International News, Rumor and Signing Thread

atl717 said:
It said that Lazarito is signing next week. I don't see how we could sign him and Maitan since they are in different cycles.
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Eh, that's what people in the industry currently think will happen. It's not guaranteed. The Padres were also rumored to be trying to convince him to wait until July 2nd to sign. And it's not as farfetched as some might think; you'd imagine the only real players left for him in this signing period would be the Dodgers or the Cubs. If he signed with them, he won't be nearly as valuable in their organizations because of the position player depth they already have, and he could view that as a reason to wait.
 
praeceps93 said:
Eh, that's what people in the industry currently think will happen. It's not guaranteed. The Padres were also rumored to be trying to convince him to wait until July 2nd to sign. And it's not as farfetched as some might think; you'd imagine the only real players left for him in this signing period would be the Dodgers or the Cubs. If he signed with them, he won't be nearly as valuable in their organizations because of the position player depth they already have, and he could view that as a reason to wait.
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I doubt he's going to base too much of his decision on organizational depth. If the Dodgers or Cubs decide to make him a priority, then he probably signs now for a boatload of cash.
 
bravesfanMatt said:
he is not eligible to sign yet. that is the difference. We would have to agree with Lazarito to PREVENT him from signing with another team until July.
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That would seemingly make it more frowned upon, if you ask me. Any team is free to negotiate with Lazarito per MLB rules, so while it'd be skirting the rules a bit, it wouldn't be nearly as against the rules as the handshake deal we have with Maitan that doesn't appear to be blocked.
 
mqt said:
I doubt he's going to base too much of his decision on organizational depth. If the Dodgers or Cubs decide to make him a priority, then he probably signs now for a boatload of cash.
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Well yeah, money comes first. But if his recent workout soured them on him, at least enough so we could be a presence in a bidding war, that could be a factor. Obviously the kid wants to be famous; you don't just make a trademark out of a nickname if you don't want that. Then you could think "hell, I'd be the 5th best outfield/1B/whatever prospect they have" or "I'm one of the final pieces of their rebuild, I'm a big deal." He's 16 and while he'll have agents advising him, emotional things like that could be more of a factor.
 
praeceps93 said:
Well yeah, money comes first. But if his recent workout soured them on him, at least enough so we could be a presence in a bidding war, that could be a factor. Obviously the kid wants to be famous; you don't just make a trademark out of a nickname if you don't want that. Then you could think "hell, I'd be the 5th best outfield/1B/whatever prospect they have" or "I'm one of the final pieces of their rebuild, I'm a big deal." He's 16 and while he'll have agents advising him, emotional things like that could be more of a factor.
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love the optimism... but just don't see it.
 
braves-interested-in-cuban-free-agent-lazarito

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- Cuban prospect Lazaro Robersy Armenteros Arango, known as "Lazarito," is expected to sign with a Major League team next week, and the Atlanta Braves are among the teams making a strong push to acquire the teenage outfielder.

According to industry sources, the Braves are scheduled to hold a private workout for Armenteros, 16, on Saturday at the club's academy in San Pedro de Macoris. Armenteros, ranked No. 8 on MLB.com's Top 30 International Prospects list,.....

Only 16 years old???
 
Why is this kid rumored to get 15-20 million and if I remember correctly Maitan was going to sign for around 3 million.
 
cajunrevenge said:
Why is this kid rumored to get 15-20 million and if I remember correctly Maitan was going to sign for around 3 million.
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Maitan is subject to the bonus pools because of his age, and his deal would be a minor league deal with a signing bonus. Lazarito has already defected and become a free-agent.
 
clvclv said:
Maitan is subject to the bonus pools because of his age, and his deal would be a minor league deal with a signing bonus. Lazarito has already defected and become a free-agent.
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Lazarito is subject to the same bonus pools, though.
 
By signing Lazarito early, the Braves are waving off chances for both Maitan and Gutierrez, right?
 
cajunrevenge said:
Why is this kid rumored to get 15-20 million and if I remember correctly Maitan was going to sign for around 3 million.
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There is some weird ultra-hype around all the Cubans, and the Braves are going to get a steal of a deal for Maitan (though I've heard it's closer to a $4M-$5M bonus). It's the main reason I'm not among the group that is penciling him into the Braves top prospects list just yet. All it will take is some other team offering him $10M and I'm sure the Braves won't be serious contenders to sign him any more.
 
rico43 said:
By signing Lazarito early, the Braves are waving off chances for both Maitan and Gutierrez, right?
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Yes, unless they convince him to wait until July 2nd so he signs in the next signing period with those two guys.

