July 2nd IFA Signing Thread

[GD]

Times have been tense, lots of arguing going on around here. And the trolls are out full force. I have also taken over post count lead

 

Really? Metallijay and Wilnercibia are gone, which is nice.

 

Not for long motherf***er

 

(actually I probably won't be spamming again lol)

[Caper]

Thank you sir. Good to be back. I've missed the Kalfus thread.

 

Why did you leave?

[theblujay]

Oh no Gordie is back

[GD]

Why did you leave?

 

Haven't I said that like 4 times

 

They are back on different accounts

 

OH YAY

 

Oh no Gordie is back

 

Guess who's back, back again

Gordie's back, tell a friend

Guess who's back, guess who's back?

Guess who's back, guess who's back?

Guess who's back, guess who's back?

Guess who's back?

[theblujay]

Haven't I said that like 4 times

 

 

 

OH YAY

 

 

 

Guess who's back, back again

Gordie's back, tell a friend

Guess who's back, guess who's back?

Guess who's back, guess who's back?

Guess who's back, guess who's back?

Guess who's back?

 

How do you have 5k posts after being gone for a month+

[ace3113]

Hey welcome back GD.

 

Now, given the unexpected and cheap signing of Lizardo, I thought it might be worthwhile to consider who might still be left to sign. I think we can give out 50-100k bonuses without counting against the pool. I'm not sure on the exact number, but it's akin to the draft where we can give out 100k to anyone without it counting against the cap.

 

As far as I know the following have not yet signed or don't have a deal in place with anyone (sans Obispo Aybar):

 

Rene Pinto, C, 5'10" 160lbs, R/R, Venezuela

Trainer: Jaime Torres

Age: 16.8 years

 

Prototypical catcher's build, short compact, very good present strength. Solid athlete with average 60 time (7.20) for the position. Excellent receiving skills and very strong arm (82mph), his 1.95 pop time is well above average for his age. Catching fundamentals are advanced. He looks like he's had excellent instruction. Good baseball bloodlines. Father Rene Sr. (also a right-handed hitting catcher), played 7 years in the Yankees system in the early 90s hitting .277/.324/.439 for his minor league career. Pinto's trainer, Jaime Torres, played with his father with New York's Double-A affiliate. Rene Jr. has much more power at the plate than his father, but employs a deep hand load. Has the tools and pedigree to be a top-level defensive catcher, and the power bat is a bonus.

Yimmelvyn Alonzo, SS, 6'1" 185lbs, R/R, Dominican Republic

Trainer: Edwin Sabater

Age: 16.3 years

 

A potential power hitting shortstop, Alonzo has a medium athletic build with present strength. He hits from an open stance, with a leg lift trigger and a deep load. Alonzo is an aggressive hitter with good batspeed. He swings hard and can put a charge into the ball. Swing can get long at times, but he has plus raw power right now. A 6.94 runner, his arm and range may profile better at second base, especially as he fills out more. If he can stick at short he has all-star potential with the bat, at second he's average to slightly above average. Went 1 for 3 with 1 rbi and a strikeout in the APL.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eG9aqiX_Cc

Luis Torrealba, C, 6'0" 205lbs, L/R, Venezuela

Trainer: Ciro Barrios

Age: 16.9 years

 

Similar physical profile to 2012 catching prospect Deivi Grullon (Phillies), Torrealba has a thick mature build with plenty of present strength. Well regarded for his contact ability and plus raw power for a catcher, his defense must improve if he is to stay at the position long term. Torrealba is an above average runner (7.00) for a backstop, however he's not overly quick behind the plate and his footwork is considered poor. Defensively, his arm is his best tool, but it comes off as average in games due to a slow release, recording sub par pop times of 2.10 at the recent MLB Showcase. Lefty-hitting catchers with usable power are always a valuable commodity.

Jeramias Portorreal, OF, 6'2" 180lbs, L/L, Dominican Republic

Trainer: Banana

Age: 15.10 years

 

The youngest player in the 2013 international free agent class, Portorreal has pretty swing mechanics from the left side and an advanced feel for hitting. One of the best left handed approaches among the young Dominican players available for July. Fast whippy swing and good weight transfer. Looks like he could develop into a very good all-around hitter down the road with the potential to hit for power as well as average. He looks to be a future left fielder or first baseman defensively so his bat will have to carry.

