]

Maybe he was thinking Polanco, not Goodrum?

[nicksaviking]

I'm wonder if the fact that Gasparini got 1.3 million and Zapata getting 1.6 for the White Sox had anything to do with the fact they're both great English speakers? Could that drive up their value by hundreds of thousands?

 

I sure hope not, what does Roseta Stone cost? Like a hundred bucks?

 

You would think the Twins would be all over the top INTL prospects considering how much payroll they have cut the last few years? I guess its typical Twins to sit around and let all the real talent go.

 

While I want to see the Twins start signing guys, the international market has been open for what? 6 hours? You clearly haven't read anything on this thread, the Twins ARE all over several guys, two of the top ten guys in fact.

[CwK]

Maybe he was thinking Polanco, not Goodrum?

 

Probably so. I do often associate Goodrum with Jamaica and pirate ships, so I can understand the confusion.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

[TABLE=width: 1606]

[/TD]

ROOM LEFT

POOL

Rockies

$4,213,800

$4,213,800

(E. Julio)

(C. Herrera)

Twins

$3,908,600

$3,908,600

(L. Diaz)

(F. Rodriguez)

(R. Tapia)

(E. Herrera)

(L. Wells)

(R. Verkerk)

Astros

$3,559,000

$4,159,000

J. Mauricio

$ 600,000

(J. Lopez)

(W. Amador)

(W. Franco)

(J. Bowey)

Marlins

$3,395,200

$3,395,200

(P. Garcia)

(B. Lizardo)

Indians

$3,036,900

$3,636,900

J. Soto

$ 600,000

(E. Arrendondo)

(W. Castro)

Blue Jays

$2,817,100

$2,817,100

(Y. Gudino)

(M. Perez)

Mariners

$2,580,000

$2,580,000

(G. Andrade)

(L. Barrios)

(L. Rengifo)

(O. Pena)

(R. Rosario)

Pirates

$2,426,000

$2,426,000

(G. Portorreal)

(A. Valerio)

(A. Serrano)

Phillies

$2,289,700

$2,289,700

(L. Encarnacion**)

(E. Rodriguez)

Dodgers

$2,322,600

$2,322,600

(L. Tirado)

(A. Estrella)

(D. Padilla)

(M. Gomez)

Cubs

$2,170,300

$5,520,300

G. Torres

$ 1,700,000

J. Mejia

$ 850,000

E. Moreno

$ 800,000

(E. Jimenez)

(L. Torrealba)

(J. Matos)

Angels

$1,993,700

$1,993,700

(R. Sanchez)

(M. Coronado)

Rays *

$1,976,500

$1,976,500

(O. Romero)

Giants

$1,909,900

$1,909,900

(K. Beltre)

(M. Geraldo)

Padres

$1,900,800

$2,500,800

R. Giron

$ 600,000

(L. Asuncion)

(J. Lebron)

[TD]

[/TABLE]

[Jeremy Nygaard]

[TABLE=width: 1606]

ROOM LEFT

POOL

Reds

$1,862,100

$1,862,100

(V. Martinez)

Diamondbacks

$1,855,700

$2,355,700

F. Martinez

$ 350,000

Josue Herrera

$ 150,000

(Jose Herrera)

(W. Peguero)

Nationals

$1,846,900

$1,846,900

(A. Franco**)

Royals

$1,688,100

$2,988,100

M. Gasparini

$ 1,300,000

(C. Vasquez)

(M. Viloria)

Orioles

$1,571,300

$1,571,300

(A. Vargas)

(J. Reyes)

Yankees

$1,302,900

$1,877,900

Y. Rodriguez

$ 575,000

(L. Molina**)

Tigers

$1,261,200

$2,011,200

H. Martinez

$ 400,000

E. Escobar

$ 350,000

(H. Hernandez)

(A. Pereira)

Brewers

$1,297,300

$2,227,300

N. Pierre

$ 800,000

J. Atencio

$ 130,000

(F. Mallen)

(N. Hernandez)

Mets

$1,224,600

$2,664,600

A. Sanchez

$ 690,000

Y. De Aza

$ 475,000

L. Silva

$ 275,000

(L. Carpio**)

(R. Cespedes**)

Cardinals

$1,035,600

$2,060,600

C. Talavera

$ 500,000

H. Linares

$ 400,000

S. Alcantara

$ 125,000

Red Sox

$899,900

$3,179,900

R. Devers

$ 1,500,000

E. DeJesus

$ 780,000

(R. Sanchez)

(Y. Aybar)

(J. Diaz)

Braves

$893,800

$1,893,800

O. Albies

$ 350,000

F. Gil

$ 350,000

K. Josephina

$ 300,000

(I. Bernal)

(J. Laguna)

White Sox

$568,300

$2,168,300

M. Zapata

$ 1,600,000

Athletics

$226,100

$1,926,100

J. Lopez

$ 950,000

C. Hiciano

$ 750,000

Rangers

($2,507,300)

$1,942,700

J.Almonte

$ 1,800,000

Y. Yrrizari

$ 1,350,000

M. Diplan

$ 1,300,000

(M. de Leon)

[TD=colspan: 4]* CANNOT SPEND MORE THAN $250,000 ON ANY SINGLE PLAYER[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 4]** NOT 16 YET[/TD]

[/TABLE]

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Sorry I had to break it into two posts, apparently there is a character limit.

