550 replies to this topic

[dude]

Christopher Torres.

 

Here's an opportunity for the Orioles.  

I guess you have to weigh this by you're own scouting reports, but BA had him as the #20 IFA.

 

Yankees (according to Torres camp) had a deal for 2.1M in place, but backed out of the deal.  As has been discussed, teams are now making oral agreements early and then keeping the kid out of action so he's not seen/scouted by other teams.....and that's what Torres' camp is claiming here.

 

Orioles aren't going 2.1M and most of the freer spending teams have used up their pool.  It would be easy for the Orioles to make an offer  (maybe 800k or 1M) and get the kid inked when his stock is low (since, hey, that's an actual Oriole strategy) and maybe is accomplishes several things....

 

1) If getting good rep is important in these communities, then here's a chance to get some good rep.

2) Maybe you build a relationship with Marza and the Northern DR area which this report indicates is 'difficult to scout'....maybe an opportunity to start getting in to that area.

3) Bad rap for NYY is they did screw the kid over and a rival could create opportunity

4) Finally gets the Orioles into a top 25 or 30 IFA signing....if nothing else, break that glass.

 

 

BA scouting report....

20. Christopher Torres, ss, Dominican Republic

Born: Feb. 6, 1998. Height: 6-0. Weight: 170. B-T: B-R.

Torres played in both the Dominican Prospect League and the International Prospect League, training with Orlando Mazara in the northern region of the Dominican Republic up in Santiago. That can be a tricky area to scout, since it’s not near where teams have their academies. Most clubs regard Torres as a solid prospect who can play in the middle of the diamond and does some things well (especially on defense) with steady tools that play up because of his instincts, though others say he doesn’t get enough credit for his pure tools. Some project him as a true shortstop with the potential for above-average defense. Torres has clean hands, fluid actions and a nose for the ball with alert reads off the bat. He has a solid, accurate arm with the ability to make throws from different angles. His speed is about average, and with his lower half getting heavier, some scouts think his first-step quickness and feet might be better suited at second base.

There’s more division on Torres’ offensive potential, though most scouts consider him a defensive-oriented player. He does work the count with a sense for the strike zone. He has his believers with the bat, showing good hand-eye coordination, decent bat-to-ball skills and an improving stroke from the left side. Most scouts felt he’s going to have to smooth some things out to be able to hit. Torres can work the gaps, but his power will always be limited. Jorge Polanco, another smooth-fielding, switch-hitting Dominican shortstop, had a similar skill set when he signed with the Twins in 2009, and Torres could develop into that type of player. Where Torres will sign has become one of the more intriguing developments. While the belief early was that the Yankees would sign him, now his outlook is more muddled. Some sources believe the Mariners could make a run at him.

[Coker]

Long listen, but it's a GREAT listen in regards to the O's international scouting. Brett Ward (O's scout) thinks that they're one of the forerunners within New Zealand, along with the AZ Diamondbacks. You don't hear much about the O's working in Oceania/Australasia outside of Pita Rona and the AFL. Also, a great comment about how the scouts work with the sabermetric department, especially when it comes to foreign leagues (KBO, NPB, etc.) - they give the international scouts a list of players (with stats they think will play in MLB) who then go and check them out. Brett Ward describes himself as an old-school scout who has adapted to (and now understands!) sabermetrics and the value/role they play. Wish he could delved into more details and players he's looked at, but of course he can't do that. Small talk on minor league pitching, in regards to pitch counts and trying to protect the pitchers ("pitchers are like gold"). Also, said Jim Johnson earning $10M with a $100M payroll was too rich. 



For the record, Brett Ward is the scout responsible for signing John Stephens, Tsuyoshi Wada, Matthew Wilson, Pita Rona. 

Also, found this and thought it was interesting. Back from 2011 when Stockstill was the Director of International Scouting.
 

Criteria needed to meet the Scouts

?To attend the Major League Baseball tryout with the Baltimore Orioles Scouts you will need to meet a few criteria. As this is a huge opportunity, you also have to be up to the standard required. The scouts time is limited, only the best of the best will be selected to tryout.