 

[ace3113]

Ibid...

 

felix osorio, 3b/of, 6'3" 190lbs, r/r, domincan republic

trainer: Jose guerrero

age: 16.7 years

 

a wiry projectable athete with long loose limbs. Big time power projection, and it's easy power. Simple approach at the plate. Stays balanced. Leg lift trigger. Gets good extension on swing. Ball explodes off contact. Not a great athlete a (7.33 runner) with a fringe average arm. Left field or first base profile. Power will be his calling card. Won the dpl power showcase in november hitting a total of 22 homeruns (9 in the wood bat round and 13 in the aluminum round.)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehpxwbbwrxs

andres sanchez, rhp, 6'5" 190lbs, venezuela

trainer: Occidental deportiva

age: 16.9 years

 

long slender build with lots of projection. Ideal pitchers build. Loose arm, but mechanics are inconsistent. Long arm circle in back with a slight hitch in his extended high three quarter delivery. Very raw. Still growing into body and learning his mechanics. Fastball only in the low to mid 80s right now but there's a lot more velocity to unlock there. Hard worker, willing to learn. High leg kick, with physical profile similar to pitchers orlando hernandez or jose contreras. Very much a work in progress but has the kind of frame and loose arm that scouts can dream on. Fastball appears pretty straight. Doesn't locate the pitch well to the arm side, better to the glove side. Slider lacks firmness.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-g2kwubwn4

[ace3113]

Ibid...

dayan perez olmo, of/mif, 5'11" 160lbs, s/r, dominican republic

trainer: Valentin monero

age: 16.7 years

 

smaller in size but a very strong. Quick twitch 5-tool athlete with plus-plus speed (6.55-60) and a centerfield profile. Arm strength is excellent. Flashes good bat speed. Displays some power right-handed, more of a slap hitter as a lefty. Top of the order type of hitter with gap pop. Was named co-mvp of the dpl all-star game after going 3 for 4, with 2 triples, and 3 rbi.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyzmec2s5y4

chakiro pina, lhp, 6'0" 175lbs, dominican republic

trainer: N/a

age: 16.3 years

 

pina has a young athletic build and a quick loose arm. Fastball has very nice natural cutting action at 83-85. Breaks a lot of bats with the movement on that pitch. Pina also gets hard spin and big depth on an upper-60s curveball, so there is no doubt about his ability to spin the ball.

edward pena, of, 6'1" 200lbs, l/r, dominican republic

trainer: Chiqui mejia

age: 16.9 years

 

an energetic and enthusiastic player who has fun on the field, pena has a sweet swing and tons of raw power though his approach can sometimes be inconsistent. Shows in-game power right now. Swing reminiscent of curtis granderson's complete with swing-and-miss tendencies. Other tools don't really stand out much. Bat and power will have to carry. The ball really carries well when he squares it up. Very strong accurate throwing arm.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztvalbrrf_i

[ace3113]

Fin...

 

alfredo oropeza, rhp, 6'1" 180lbs, venezuela

trainer: Carlos guillen

age: 16.7 years

 

nice slender projectable build. Medium frame. Some effort to delivery. Very good athlete. Played in the venezuelan youth championship called the bbc. Hit as well as pitched. Went 2 for 2 with 1 run, 2 rbi from the plate. Was better from the mound: 3ip 2h 0bb 3so 0.00era.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwn2kr9z6wg

[GD]

How do you have 5k posts after being gone for a month+

 

I need help

 

Hey welcome back GD.

____

 

As far as I know the following have not yet signed or don't have a deal in place with anyone (sans Obispo Aybar):

 

Thank you sir! Have missed your prospect info.

 

Wait, someone has a deal in place with Obispo Aybar? (Who's actually Cecilio Aybar, apparently)

[ace3113]

I need help

 

 

 

Thank you sir! Have missed your prospect info.

 

Wait, someone has a deal in place with Obispo Aybar? (Who's actually Cecilio Aybar, apparently)

 

No, I just meant I was not including him on the list since he can't sign for a year due to suspension, though he fit the two criteria I'd used for the list.

[flafson]

I could be wrong but i think we can give 250k bonus without counting towards the pool.

