10:04am: The Braves have officially announced the Maitan and Gutierrez signings.
9:04am: The Braves have agreed to terms with five top international prospects, including top overall prospect Kevin Maitan, MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez reports (Twitter links: 1 2 3 4 5 6). Maitan will receive $4.25MM. The Braves also nabbed catcher Abrahan Gutierrez, No. 18 on MLB.com’s international prospects list, for $3.5MM. Dominican righty Juan Contreras, not ranked on MLB.com’s list but ranked No. 41 on Baseball America’s list, will receive $1.2MM. Dominican shortstops Yunior Severino (No. 19) and Yenci Pena (No. 22) will each receive $1MM apiece, as will Venezuelan infielder Livan Soto (No. 24).
The big prize here is Maitan, who MLB.com writes is “the best international prospect since Miguel Sano” and compares to Miguel Cabrera and Chipper Jones. He’s a switch-hitter with good power and a mature approach at the dish, and he also has an excellent arm and solid range. As the Jones comparison suggests, he ultimately projects as a third baseman. Baseball America also rates Maitan the top international prospect available this signing season, with their scouting report (subscriber only) noting that he could eventually have 70-grade raw power on the 20-80 scale. Maitan has long been connected to the Braves.
Gutierrez wins praise for his arm, receiving skills and line-drive stroke. Via Baseball America, Contreras rates as a potential power arm, as he already throws 89-94 MPH and has the projection to reach into the high 90s, although his secondary pitches lag behind his fastball. Severino has good bat speed and looks like an “offensive-minded middle infielder,” according to MLB.com’s scouting report. He struggles with offspeed stuff, although that’s hardly surprising given his age (16). Pena appears solid on both offense and defense and might be able to stay at shortstop, although he’s tall, at 6’2, and might eventually move to third. Soto’s hitting is more of the line-drive than home-run variety, although he has a good approach at the plate and could wind up playing shortstop at the big leagues if all goes well.
Needless to say, the Braves’ spending spree projects to incur penalties, including a 100 percent tax on overages beyond their assigned bonus pool of $4,766,000 and a restriction on signing any player for over $300K in either of the next two signing seasons. The addition of Maitan, however, along with the rest of their prospect haul, appears to be more than enough to make up for that.
It really is a big deal…
Who’s Meitan?
“Meitan will receive 4.25MM”
Now for some Elton John walk up music.
Now trade Julio, quit kidding about competing for the next two years, and we’ll OWN the 20’s!
Let’s trade Julio, and focus on the 20’s. No way we’re competing for at least two years
This wasn’t a huge surprise, but I’m excited about it!
It sucks that we won’t see the impact of these moves for at least 4-5 years but thats the nature of the business in baseball. I wish they wouldn’t let the international guys sign until after their 18th birthday
It’s crazy seeing Maitan have a birthday of Feb 2000. Am I that old? Good thing is that if they really want “the new Braves” – he will definitely represent that, being that ATL has practically been a non-contender since he’s been alive.
Yea you might to fact check that broseph, braves have contended more than not since 2000
Fact check: since 2000 ATL appeared and lost in 1 NLCS and 8 league division series, winning only one. Does not including 1 Wild Card game Brian McCann can tell you about watching from the bench. (1-8) in league series play, (0-1) in league championship play and (0-1) in wild card play since 2000 — what about this says contender?
so they have made the post season in 8 of the 16 years since 2000. That IS the definition of contending.
I just realized that I’m only two months younger than maitan… This is scary
Most of these guys that sign today will probably not see big league action for five or six seasons (if then). They are very young and raw.
I’m curious to understand why though you don’t think they should let the international guys sign until after their 18th birthday?
Nah… I’m pretty indifferent about ATL but saying they haven’t contended since 2000 is incredibly arrogant.
Arrogant? 1 NLCS appearance since 2000 (’01)…that’s contending for someone with too low expectations of their team. I don’t consider divisional series appearances (when they’re losing them) a team in contention. I hope our goal is to win the World Series and not simply to win the division.
