July 2, 2018: International Signings

[SaskJaysFan_2]

I think Todd has a point. If Alford shits the bed in 2019 I don't think he fits into the Jays plans. Too many other outfielders that have a bit of promise.

 

For me, personally, I would much rather trade Pillar and throw Alford in there for the entire season. Take a chance. See what happens.

[John_Havok]

I think Todd has a point. If Alford shits the bed in 2019 I don't think he fits into the Jays plans. Too many other outfielders that have a bit of promise.

 

For me, personally, I would much rather trade Pillar and throw Alford in there for the entire season. Take a chance. See what happens.

 

Jays are gonna ditch Pillar, sign Harper and have Grichuk in CF. Book it

[Mikeleelop]

How did all this crap get posted in a July international signing thread?

[Krylian]

How did all this crap get posted in a July international signing thread?

 

As usual. Todd.

[Krylian]

The Marlins will apparently be holding a press conference on Monday to announce that they have signed the Mesa brothers

[Spanky99]

The Marlins will apparently be holding a press conference on Monday to announce that they have signed the Mesa brothers

 

Wow... didn't think they'd sign there.

[Orgfiller]

Wow... didn't think they'd sign there.

 

Well Miami reportedly had the highest amount of pool money (a little over $6 million it was reported) and they're two high profile Cuban players, I'd say it would be surprising if they didn't sign there.

[Spanky99]

Well Miami reportedly had the highest amount of pool money (a little over $6 million it was reported) and they're two high profile Cuban players, I'd say it would be surprising if they didn't sign there.

 

Yeah, that's true, they fit in with the teams timeline. Was thinking they were FA's for some reason. Brain-cramp!

 

Also... lol @ Baltimore.

[glory]

The Yelich trade could have been better (although still time for Brinson to turn into something), but Miami deserves props for getting out of the Stanton contract and then selling high on Ozuna. Now adding the Mesa’s. Could have been a lot worse.

[Abomination]

The Yelich trade could have been better (although still time for Brinson to turn into something), but Miami deserves props for getting out of the Stanton contract and then selling high on Ozuna. Now adding the Mesa’s. Could have been a lot worse.

 

I'm not even sure they did sell high on Ozuna. He had a rough first half after switching teams, but was back to 130 wRC+ in the second.

[Todd]

As of November 7 2018 the blue jays have signed 38 international free agents.

With 8 more months to go before this years period is over. Plenty of time to sign at least 12 to 15

more players to add a second dsl team.

[Krylian]

As of November 7 2018 the blue jays have signed 38 international free agents.

With 8 more months to go before this years period is over. Plenty of time to sign at least 12 to 15

more players to add a second dsl team.

 

Can you share the list of 38

[Todd]

Orelvis Martinez, ss, Dominican Republic

Javier D’Orazio, c, Venezuela

Amell Brazoban, of, Dominican Republic

Wilfrann Astudillo, ss, Venezuela

Gary David, c, Venezuela

Leonel Callez, ss, Venezuela

Jorman Gonzalez, rhp, Venezuela

Wilgenis Alvarado, lhp, Venezuela

Javier Perdomo, lhp, Venezuela

Michael Arias, ss, Dominican Republic

Juanfer Castro, rhp, Dominican Republic

Francisco Fajardo, utility, Dominican Republic

Jose Garcia, RHP, Dominican Republic

Gustavo Gutierrez, 2B, Venezuela

Pedro Guzman, RHP, Dominican Republic

Yeison Jimenez, OF, Dominican Republic

Abner King, OF, Dominican Republic

Yunior Lara, RHP, Dominican Republic

Juan Martinez, RHP, Dominican Republic

Soenni Martinez, LHP, Dominican Republic

Bejardi Meza, RHP, Nicaragua

Adrian Montero, infielder, Panama

Daniel Oliva, OF, Dominica Republic

Yaifer Perdomo, LHP, Venezuela

Juan Pizarro, OF, Colombia

Junior Ramos, C, Dominican Republic

Emmanuel Sanchez, SS, Dominican Republic

Julian Valdez, RHP, Dominican Republic

RHP Winder Garcia

LHP Alcindo Pontes

RHP Edgar Castro

RHP Joneivy Polonia

RHP Fernando Chacon

RHP Jose Quintana

LHP Argeny Ortiz

RHP Andres Garcia

CF Gabriel Martinez

LHP Marc Civit

[Laika]

Todd can you please rank these guys by talent, in your opinion, from 1 to 38? Thanks in advance.

[Brownie19]

Where the hell is Joneivy Polonia from Todd? you're slipping.

[Todd]

Joneivy Polonia is from Bonao, Dominican Republic

[Krylian]

Badler's writeup on the Jays 2018-2019 signing season is up on BA.

 

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2019-international-reviews-toronto-blue-jays

[Farm]

Could you please share?

[Ray]

Total 2018 signings: 41

 

The $5.25 million the Marlins paid for Cuban outfielder Victor Victor Mesa was the biggest bonus of the 2018-19 international signing period. Among the more traditional, 16-year-old international prospects who signed last year, the biggest bonus of 2018-19 went to Dominican shortstop Orelvis Martinez, who signed with the Blue Jays for $3.51 million. Martinez trained with Rudy Santin, whose program the previous year had Rays shortstop Wander Franco (the No. 1 international prospect for 2017), so the Blue Jays and other clubs were following Martinez from an early age.

