The international signings have begun, with the first salvo reported by the New York Mets. According to Baseball Prospectus the Mets have signed Juan Urbina to a bonus of over $1 million. Juan Urbina is the son of Ugueth Urbina who has a fastball that sits at 88-89 but reaches 91. As he matures and gets stronger that fastball should increase in velocity. He also has a curveball that is advanced for his age per Baseball America.
For those of you who may not remember, Ugueth had his major league baseball career interrupted because of an incident in the Dominican Republic. In 2007 he began serving a 14 year old jail sentence when he attacked five workers on his farm with a machete and poured gasoline on them. He contended that the workers were trying to blackmail him for money with these false allegations. By the time he gets out of prison his son should have his major league future mapped.
The other New York team, the Yankees, have signed Gary Sanchez, a catcher out of the Dominican Republic. His signing bonus is expected to reach $3 million. He shows plenty of offensive and defensive tools, but with all 16 year olds those tools need lots of refinement before he can call himself major league ready. He has a body that should stay away from the fast food establishments of the United States if he waits to keep has athleticism intact. Baseball America also reports that his batting practice performances are much more impressive than his swings against live pitching. But over time, those issues can be worked out.
The Yankees also signed lesser prospects RHP Chris Cabrera for $400,000 and shortstop Damian Arrendondo for $850,000.
The Brewers became players in the International fold by signing rightfielder Jose Pena for $400,000. He is a raw player that according to Baseball America oozes power.
Baseball America provided a list of the top 25 prospects from Latin America who will be part of the July 2 signing period and they are listed below:
1. Miguel Sano, SS, Dominican Republic
2. Wagner Mateo, CF, Dominican Republic
3. Gary Sanchez, C, Dominican Republic
4. Guillermo Pimentel, CF, Dominican Republic
5. Jose Vincio, SS, Dominican Republic
6. Luis Sardinas, SS, Venezuela
7. Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, Nicaragua
8. Juan Urbina, LHP, Venezuela
9. Daniel Sanchez, RHP, Venezuela
10. Jose Pena, RF, Dominican Republic
11. Edgar Ferreira, LHP, Dominican Republic
12. Jochi Ogando, RHP, Dominican Republic
13. Jacob Beltre, C, Dominican Republic
14. Victor Payano, LHP, Dominican Republic
15. Jurickson Profar, RHP/SS, Curacao
16. Luis Jolly, CF, Dominican Republic
17. Johendi Jiminian, RHP, Dominican Republic
18. Santo Aybar, SS, Dominican Republic
19. Leonardo Perdomo, RHP, Dominican Republic
20. Rosel Herrera, SS, Dominican Republic
21. Wilfredo Solano, SS, Venezuela
22. Santiago Nesi, C, Venezuela
23. Jorge Polanco, SS, Dominican Republic
24. Jairo Kelly, SS, Dominican Republic
25. Humberto Valor, SS, Venezuela
The one concern teams have to watch out for is the true ages of these players. The Cleveland Indians got some bad news when one of their top 2007 signings, shortstop Jose Osoria is actually Wally Bryan and he is 20 years old and not 17. The Indians had signed him for $575,000. He may have some difficulty getting a visa to play in the United States. There are reportedly 70 players in the Dominican under investigation for lying about their age.
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Well as much as this pickup is a positive, it doesn’t help our current state and it makes you wonder what Management is really thinking. It would be nice for the Mets to get someone who can make a difference, but if Delgado is going to be back in the beginning of August such as SportsCenter suggested today then maybe signing someone isn’t a great idea. Plus, no Met fan can actually expect someone to get signed with the lack of money, and brains that are running this organization.
I think the weirdest thing of all is how Mets fans are reacting to the Mets downfall and terrible playing. I can clearly remember back in the day in the 90’s when the Mets were close to one of the worst teams in the game, but we still loved them, and we didn’t lose our cool over that fact. I know that we should be expecting more of our team with all the exceptional talent, but the Mets need to expect more of themselves as a team first.
I would have like to sign Sano or Sanchez, but we still got a top 10 prospect.
Watch out for Aroldis Chapman, this cuban kid who is said to be a lefty version of Strasburg, they were talking about him on Baseball Tonight, and they said the Mets, Yanks, and BoSox are going to be possible suitors.
I read about him too. He threw a 102 fastball in the WBC. Not sure about his other stuff though. He may need some time in AA/AAA but he’s still only 21(we think). Not sure how much we’d offer this Winter.
Unfortunately, they’re saying if he were to become a free agent, the Yankees would be the frontrunners
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There is a gentleman in Curacao who lives by the sea. His eyes are clear as the ocean waters and, like the sea, he is strong-willed. his name is Bert Knubben.(64) He is on the beach of the BREEZES Holiday Resort and a artisan of the exclusive “kings” black coral jewellery which he obstinately insist must be spelled black “koral”. A solid touch, since the initials are his own and in Curacao, he is similar with this semiprecious stone which he painstakingly works in his small store, the KORALART gallery, together with his good-looking wife Fennie, on the palm sands of the Breezes Holiday Resort.