AGE

You can be aged from 15 through to 20

Note: 18-20 year olds needs to be well above the parameters below

SPEED

60 yard (55m) sprint 7.25 seconds or less (catchers may be slower)

If you can run a 6.4 second 60 yard, please let us know

ARM STRENGTH

Pitching off the mound:

RHP: 85+ mph (137km/h+)

LHP: 80+ mph (130km/h+

 

Any player who is 18 - 20 should already have better tools:

• 6.9 secs in the 60 yard or quicker
• 85mph or faster off the mound.

[dude]

Christopher Torres.

 

Here's an opportunity for the Orioles.

 

So Torres signs with Seattle for 375k.....really?  We couldn't get involved on that?

 

The headline is worth 500k.

[dude]

Vlad the Impaler's kid is 15.  

He lives in the Dominican Republic.

He is trained by Wilton Guerrero, Vlad's brother.  

He will be eligible as an International Amateur signing next year.

 

If there was ever a time for the Orioles to pull out the stops for a kid, go get this one.

15 year old can really hit a baseball

Vlad Guerrero Jr following in fathers/familys footsteps

 

1) Orioles have the Fred Ferreira connection.  FF has been given credit for getting Vlad signed with DD in Montreal.  Ideally, there's enough of a relationship still there with Vlad that the Orioles can have some signing advantage, all things being equal.

 

2) I'm drawing a blank on whether excessive spending penalties are 1 or 2 years, but for sure, the Yankees are out of the market for a big signing next year.  One of the May articles on International spending indicated it was 2 years, but I don't know if that rule applies to the 12-13 period. It would be great if the Cubs and Rangers were out too. Couple other teams are close on 2014 pool and penalties (RedSox?, Rays?, Brewers?).  A smaller field of competition is good for the Orioles.

 

3) Winning helps.  If the Orioles continue to develop the reputation as a positive organization, that's certainly a selling point.

 

4) Orioles could certainly use some OF prospect help in the near term.  Some projections have him starting as early as 18 or 19 years old.....that could be 2018.....after the final year of Nick's 2+1 deal.  A clear path to the majors and an expressed willingness to let him advance as fast as reasonable is motivation.  Orioles can certainly sell the promotions of a number of MiLs in that respect.

 

5) Get some of his friends.  It is what it is.  Young kid coming into a system would certainly benefit from having some familiar cats around.....who are the lesser kids he knows, still available or project for next year.  Pay them to get them into the system.  Cubs signed Solar's running mate in CF before they inked him.  Anything positive can help.

 

6) Get a Dominican Icon as part of the system  What's Miguel Tejada doing?  Hire someone like him (whoever) to help FF that carries some regional weight and can liaison with DO players in the system.

 

Again, if there was ever a time to make a big play for on the International Market....Vlad Jr has to be the one.

 

Let's go FF.

[Mackus]

I'd like to see the O's make a big splash for an international FA, but I don't expect it to happen.  Maybe Vlad Jr seems like less of a risk to them given his privileged upbringing and further developed game and they'll take their shot.  I don't know enough about scouting or Vlad Jr in particular to know if he's a legit wunderkind prospect worthy of a multi-million dollar signing bonus or if he's just a decent prospect getting extra hype because of the name. 

[dude]

Angels just inked a 20 year old Cuban kid for 8M (Roberto Baldoquin).  That puts them way over the max penalty and keeps them off the 300k+ signings the next 2 years.  The Angels were one of the teams mentioned in scouting Vlad Jr and one with some ties given Vlad's first big contract.  They're out.

 

If that rules applies to the 12-13 period also....that means for 15-16 signing period...

 

.....the Cubs, Rangers, Yankees, RedSox, Rays and Angels are all limited on their big dollar signings.  Maybe another team or 2 I'm forgetting....but the big money guys that usually hit the IFA market pretty hard are out next July.

 

EDIT: Apparently the Cubs and Rangers aren't subject to the 2-year rule based on a recent article wrt Yoan Moncada

 

3+1 for Nick....keep right field available in 2018.

