The Mariners announced the signings of Dominican righty Rigoberto Garcia and Venezuelan lefties Erick Gomez and Luis Pina today. The team also confirmed the signings of three other international prospects.
Vice president of international operations Bob Engle describes Garcia as “a tall young man who has strong arm and all the makings to become a true power pitcher.” Engle cites Garcia’s solid fastball and compares the 16-year-old to Mariners prospect Michael Pineda.
Gomez, 17, is a “poised young projection pitcher,” Engle says. Pina, 17 in December, has a “good feel for pitching,” though Engle expects him to have to adjust his delivery. The Mariners say they will continue to sign international prospects throughout the year.
Nice to see Engle have an nice budget to work with.
I can’t wait until signings of teenage amateurs out of European countries become even more prevalent, so we can hear those descriptions. “He’s hard working/scrappy/intelligent/good in the clubhouse.”
I guess it’s nice that we’re signing all of these prospects. It’s obviously good to add talent to the minor league system, even though it’s only adding talent to the lowest levels of the minor leagues. However, I’d like to see some of this money that is spent on prospects just added to the payroll so the they can add some players that are immediately ready to help the team.
I’d actually argue the opposite. Stop spending millions on marginal free agents and pump that money into international free agents and the draft. Develop talent and use your payroll to lock them up early (Felix, Gutierrez). That’s the only way the Mariners will be winners again.
Yes.