[imsorry4beatinU]

Ace, any news on those unknown guys we signed?

[ace3113]

Ace, any news on those unknown guys we signed?

 

Nothing new beyond the tweeted scouting report I posted a while back, sorry.

[imsorry4beatinU]

Nothing new beyond the tweeted scouting report I posted a while back, sorry.

 

damn, its all good. They are probably long long shots

[ace3113]

Old news but just confirmed.

Dominican third baseman Rafael Devers, the No. 3 international prospect, officially signed his contract today with the Red Sox that includes a $1.5 million signing bonus.

 

Devers, 16, is the most advanced lefthanded hitter on the international market. At 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, he has a compact swing and good bat speed. Devers played in the International Prospect League and trains with Javier Rodriguez and Rudy Santin.

 

Baseball America subscribers can access a complete scouting report on Devers, along with reports on more of the top international prospects on the market.

 

Since the 2013-14 signing period opened on July 2, the Red Sox have also signed Venezuelan lefthanders Emmanuel DeJesus and Jhonathan Diaz along with Dominican outfielder Yohan Aybar.

Dominican third baseman Luis Encarnacion became eligible to sign when he turned 16 at midnight. The Phillies struck quickly, signing Encarnacion for $1 million.

 

Enarnacion, the No. 4 international prospect for July 2, is one of the top hitters in Latin America. At 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, Enarnacion has a track record of hitting in games with plus raw power from the right side. His value is entirely in his offense, as he projects to move to left field or first base. Encarnacion trains with Juan Herrera, who is known as “Mon,” and plays in the International Prospect League.

 

Pirates got one of the few unsigned top 50 guys left.

Dominican outfielder Jeremias Portorreal, who became eligible to sign when he turned 16 on Wednesday, has signed with the Pirates for $375,000.

 

Scouts highest on Portorreal saw him as an advanced lefthanded hitter with projectable power from his 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame. He projects best either in left field or at first base. Portorreal trains with Raul Valera, who is known as “Banana,” and plays in the Dominican Prospect League.

 

Since the 2013-14 signing period opened on July 2, the Pirates have also signed Dominican shortstop Adrian Valerio for $400,000 and Dominican outfielder Edinson Lantigua for $275,000. Both players are also 16. Pirates Prospects first reported Portorreal’s signing.

[GD]

Cubs officially sign Jen-Ho Tseng.

[ace3113]

Does Lizardo start next year in DSL or GCL?

 

Probably DSL. He's somewhat raw at the plate. Speaking of which, at what point do we convert Jesus Gonzalez to the mound? The guy was a 1.2mm bonus baby a couple of years ago, but he's not doing a thing with the bat, and he supposedly has a cannon for an arm in the outfield.

[Atothe]

Probably DSL. He's somewhat raw at the plate. Speaking of which, at what point do we convert Jesus Gonzalez to the mound? The guy was a 1.2mm bonus baby a couple of years ago, but he's not doing a thing with the bat, and he supposedly has a cannon for an arm in the outfield.

 

he's hurt, how is he supposed to do something with the bat?

[ace3113]

Just read about this player and he sounds somewhat intriguing:

 

Japhet Amador

Position: 1B

Height/Weight: 6-4 220lbs

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Age: 26

League: Mexican

(2013) 400ab .368/.419/.693 36hr 121rbi 22(2b) 38bb 59so

 

Here's what Jason Parks from BP had to say about him though:

*He is extremely strong, with a angled swing that allows him to drive the ball and utilized that strength. I mean, seriously, this guy is strong.

*Lacks athleticism, and his ability to punish Mexican League pitching hides his weaknesses at the plate. Most arms in that league depend on junk and location, rather than elite velocity and power. Amador has good hand speed, but he also has some mechanical hitches in his swing that allow him to get the jump on the mid 80s FBs and spike CBs, but would prove problematic against superior pitching.

*I had his hit tool graded in the 40/45 range on the 20/80 scale.

*On defense, he's a natural DH. His footwork at 1B is below-average and his body isnt great. He doesn't project to have a DH bat at the major league level, so his value is extremely limited.

*There is also the task of buying him out of his contract with Los Diablos Rojos. It's very complicated and very expensive, and I believe Boston tried to acquire him a few years ago and failed to reach a deal with his parent club.

