Law: Braves Lock Up Top International 2016 FA Kevin Maitan

[chop2chip]

This is huge news and I can't believe no one has reported anything about this yet. I assume its because making agreements this far ahead of the deadline is prohibited

From Eric Longerhagen's ESPN Insider Piece concerning this year's FA class:

The huge name for next year's J2 class is Venezuelan SS Kevin Maitan, a monstrous teenager with an elite body, advanced feel to hit and big-time power projection. He has been on the radar for international scouts for years and is being compared to some generational talents. A scout I talked to whose team has no prayer of signing Maitan said his club has an overall 70 grade on him, the sort of grade that players near the apex of top 100 prospects lists only sometimes garner. And three sources have told ESPN colleague Keith Law that the Atlanta Braves have already locked up Maitan for $4.25 million in advance of the July 2, 2016, signing period. As Keith noted, such deals are "technically prohibited but are de rigueur in that market."

This seems to jive with the industry consensus that the Braves are going to blow past their pool limit next year. If this ends up working out, Hart and Co. deserve a lot of praise for their complete revamp of the organization.

[cajunrevenge]

4.25 million is really low for a generational talent. Maybe we have been sending him Christmas cards since he was 5 and now he is doing us a solid.

[chop2chip]

4.25 million is really low for a generational talent. Maybe we have been sending him Christmas cards since he was 5 and now he is doing us a solid.

All the big dogs are prohibited from spending over $300K on a single prospect which helps keep the bidding lower than it would normally be. Although, $4.25M would have been the highest signing bonus for a 15/16 year old in this year's class. The Braves are definitely paying a premium.

[zbhargrove]

Sounds like this guy has much more potential than Moncada... still lots can go wrong with a 15/16 year old. Let's hope he stays healthy and lives up to even a fraction of the Miggy comparisons we've heard.

[Jay212033]

I said this in the IFA thread and almost got my head chewed off but I told everyone the Braves already had an agreement in place with him. This is HUGE!!!!!

[thethe]

Haha, if this was true then all the BS talk about taking too much pitching in the draft makes complete sense.

Well done front office powerhouse!

[Tapate50]

What the doctor ordered if true




And yes , ITS HUGE!

[Julio3000]

What the doctor ordered if true




And yes , ITS HUGE!

^^^^
Yeah.

[nsacpi]

We are accumulating some power hitters at the lower levels--Davidson, Yepez, Riley and this kid if true. Of course, they are all some distance from the majors. Not that having power hitters per se is a plus or minus. It is a question of having good hitters and they come in all sorts of varieties.

[auyushu]

A scout I talked to whose team has no prayer of signing Maitan said his club has an overall 70 grade on him,

Very nice. Hopefully it's true that we have hime locked up and it stays that way till this time next year.

[KB21]

We are accumulating some power hitters at the lower levels--Davidson, Yepez, Riley and this kid if true. Of course, they are all some distance from the majors. Not that having power hitters per se is a plus or minus. It is a question of having good hitters and they come in all sorts of varieties.

I think a big key is developing power hitters that do not strike out a ton. Dustin Peterson is another one in the developmental stages of his career. Tanner Murphy as well.

[thewupk]

Just to be clear. If this is true it won't be announced until a year from now, right?

[nsacpi]

I think a big key is developing power hitters that do not strike out a ton. Dustin Peterson is another one in the developmental stages of his career. Tanner Murphy as well.

The key is being a good hitter. There are some good hitters with high strikeout rates. Justin Upton for example.

[clvclv]

Just to be clear. If this is true it won't be announced until a year from now, right?

Correct.

[Tapate50]

I’ve previously sung the praises of 2016 Venezuelan SS Kevin Maitan, as scouts told me he was the best prospect in some time, obvious even when he 14 years old or even younger. He’s a Miguel Cabrera-type talent with size, power and speed that likely moves down the defensive spectrum in the coming years, but one scout said the offensive impact could be like Juan Gonzalez.

- Kiley McDaniel blurb on Maitan

[gilesfan]

Awesome signing. Lets hope he's not actually 22 years old.

[gilesfan]

I think a big key is developing power hitters that do not strike out a ton. Dustin Peterson is another one in the developmental stages of his career. Tanner Murphy as well.

I wouldn't take an inferior hitter just because they strike out less by any means.

[thethe]

Awesome signing. Lets hope he's not actually 22 years old.

Always find a way.

[NinersSBChamps]

This means the kid has a year to change his mind. There is no guarantee he ever actually signs or plays for the Braves. So relax.

[Jay212033]

This means the kid has a year to change his mind. There is no guarantee he ever actually signs or plays for the Braves. So relax.

I knew negative Nancy would come out smh!