International News, Rumor and Signing Thread

I still have a feeling Coppi is going to pull something off.. he seems to want to be the guy who gets the attention. I have a feeling we are going to get Maitan and the others we are linked to.. but 1 or 2 other really big names..

I want us to swoop in and snag a couple of the big names we're not currently favorites for; we've got the money, might as well use it
 
People were referring to Maitan as a possible generational talent just a couple of months ago. I doubt he has done anything since to change projections or opinions that much. I think people are just tempering expectations a bit because he is only 16 years old, one of the younger international signees this upcoming period.
 
People were referring to Maitan as a possible generational talent just a couple of months ago. I doubt he has done anything since to change projections or opinions that much. I think people are just tempering expectations a bit because he is only 16 years old, one of the younger international signees this upcoming period.

He couldn't comment directly, but when Bill asked Brian Bridges about the possibility that Atlanta may sign a bat in the J2 signing period that was better than any of the bats in the college draft, Bridges pretty much confirmed that it was a possibility. The point is, the bat is better than any of the bats that were drafted.
 
He couldn't comment directly, but when Bill asked Brian Bridges about the possibility that Atlanta may sign a bat in the J2 signing period that was better than any of the bats in the college draft, Bridges pretty much confirmed that it was a possibility. The point is, the bat is better than any of the bats that were drafted.

What else is Bridges going to say? I bet he does love the guy; but he's not exactly impartial.
 
And a lot of the guys who are now expressing doubts are starting to realize their teams have no chance of getting him.

Maitan has had a handshake deal with the Braves for a long time - most of these clubs have had no shot for a long time
 
Maitan has had a handshake deal with the Braves for a long time - most of these clubs have had no shot for a long time

Correct. I was thinking about the article we saw last week where a St. Louis sports writer suggested throwing a lot of money at him to steal him from the Braves. I couldn't help but wonder if there are teams (and fans) still secretly hoping to swoop in at the last minute. My point was that they might finally be accepting that that is not going to happen, so the next step is denial..... "He isn't that good anyway."
 
A couple Braves related notes at Baseball America regarding Top International Pitching Prospects:

www.baseballamerica.com/internation...ional-pitching-prospects/#Ohfw667kkSDIhrUo.99

Yefri Del Rosario, rhp, Dominican Republic: Other scouts prefer Del Rosario to [Roancy] Contreras because Del Rosario has better present stuff. They both have sharp breaking balls, but Del Rosario has excellent arm speed and has been up to 94 mph with his fastball. There’s more bullpen risk with Del Rosario because of his arm action and stature (5-foot-11, 165 pounds), but he’s one of the top arms in the class. It’s also not clear yet where he will sign or if he will even sign on July 2, with the Indians and Braves the two teams most often tied to him.

Juan Contreras, rhp, Dominican Republic: Like Macuare, Contreras has a big arm with potential to throw harder and questions about his pitchability. At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, Contreras has one of the best fastballs in the class, ranging from 89-94 mph with downhill plane. Within the next few years, he could be throwing in the upper-90s. Contreras’ fastball is his best pitch, but the rest of his arsenal is inconsistent, as is his command. Contreras looks like he will sign with the Braves, who are expected to make him the top-paid pitcher in the class.
 
Yeah, there was another article at BA just three or four days ago saying that Del Rosario is now favored to sign with the Braves. If so, that brings the total of international signees we are favored to sign up to seven, five position players, two pitchers., quite excellent. I'd love for us to sign one of the Cubans as well but I doubt it since signing just the seven we know about will cost us over $20M because of coverage penalties. Sign one of the Cubans for 3M or so and that budget would probably go over $30M.

Are the Braves really willing to spend over $30M on the International market this year?
 
Yeah, there was another article at BA just three or four days ago saying that Del Rosario is now favored to sign with the Braves. If so, that brings the total of international signees we are favored to sign up to seven, five position players, two pitchers., quite excellent. I'd love for us to sign one of the Cubans as well but I doubt it since signing just the seven we know about will cost us over $20M because of coverage penalties. Sign one of the Cubans for 3M or so and that budget would probably go over $30M.

Are the Braves really willing to spend over $30M on the International market this year?

Quite possibly. Gordon Blakely was snatched from the Yankees because he was the driving force behind their international splurge - he's known to be one of the best judges of international talent. If he and his guys are high on someone, Coppy/Hart/JS aren't likely going to say "no" to him.
 
Quite possibly. Gordon Blakely was snatched from the Yankees because he was the driving force behind their international splurge - he's known to be one of the best judges of international talent. If he and his guys are high on someone, Coppy/Hart/JS aren't likely going to say "no" to him.

I'm curious. Has anyone looked at how the group the Yankees splurged on has turned out?
 
Wasn't Mateo in that group? He's their #1 prospect now.

He signed in 2012. Looks like Wilkerman Garcia is the best so far from the 2014-15 litter. It is a bit early to evaluate the group since what we have is how they did last season as 17 year olds.

I don't think any of them are playing full-season this year. Which might say something when you contrast it with what Albies did as an 18-year old in Rome last year. Also worth noting that Acuna is from the 2014-15 class and was doing quite well in Rome before injuring his hand.
 
He signed in 2012. Looks like Wilkerman Garcia is the best so far from the 2014-15 litter. It is a bit early to evaluate the group since what we have is how they did last season as 17 year olds.

I don't think any of them are playing full-season this year. Which might say something when you contrast it with what Albies did as an 18-year old in Rome last year. Also worth noting that Acuna is from the 2014-15 class and was doing quite well in Rome before injuring his hand.

..............................age pos ERA IP bb k whip
Servando Hernandez 19 rhp 4.09 11 3 7 1.455

...............................age pos ab avg obp slg ops stat year
Frederick Cuevas........18 of 252 0.256 0.376 0.365 0.74 2015

Diego Castillo............. 18 ss 262 0.331 0.373 0.444 0.817 2015

Wilkerman Garcia........18 ss 158 0.299 0.414 0.362 0.776 2015

Nelson Gomez.............18 3B 274 0.243 0.350 0.435 0.785 2015

Miguel Flames..............18 1B 238 0.317 0.398 0.454 0.852 2015

Juan De Leon..............18 of 222 0.226 0.344 0.366 0.709 2015

Hyo-Jun Park...............20 ss 253 0.228 0.332 0.340 0.672 2016
 
..............................age pos ERA IP bb k whip
Servando Hernandez 19 rhp 4.09 11 3 7 1.455

...............................age pos ab avg obp slg ops stat year
Frederick Cuevas........18 of 252 0.256 0.376 0.365 0.74 2015

Diego Castillo............. 18 ss 262 0.331 0.373 0.444 0.817 2015

Wilkerman Garcia........18 ss 158 0.299 0.414 0.362 0.776 2015

Nelson Gomez.............18 3B 274 0.243 0.350 0.435 0.785 2015

Miguel Flames..............18 1B 238 0.317 0.398 0.454 0.852 2015

Juan De Leon..............18 of 222 0.226 0.344 0.366 0.709 2015

Hyo-Jun Park...............20 ss 253 0.228 0.332 0.340 0.672 2016

Thanks. Does anyone have the bonus numbers for these guys.
 
Juan De Leon 2M

Nelson Gomez 2.25M

Wilkerson Garcia 1.35M

Dermis Garcia 3M

Miguel Flames 1M

Hyo-Joon Park 1.1M

Jonathan Amundaray 1.5M

Bryan Emery 0.5M

Diego Castillo 0.75M

Antonio Arias 0.8M

Frederick Cuevas 0.3M

Griffin Garabito 0.225M

Servando Hernandez 0.2M
 
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