[GD]

Sounds pretty meh.

[ace3113]

Looks like the Astros acquired him. It's a worthwhile gamble for the cost I think, and Jeff Luhnow has a good eye for talent. Cecil Fielder part deux?

 

The Astros will sign first baseman Japhet Amador and outfielder Leonardo Heras from Diablos Rojos in the Mexican League, according to a team press release. The 26-year-old Amador, who is listed at 6'4" and 315 pounds, was hitting .368/.419/.693 with 36 home runs in 449 plate appearances. Heras, 23, was hitting .310/.398/.519. The amount of their bonuses is unclear.

 

Edited August 30, 2013 by ace3113

[GD]

I wanna see the bonus. A 45 hit tool ain't great.

[ace3113]

I wanna see the bonus. A 45 hit tool ain't great.

 

That was just BP's opinion though. The report is also something like 3 years old. We won't really know till we see him in action state side. They didn't pay very much for him from what I understand and the Mexican league is supposed to about on level with High A or Double A.

[GD]

I thought Mexican was somewhere in between AA and AAA. I think fangraphs has it listed as AAA on leaderboards.

[imsorry4beatinU]

From all the reports I've heard. It's equivalent to triple A.

[ace3113]

Another reason why Jon Daniels and Theo Epstein are elite baseball executives and AA is...well...not. They're always looking for loopholes to exploit. Trying to be smarter than everyone else, and succeeding more often than not.

 

From today's BA article.

 

In essence, the Cubs and the Rangers were able to sign what they evaluated as two years’ worth of talent in one and can somewhat skirt the penalties by trading money they won’t be able to use next summer. More teams may try to exploit that loophole until an international draft closes it.

 

I've been advocating this strategy for some time, particularly on the IFA market where the restrictions and penalties are not so punitive. Basically you sign as many players as you want or can afford and sit out one IFA year. You can actually get more quantity and quality of talent than you could by just abiding by the rules year after year. Also, an interesting point brought up by BA is that apparently you don't lose your bonus pool money for the next year by going over the cap, you're just restricted in how you spend it, so you can conceivably trade whatever excess you're not allowed to spend for something useful like the Astros did in getting prospect Ronny Torres from the Cubs.

[z3r0s]

Another reason why Jon Daniels and Theo Epstein are very good baseball executives and AA is...well...not. They're always looking for loopholes to exploit. Trying to be smarter than everyone else, and succeeding more often than not.

 

From today's BA article.

 

In essence, the Cubs and the Rangers were able to sign what they evaluated as two years’ worth of talent in one and can somewhat skirt the penalties by trading money they won’t be able to use next summer. More teams may try to exploit that loophole until an international draft closes it.[/QUOTE]

 

I've been advocating this strategy for some time, particularly on the IFA market where the restrictions and penalties are not so punitive. Basically you sign as many players as you want or can afford and sit out one IFA year. You can actually get more quantity and quality of talent than you could by just abiding by the rules year after year. Also, an interesting point brought up by BA is that apparently you don't lose your bonus pool money for the next year by going over the cap, you're just restricted in how you spend it, so you can conceivably trade whatever excess you're not allowed to spend for something useful like the Astros did in getting prospect Ronny Torres from the Cubs.

 

Hmm I never thought about the trading angle... good call by BA

[ace3113]

Here's the entire article

Cubs, Rangers Leave Spending Limits Behind

 

There are few things less appealing to teams than exceeding their allocated draft bonus pool by more than 5 percent. Helping Alex Rodriguez with his Biogenesis appeal is one, but it’s a short list.

 

Blowing past their international bonus pools? The Cubs and Rangers had no problem doing that this summer.

 

Chicago entered the July 2 signing period with the second-highest international pool ($4,557,200) and acquired an additional $963,100 in bonus money via trades. That still didn’t come close to matching the $7,625,000 the Cubs shelled out for their five biggest international signings.

 

They landed Baseball America’s two highest-rated international players, athletic Dominican outfielder Eloy Jimenez for $2.8 million and solid all-around Venezuelan shortstop Gleyber Torres for $1.7 million. They paid $1.625 million to Taiwanese righthander Jen-Ho Tseng, who has flashed three plus pitches. They also gave $850,000 to 6-foot-7 Dominican righthander Jefferson Mejia, who already reaches 93 mph, and $650,000 to projectable Colombian righty Erling Moreno.