[dude]

Apparently there is a belief (Kiley McDaniel on twitter) that Vlad Jr has a verbal agreement with Toronto for 3.2M.

 

Ugh. 

[RichardZ]

If I understand this correctly, even though the Yanks and Red Sox went way over their spending allotments, the penalty of not signing anyone for over 300K doesn't take effect until the next signing period (June or July of this year).    They will have to pay a 100% penalty on anyone they sign up until then but apparently that means nothing to them.   That's why those teams are the favorites to sign Yoan Moncada who would count against the international pool.      I don't really get it though.   If they sign Moncada to a 6/60M contract, they have to pay another 60M in penalties?    That would seem to be a deterrent.    BA is estimating his contract is more along the lines of 30M-40M but that's still a hefty penalty.    Hector Olivera is another Cuban who should be available sometime soon who, because of his age (30), won't count against the international cap.   Both Moncada and Olivera profile as 2B-3B with Moncada also having a chance to move to CF.     Doubt that we are in on either one.

[Coker]

2015-16 International bonus pools were released today. The O's have a little over 2M ($2,002,900 to be exact) to spend in the international market. This is down a total of 250k from last year.

Bonus pools are slightly higher than a year ago. 

As a reminder: Angels, Diamondbacks, Rays, Red Sox and Yankees cannot sign players for more than $300k this year. 

[Coker]

Kiley McDaniel is posting a series of articles on FG about the upcoming international spending year. The O's aren't mentioned in his first article, as they're not linked to any of the "top" prospects (what a shock!).

But - just for dude:
 

I reported earlier that Guerrero has a deal with the Blue Jays for $3.2 million, but I’m now told the number actually starts with a four, with most sources saying it’s $4.4 million or $4.5 million. The Jays can trade for up to $3.486 million in their bonus pool, so if this deal goes down as expected, this would push them into the penalty range.

[Coker]

2014-15 International Spending figures were released today. As expected, the O's finished in the lower half. And by lower half, I mean second to last. They've spent a whopping 980k on the international amateur market this year. They were allotted to spend 1.96M (1,959,400)..yet came nowhere near that mark.  They've got until June 15 to spend up to their limit. Or not.

Keep in mind that the Orioles spent 1.23M during the 2013-14 international period.

This is the area that pisses me off the most about the Orioles. It's fucking inexcusable how little they spend in the international amateur market. 

Edit: Trying to figure out what players are/were included in the above 980k. Miguel Gonzalez accounts for 400k of it, according to Baseball America. Then you've got Lazaro Levya, who supposedly signed for 725k. Then there's Gionel Santa, the prospect that Britt Ghiroli said the O's signed - but doesn't actually exist (see post #80). Elier Levya doesn't count against the cap, because he's 24.

 

Reports from BA that the O's signed an OFer by the name of Hernys Blanco, but I'm partially convinced he doesn't exist either. Melewski had no information on him when I asked. So who knows whether he's an international amateur or not. 

Edit to the Edit: Turns out Blanco exists. 21yo from Venezuela, but played college ball at Dutchess CC in New York. BA has him listed as an OFer, but played IF for Dutchess. Looks like 3B. 

[Matt_P]

Edit: Trying to figure out what players are/were included in the above 980k. Miguel Gonzalez accounts for 400k of it, according to Baseball America. Then you've got Lazaro Levya, who supposedly signed for 725k. Then there's Gionel Santa, the prospect that Britt Ghiroli said the O's signed - but doesn't actually exist (see post #80). Elier Levya doesn't count against the cap, because he's 24.

 

The BA article stated that Cuban players aren't included in their analysis. You sure that he's included? Even still, the Os spent a million or so less than the average teams.

[Coker]

Edit: Trying to figure out what players are/were included in the above 980k. Miguel Gonzalez accounts for 400k of it, according to Baseball America. Then you've got Lazaro Levya, who supposedly signed for 725k. Then there's Gionel Santa, the prospect that Britt Ghiroli said the O's signed - but doesn't actually exist (see post #80). Elier Levya doesn't count against the cap, because he's 24.