Go ahead and assume the Braves won't be signing him. Why would he wait 5 more months and assume all that risk when he could be a multi-millionaire next week?
 
mqt said:
Lazarito is subject to the same bonus pools, though.
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No, the situation is different for him. Maitan is ineligible to sign before July 2nd.

Yes, the MONEY would count against our pool (the same one we're expected to sign Maitan and others from, but Lazarito can sign at any point he chooses to. If we can't talk him into waiting until July, the Dodgers, Giants, Cubs, and Royals can still add him before they start serving their penalty periods.

Lazarito will be an interesting case study IMO. I don't see any way we're signing him if he won't wait, regardless of the money. If the Gnats think enough of him that they decide they'd rather sign him than get into a bidding war with us for Maitan, they've got a pretty good shot at getting him. Of course it's conceivable that they're in a bidding war either way since the Dodgers could decide to play on Lazarito as well.

Word was that his last workout was a little meh - that may be the reason we're thinking about trying to get him to wait.
 
please please please... unless Lazarito will somehow wait until after July 2nd... let him walk. I'd much rather take Maitan and Gutierrez... Laz is much more raw and it sounds like Maitan has a higher ceiling. Not to mention comparisons of Mike Piazza with defense has been a comparison for Gutierrez... I'd hate to screw the chance up for those guys. But if Laz will have a handshake to wait until after July 2nd... that would be amazing with all 3.
 
clvclv said:
No, the situation is different for him. Maitan is ineligible to sign before July 2nd.

Yes, the MONEY would count against our pool (the same one we're expected to sign Maitan and others from, but Lazarito can sign at any point he chooses to. If we can't talk him into waiting until July, the Dodgers, Giants, Cubs, and Royals can still add him before they start serving their penalty periods.

Lazarito will be an interesting case study IMO. I don't see any way we're signing him if he won't wait, regardless of the money. If the Gnats think enough of him that they decide they'd rather sign him than get into a bidding war with us for Maitan, they've got a pretty good shot at getting him. Of course it's conceivable that they're in a bidding war either way since the Dodgers could decide to play on Lazarito as well.

Word was that his last workout was a little meh - that may be the reason we're thinking about trying to get him to wait.
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My confusion on the market is the discrepancy, and the time frame doesn't seem to fully explain it. Even if he would have been stuck waiting until July, I feel like the market for Cuban teens is just insanely high.
 
zbhargrove said:
please please please... unless Lazarito will somehow wait until after July 2nd... let him walk. I'd much rather take Maitan and Gutierrez... Laz is much more raw and it sounds like Maitan has a higher ceiling. Not to mention comparisons of Mike Piazza with defense has been a comparison for Gutierrez... I'd hate to screw the chance up for those guys. But if Laz will have a handshake to wait until after July 2nd... that would be amazing with all 3.
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We'd also have to be banking on an international draft, because we'd be committing IFA suicide if we backed out of such high profile bonus offers. The handlers would basically ignore the Braves.
 
zbhargrove said:
please please please... unless Lazarito will somehow wait until after July 2nd... let him walk. I'd much rather take Maitan and Gutierrez... Laz is much more raw and it sounds like Maitan has a higher ceiling. Not to mention comparisons of Mike Piazza with defense has been a comparison for Gutierrez... I'd hate to screw the chance up for those guys. But if Laz will have a handshake to wait until after July 2nd... that would be amazing with all 3.
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Just imagining an infusion of talent like that is damn near orgasmic.
 
The only reason this would make sense is if the front office values him more due to being on outfielder. He would be the top outfield prospect on day 1, and we don't have anyone like him on the farm. Whereas we do have some talent at 3rd (not maitan talent....but if Riley puts up a solid season his name is going to creep up boards this year). I would hate to lose Gutierrez though. I think that the higher upside is the two guys for July.....but I would love to have a Bo Jackson clone roaming the outfield.
 
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