 

Texas had one of the smallest international pools at $1,942,700—which nearly matched the $1.8 million it gave slugging Dominican outfielder Jose Almonte. The Rangers also handed out seven-figure bonuses to offensive-minded Venezuelan shortstop Yeyson Yrizzari ($1.35 million) and Dominican righthander Marcos Diplan ($1.3 million), who’s small but has arm strength and advanced feel. They also grabbed Dominican shortstop Michael DeLeon, a line-drive machine, for $550,000.

 

Draft Penalties Hurt More

 

In the draft, if a team outspends its bonus pool by more than 5 percent, it loses future picks (in addition to paying a tax on the overage). From 5 up to 10 percent results in the forfeiture of a first-rounder; from 10 up to 15 percent costs a first- and a second-rounder; and 15 percent or more makes two first-rounders disappear. In two years under those rules, no club has been willing to give up draft choices and I have yet to talk to an executive that thinks a team ever will.

 

The penalties for international overspending are far less onerous. Beyond a tax on the overage, doing so from 5 up to 10 percent means that a club can sign just one player for more than $500,000 in the next international period; from 10 up to 15 percent prevents it from paying anyone more than $500,000; and 15 percent or more drops the maximum to $250,000.

 

In the draft, picks surrendered by a team get reassigned to another club. But in the international market, clubs still retain all of their bonus money even if they’re limited in what they can pay any individual.

 

The Cubs may not be able to sign an international player for more than $250,000 next summer, but they’ll have a bonus pool of more than $4 million to play with. They’ll be able to trade any of their international bonus slots, with their first one likely worth more than $2 million.

 

“The way we looked at the landscape, the players we went after this year and looking at the talent class for next year made it worth it,” said Jason McLeod, Chicago’s senior vice president for scouting and player development. “We felt like putting the pedal to medal and going after it this year was worth it. We acquired as much impact upside talent as soon as we could, and we felt that was the way to go.

 

“I do think we certainly would have looked at it differently if we were talking about losing picks.”

 

Changes On The Way?

 

Losing picks may become a reality in the near future. Though talk of an international draft has been tabled for 2014, it may come into play the following summer. Once baseball institutes an international draft, the penalties for overspending will mirror those of the amateur draft.

 

As McLeod alluded, the Cubs would have approached international signings differently had they risked losing draft picks. Chicago did pick up two bonus slots from the Orioles as part of a trade package for Scott Feldman and Steve Clevenger, and it dealt second-base prospect Ronald Torreyes straight up to the Astros for two more, but it didn’t have any great incentive to try to get under the 5-percent threshold.

 

If MLB and the Players Association agree on an international draft for 2015, the Cubs’ and Rangers’ excess 2014 money will be a valuable commodity. Even without an international draft, they should find suitors. Chicago’s top slot could be worth more than the total international pool of 10 or more teams.

 

In essence, the Cubs and the Rangers were able to sign what they evaluated as two years’ worth of talent in one and can somewhat skirt the penalties by trading money they won’t be able to use next summer. More teams may try to exploit that loophole until an international draft closes it.

[ace3113]

From Baseball America:

MLB Slows Down Process For Cuban Signings

 

Even after Cuban players have met the United States government’s requirements to sign, Major League Baseball has put into place its own rule that can delay them from beginning their baseball careers.

 

Due to the U.S. government’s sanctions against Cuba, for a Cuban player to sign with an MLB team he must be defined as an “unblocked national” with the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control in order to work for a U.S. company. One way for a player to become unblocked (and the minimum that the government requires) is to present two permanent residency documents from another country, such as Mexico or the Dominican Republic, to a prospective employer.

 

As of last summer, MLB told teams they could not sign any Cuban player until he had either been issued an unblocking license from OFAC or produced at least two government documents showing permanent residence in another country. Last June, several notable players, including Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig and Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler, signed after presenting permanent residency documents (Puig from Mexico, Soler from Haiti) without going through OFAC.

 

However, at some point before the end of 2012, MLB stiffened its requirements for Cuban players, telling teams they are not allowed to sign a Cuban national until the player has been issued a specific license from OFAC. The agency’s general licensing of an unblocked national is not a written document and does not require the player to submit anything to OFAC. The specific license is a document from OFAC to an individual in response to a written application.