 

Martinez isn't a Franco-level prospect (not many are), but he stood out early on for his ability to drive the ball with ease. There are moving parts to Martinez's swing, which starts with the bat wrapped behind his head and creates extra length to the barrel path, but he generates easy power with quick hands that he keeps inside the ball well. It's a calm swing without much effort, generating loft and power from the right-center gap over to his pull side that should be plus. Some scouts had reservations about Martinez's swing, but the Blue Jays were drawn to Martinez for his combination of power, game hitting ability and plate discipline, which he continued to show after signing in the Tricky League. Martinez has soft hands and a strong arm, so the Blue Jays will develop him as a shortstop. A slightly below-average runner, Martinez is 6-foot-1, 190 pounds and projects to add another 30-40 pounds, so with his physicality and range, a lot of scouts expect him to slide over to third base. Martinez is advanced enough that he will make his pro debut this year in one of Toronto's Rookie-level clubs in the United States.

 

Toronto's top Venezuelan signing last year was Gabriel Martinez, who signed when he turned 16 on July 24. After signing, Martinez even got some brief playing time with Zulia in the Venezuelan League, singling in his one at-bat of winter ball. Signed at 6-foot-2, 170 pounds, Martinez has added strength since then, drawing the Blue Jays' attention for his righthanded swing and athleticism. He loads up with a leg kick and has a moving parts swing that relies on being on time with his sequencing with an all-fields approach. He's a 50-55 runner who shows solid defensive instincts in center field, though given his physical projection, he probably ends up in a corner. His uncle, Alirio Ledezma, is a Blue Jays scout in Venezuela. Martinez trained with Hirbert Pirlea. Video of Martinez is below.

 

The Blue Jays signed Dominican center fielder Amell Brazoban, who trained with Niche, for $200,000 in July. Brazoban, 17, has raw tools that match up well with players signed for bigger bonuses, though his game skills aren't as advanced. He's an athletic 6-foot-2, 170 pounds with plus speed, plus arm strength and the bat speed and physical projection to develop plus raw power in the future from the right side. Brazoban doesn't have as much baseball experience as some of his peers, so there's still some crudeness to his hitting and defensive instincts that will need more time to develop.

 

Javier D'Orzario is a 17-year-old Venezuelan catcher the Blue Jays signed from Alexi Quiroz on July 2. He has a lean build (6-foot-1, 170 pounds) that's starting to fill out and a lot of intangibles that scouts and managers love to have in a catcher. He's a smart player who has picked up English quickly, projecting to stick behind the plate with potentially average defense and a solid-average arm. He has a simple swing from the right side with a line-drive approach and doubles power.

 

While the Blue Jays put the majority of their bonus pool money into Orelvis Martinez, they have a few lower-dollar pitchers who could be interesting sleepers. One is Juanfer Castro, a 17-year-old righthander from the Dominican Republic who signed for $35,000 in July. He's 6-foot-1 with a good delivery and a fastball that reached 91 mph when he signed. More recently he's reached the mid-90s and could keep adding more velocity.

 

Righthander Fernando Chacon, a 17-year-old signed out of Venezuela in October, is an aggressive strike-thrower who has been up to 91 mph with starter traits between his delivery, feel for his offspeed stuff (a curveball and a changeup) and pitchability.

 

Andres Garcia is a Dominican righthander who signed for $40,000 the day after he turned 16 last year in July. He has a smaller frame (5-foot-10, 165 pounds) but is athletic with a fastball that's reached 91 mph and good spin on his curveball.

[Krylian]

Edited March 28, 2019 by Krylian

[Orgfiller]

 

Just post the tweet number inside [ tweet ] [ /tweet] tags. Like so.

[Slade]

As expected the $1.5 Million bonus money we picked up is for the current signing period not for the upcoming J2.

[TheHurl]

Yolbert Sanchez is the lone big name that I can think of in the 2018 International pool. Baltimore still has quite a bit left...as do a lot of teams (I wish there was a tracking page somewhere)

[Krylian]

Yolbert Sanchez is the lone big name that I can think of in the 2018 International pool. Baltimore still has quite a bit left...as do a lot of teams (I wish there was a tracking page somewhere)

 

Ya. That's one thing that's really lacking. Tons of signings and only a few of them disclose the actual amount. Correct me if I'm wrong but any signing under $10K doesn't count towards the bonus pool?

[P2F]

I wonder if this would be beneficial to track at the Radio Scouts blog. I don't know how viable this idea is, as a lot of signings and bonuses go unreported, but it might be worth trialing.

[TheHurl]

I wonder if this would be beneficial to track at the Radio Scouts blog. I don't know how viable this idea is, as a lot of signings and bonuses go unreported, but it might be worth trialing.

 

Having 1 thing that no one else does is how a few sites got their start. I knew I would never finish my data on option years so I sent what I had to Roster Resource and Churchill ran with it. That was their first real separator from other sites. I saw a Yankees prospect site tracking the Yankees money remaining accurately and in a nice format. I will try and find for you.

[Spanky99]

Yeah, that would be a nice perk, I always wonder where MLBTR get their rough estimates, likely rumours/word from team execs or beat writers, I'd imagine.

[Laika]

Having 1 thing that no one else does is how a few sites got their start. I knew I would never finish my data on option years so I sent what I had to Roster Resource and Churchill ran with it. That was their first real separator from other sites. I saw a Yankees prospect site tracking the Yankees money remaining accurately and in a nice format. I will try and find for you.

 

Did you just take credit for boosting Roster Resource to fame?

 

I think RR has plans to monetize and seriously neuter the free version, which f***ing blows.

[Spanky99]

Did you just take credit for boosting Roster Resource to fame?

 

I think RR has plans to monetize and seriously neuter the free version, which f***ing blows.

 

Where'd you hear/read that, that would suck donkey balls?

[P2F]

Where'd you hear/read that, that would suck donkey balls?

 

Read it and weep. The new design is pretty awful comparatively.