I believe Kevin maitan will be up at the age of 18 at the very latest 19 I don’t see him being in the minors for 5 years
18 is stretching it a bit. Even though he is advanced for his age he still has adjustments to make. I wouldn’t be surprised if he made it to the majors by 19. I won’t just assume (like many) that he has no shot until he’s 20-21. He definitely has the talent to get there early. But I also wouldn’t expect it.
Maitan may end up being an exception, but in truth there are extraordinarily few teenagers make it to the big leagues each decade. It is difficult for players to be fully ready while still a teen (although obviously a few do). Many organizations also take their time with their young prospects as well. From that standpoint the teams would normally prefer to have control over a slightly older more developed player than a younger raw one for the same time period. Think along the lines of a more developed 20 year old for 6 years of control compared to a less developed 19 year old for 6 years of control, which one would you usually prefer?
It is all going to depend on Maitan himself. When he is fully ready, there will be little question about it.
Mazara is a pretty good timeline to expect as someone who was very talented had no injuries or setbacks still took him 4-5 years which was still pretty fast, even with out a major hold up in development it takes time. Expecting any thing under 21 is probably a long shot.
I’m not sure on the scouting reports on each, but I thought Maitan’s plate discipline and approach (albeit to inferior pitching) is far beyond his years which should escalate his timeline based on how encounters better pitching. Crazy to think that his glove or bat doesn’t look like it’ll hold him back.
lol. You’ll be lucky if he’s in AA by that point. International prospects don’t usually enter the minors until a few months after they sign.
Sit back and wait, Braves will be back by 2022
I think my liver just burst I laughed so hard
why is everyone talking about this, knowing John Coppolella he is gonna trade him anyways.
fare
fer/Submit
noun
1.
the money a passenger on public transportation has to pay.
synonyms: ticket price; More
2.
a range of food, especially of a particular type.
“delicious Provençal fare”
synonyms: food, meals, sustenance, nourishment, nutriment, foodstuffs, provender, eatables, provisions; More
verb
1.
perform in a specified way in a particular situation or over a particular period of time.
“the party fared badly in the spring elections”
synonyms: get on, get along, cope, manage, do, muddle through/along, survive; informalmake out
“how are you faring?”
2.
archaic
travel.
“a young knight fares forth”
You feel better about yourself now grammar Nazi?
Oooo. I belittled someone’s knowledge of the English language…I feel so pretty now..
Go pull your crooked teeth, then you can be perfect just like me
Ok, you get extra points for the Smashing Pumpkins reference.
No it is you. Also I like how you brought in your real life friend/family member, pet..who knows to support and defend you. Nice touch!
Is this a joke? The Yankees aren’t giving up even half of what the other teams are giving up in this trade and they are arguably gaining the most. Yankees win that trade by getting young, productive MLB talent in Teheran and Vizzy, and prospects for an unproductive Headley/contract, an aging catcher/half his contract, a good OF prospect and a really good reliever. Braves win because they get Trout, but have to give half the farm away (which is ok) and give Teheran, Vizzy, Markakis and prospects to Yankees for no reason. Angels lose because this suggested package has no top prospects from either team going back to the Angels for the best player in baseball. Yankees get all that long term talent and didn’t have to give up much in return. Not realistic at all and wouldn’t ever happen. Not one prospect goes from the Yankees to the Angels and only one ( Judge) goes to the Braves, but they recieve all that talent for what? Giving Miller to the Angels (they wouldn’t need him if they were rebuilding) wouldn’t get you that package and Headley and his contract, McCann and half of his contract and Judge wouldn’t get the Yankees that package. Lopsided for the Yanks! and Angels get totally ripped off lol
Chris you my friend are high I would rather keep all my braves players I don’t need trout on my team that would destroy what the braves have been trying to do for one player lasti checked we need 9 players on the field