 

What MLB is asking for from Cuban players goes beyond the minimum government requirement and will have the effect of slowing down their signing process, with some having to wait six months to get a license.

 

“OFAC’s regulations contain a general license authorizing persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to engage in most transactions with an individual national of Cuba who has taken up permanent residence outside of Cuba,” said Jeff Braunger, the program manager at OFAC. “If the conditions of the general license are met, no further authorization from OFAC is required for an MLB team to sign the individual.”

 

No law has changed since June 2012, when Puig and Soler signed; MLB has simply stiffened what it requires. MLB has not responded to multiple requests for comment.

 

“No further authorization is required from OFAC if an individual or entity falls within the scope of the general license provision and complies with all requirements,” Braunger said. “When a proposed transaction is not covered by a general license provision, a specific license may be considered in the alternative, which requires the submission of an application to OFAC and is considered on a case-by-case basis.”

 

Several Cuban signings from last summer may have precipitated the change. Puig and Soler both signed days before July 2 last year, just beating the buzzer before the $2.9 million bonus pools for international signings went into place. Had MLB forced them to go through OFAC, they almost certainly wouldn’t have been able to sign before then and would have been subject to the bonus pools.

 

MLB may have raised concerns that Puig became a permanent Mexican citizen the same month he arrived in Mexico, while Soler and three other players represented by Praver Shapiro Sports Management—Cubs righthander Armando Rivero, Yankees lefthander Omar Luis and Orioles outfielder Henry Urrutia—signed using permanent Haitian residency papers despite living and working out in the Dominican Republic.

 

While Soler quickly received his visa and within weeks was playing in the Rookie-level Arizona League, Luis, Rivero and Urrutia were stuck in Haiti for nearly eight months due to visa issues.

 

The government’s unblocking process clearly was not created with baseball players in mind. The overarching purpose is to make sure Cubans working for U.S. companies aren’t sending money back to Cuba or funneling it back to the Cuban government. Baseball players defect from Cuba, making themselves outcasts there, so their intention is never to return to the country.

 

The easiest way for a Cuban player to become an unblocked national would be to come directly to the United States, but then the player would be subject to the draft. For players like Puig, Soler or Jose Abreu, that would cost them and their handlers significant money. So they want to avoid the draft, and at the same time they want to sign as quickly as possible. Every day the player doesn’t get signed creates more expenses for his handlers.

 

The process also creates incentive for fraud to expedite the process. It’s not difficult to acquire false passports or other documents in countries like Haiti or Mexico, no different than the way drug traffickers or arms dealers acquire fake identities.

 

While MLB investigates the ages and identities of Latin American amateur signings, the commissioner’s office doesn’t have the same incentive or ability to investigate residency documentation in countries like Haiti or Mexico, where documents are easy to manipulate. So the league is instead leaning on the federal government with its policy change. Getting caught submitting false residency documents to MLB would subject a player to being ineligible to sign for one year. Submitting false residency documents to the federal government would be a felony.

 

If MLB allowed Cuban players who are exempt from the international bonus pools—those age 23 or older with at least three seasons in Serie Nacional—to sign as free agents even if they established residency in the United States, that might simplify things, but there’s no indication that will happen.

 

So the policy change has caused a longer wait for Cuban players to be able to sign, although there appears to be a significant disparity in the wait time. Sources said that some players have received licenses in less than two months, while others have taken closer to six months. Agents who are able to quickly get their players unblocked can also use that as a selling point to acquire Cuban players when they leave Cuba, squeezing others out of the market.

 

“We are doing our best to quickly process license applications and it is our goal to respond in a timely manner,” Braunger said.

 

The increased waiting time could end up affecting Abreu, who figures to be one of the more attractive free agents this offseason once he becomes available to sign. It already seems to be delaying Cuban shortstop Alexander Guerrero, who is claiming permanent residency in Haiti. Had MLB’s old rules been in place, Guerrero likely would already be signed, and while reports from scouts on him are mixed, he might even be in a major league uniform. But if he doesn’t receive his permanent license in the next couple of weeks, that would likely will take him out of the picture for 2013.