 

The guys in parenthesis are linked to teams. You can see how much pool money each team still has available. (That's how it's sorted.)

 

The Twins have yet to announce any signings on a day that feels slower than last year's Free Market.

[maxisagod]

Thanks Jeremy! Even if the Twins aren't signing people it nice to see who has money left to do what. Looks like Rangers are going for broke... literarily. I don't see a way they get out of handy capping themselves for next year signing period at least. It will probably be their actions that pushes the MLB towards a International draft sooner than later.

[nicksaviking]

Thanks Jeremy! Even if the Twins aren't signing people it nice to see who has money left to do what. Looks like Rangers are going for broke... literarily. I don't see a way they get out of handy capping themselves for next year signing period at least. It will probably be their actions that pushes the MLB towards a International draft sooner than later.

 

Perhaps that's what the Rangers are counting on. If they go to a draft system next year the Rangers lose a 1st round pick I suppose? Based on thier record they likely would not draft high next year yet this year they can blow through their money and pick two guys they may view as top 10 talents this year.

 

Personally I like the change. Aside from the fact that my team is once again slow to the party, this is pretty exciting and better yet, it seems to have given the trade market an early boost.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

They'll pay 100% tax on their overage and not be allowed to spend more than $250,000 on any single player next year.

 

You gotta remember, too, that they illegally signed Jairo Beras last year and got it approved by MLB.

[maxisagod]

Personally I like the change. Aside from the fact that my team is once again slow to the party, this is pretty exciting and better yet, it seems to have given the trade market an early boost.

 

I think owners and GM's like Terry Ryan like it too. It helps set cost certainty when planning out your budget. The amounts are set and they can plan knowing that a team like the yankees won't just come in and drop a lot of money cornering the market.

[AlwaysinModeration]

I think owners and GM's like Terry Ryan like it too. It helps set cost certainty when planning out your budget. The amounts are set and they can plan knowing that a team like the yankees won't just come in and drop a lot of money cornering the market.

Doesn't it seem like the Rangers are making a mockery of this new system?

[diehardtwinsfan]

Maybe he was thinking Polanco, not Goodrum?

 

yes... I know I missed a few too... Wasn't Ramos one?

[diehardtwinsfan]

Probably so. I do often associate Goodrum with Jamaica and pirate ships, so I can understand the confusion.

 

speaking of which, with the Yankees in town, I should break out the good rum.

[maxisagod]

Doesn't it seem like the Rangers are making a mockery of this new system?

 

On one hand, Let's see what it looks like in Year Two and if the penalties for the Rangers is sever enough to discourage other teams from doing it again. The Rays went over their budget last year and it's stop them from making big moves this year.

 

On the other hand, this isn't exactly what MLB wants. They want an international draft. And if everyone played by the rules, there would be no reason to change them. So in the end, it takes a rule break to change the rules.

 

The good news for the fans? This could become a step towards trading draft picks like in other sports. Trading pool allotments because trading international draft picks, becomes trading Rule 4 draft picks. That would be a lot more interesting!

[Riverbrian]

Probably so. I do often associate Goodrum with Jamaica and pirate ships, so I can understand the confusion.

 

I didn't get it at first... I got it on my second time through and I laughed. Very nice.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

The Twins and Dutch 3B Ruar Verkerk have reached an agreement. Working on bonus. Signing contract in London before heading to Florida.

[diehardtwinsfan]

The Twins and Dutch 3B Ruar Verkerk have reached an agreement. Working on bonus. Signing contract in London before heading to Florida.

 

Do you know who the other names that they snagged the other day?

[maxisagod]

Howard Norsetter is still getting people signed I see. Would love to get quick scouting report on Verkerk. As long as he turns out better than Dirk Vadjer did for the Twins. Jesse Sanchez confirm the Twins are still interested in Jen-Ho Tseng. No word yet on who the other signing were.

[3rd Inning Stretch]

Rangers are not making a mockery of the system, they traded for intl cap space from Florida, which is allowed.

[bird]

Mike Radke?

 

That says it all.

[bird]

You would think the Twins would be all over the top INTL prospects considering how much payroll they have cut the last few years? I guess its typical Twins to sit around and let all the real talent go.

 

The Twins ARE all over the top talent, Red Bull. They have been every year since 2009. Their record stacks up favorably against anyone's over this time frame, both in terms of spending and in terms of results.

 

BA and MLB do not have a monopoly on talent evaluation. In fact, they're at a massive disadvantage to the myriad of scouts employed by the MLB teams, upon whom they rely for the snippets they use to make their rankings. So, Red Bull, unless you've personally scouted all these guys and have a real nose for talent, exactly how can you make the statement that the Twins are passing on talent? And with their exceptional track record on spending, your credibility on the "going cheap" stuff is zero. Maybe less.