 
The BA article stated that Cuban players aren't included in their analysis. You sure that he's included? Even still, the Os spent a million or so less than the average teams.

No, I'm not sure at all. Those are just the players I know the O's signed between July 2 and yesterday.

[Chris B]

Otioles spent less than a million,

For comparison, the Yankees ($17.8m) Rays ($6m) and Red Sox ($5.6m) account for the top 3 spenders in MLB.

[Coker]

Otioles spent less than a million,


For comparison, the Yankees ($17.8m) Rays ($6m) and Red Sox ($5.6m) account for the top 3 spenders in MLB.

We just can't compete with big market teams like the Rays.

[Coker]

The AL-East International Reviews from BA were released today. The O's signed a total of 16 players during the 2014 year (remember, this review is just for 2014 in general, so it counts signings as from the tail end 2013/4 international spending year e.g. Jomar Reyes and Yoon are listed). 
BA describes both (RHP Lazaro and OF Elier) as being "Cuban players that weren't drawing any interest from other clubs".

 

Lazaro signed for 725k is 20 years old and spent some time living in Europe after leaving Cuba. The O's tout him as touching the mid-90s with a below-average slider. He's got a minimal track record, seeing as how he only briefly pitched for the Cuban 16U team back in 2009. Elier, 24, supposedly reminded some of the O's scouts of Dariel Alvarez. 

The other six-figure signings this year were RHP Miguel Gonzalez (Baltimore media listed him as $400k, but BA is reporting it was only 100k...so who knows) and OF Richard Barcenas. Gonzalez has a low-90s fastball with good sink and a potentially average curveball, along with good command and 'strike throwing ability'. Barcenas, 17, was signed out of Venezuela who is physically underdeveloped according to reports (6'1 165lbs). Fair bat speed (gap power) and average speed in the field.

The only other report is on Irving Ortega, an 18 yo defensive minded SS they signed for 60k. Good hands, range and arm strength. 


So yeah, not that exciting compared to other teams. 

[Coker]

The Orioles compared to other AL-East teams:

 

Baltimore: 16 total signings, 2 six-figure signings; top signing: 350k
Boston: 32 total signings, 7 six-figure signings; top signing: 1.8M

New York: 52 total signings, 18 six-figure signings; top signing: 3M

Tampa Bay: 39 total signings, 9 six-figure signings; top signing: 2.95M
Toronto: 29 total signings, 3 six-figure signings; top signing: 1.6M

[bnickle]

The Orioles compared to other AL-East teams:

 

Baltimore: 16 total signings, 2 six-figure signings; top signing: 350k
Boston: 32 total signings, 7 six-figure signings; top signing: 1.8M

New York: 52 total signings, 18 six-figure signings; top signing: 3M

Tampa Bay: 39 total signings, 9 six-figure signings; top signing: 2.95M
Toronto: 29 total signings, 3 six-figure signings; top signing: 1.6M

It's all Andy Macphail's fault. 

[SportsGuy]

The Orioles compared to other AL-East teams:

 

Baltimore: 16 total signings, 2 six-figure signings; top signing: 350k
Boston: 32 total signings, 7 six-figure signings; top signing: 1.8M

New York: 52 total signings, 18 six-figure signings; top signing: 3M

Tampa Bay: 39 total signings, 9 six-figure signings; top signing: 2.95M
Toronto: 29 total signings, 3 six-figure signings; top signing: 1.6M

Thats so pathetic.

[Coker]

Today's trade of international slots 46 and 76 combine for a total of $655,800, bringing the O's international allotment to 1,303,600. 

As a reminder they've spent 980k (outside of the signings of both Levya's). Don't expect them to spend the remaining 300k. 

They SHOULD be spending this money on the international market. DD talks a big game about expanding the Orioles horizons and signing all sorts of international players they can develop. He needs to spend this money.

But hey, they got something for nothing! Literally. You know they wouldn't have spent the money anyways.