The latest on the international market:
- Cuban free agents Victor Victor Mesa, Victor Mesa Jr. and Sandy Gaston held a showcase in Miami for all 30 teams on Friday. The Orioles, with the most international spending room available (~$6.7MM), are reportedly the favorites to sign Victor Victor Mesa, an outfielder who’s the No. 1-ranked int’l prospect available. It seems the team that gets him will also land his brother, a fellow outfielder, as Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com writes the two “are viewed within the industry as a package deal.” The O’s are indeed interested in the tandem, reports Kubatko, who adds that they also “really like” Gaston – a right-handed pitcher. Financially speaking, the Orioles hold a significant edge over every other team in the league when it comes to signing any of these players, but Kubatko notes that the Marlins’ proximity to Cuba could stand in Baltimore’s way. The Marlins, who have the second-most money to spend ($4.3MM), have made it known that they are trying to use location to their advantage. Further, in their push to sign the Mesas and Gaston, the Marlins set up personalized lockers with uniforms for the players, Kubatko relays. Team CEO and future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter also happened to be on hand for their showcase.
- The Dodgers have signed Cuban righty Osvani Gutierrez to a $600K bonus, Ben Badler of Baseball America reports. The 17-year-old did not rank among the top international prospects available at any of BA, MLB.com or FanGraphs, but Badler writes that Gutierrez is “a solid strike-thrower for his age” who “shows feel for his secondary pitches” and can bring 93 mph heat. The Dodgers entered this year’s international signing period with the standard bonus pool of $4,983,500. As of mid-September, they were down to $2.78MM – still one of the highest sums left.
Victor Victor? This is getting out of hand, now there’s 2 of them!
whats our vector victor victor?
Gets even funnier every time it’s repeated here…
Stole my line
Is VVM ready to play next season?
From the reports I heard he would require about a season in the minors, but that’s subject to change based upon performance.
And O’s are weak now so he might get a shot with them sooner rather than later. Both brothers plus the number one draft pick to an increasingly solid farm system could be pretty nice.
I agree, if we can get a good GM that knows what he is doing and a solid manager The Orioles could be looking pretty good but we honestly need solid pitching. With Peter Angelos out and his sons taking over, we definitely will have a much better chance at signing good people. His sons are ready to spend money and do whatever it takes.
They’re clones lol
The O’s can give the eldest brother more money than any team and can still have plenty to sign the youngest. I don’t see how they don’t get them.
Location; and who’s running the organization.
Unless Baltimore can flex a deal with Southwest air to give the brothers families free flights to see them or something, I think Miami ends up with them, and flips them to the Yankees and 4-6 years.
Os and southwest already have marketing partnerships – should be easy!
Lol
i hear the trip to the states is REAL smooth and easy for Cubans….
I’m assuming though I realize it’s highly unlikely that the brothers can turn down a higher offer to go play where they want?
Dodgers will sign the Mesa brothers. No one wants to go to a dumb orginization like Miami or Baltimore. I wouldn’t be surprised if we sign Gaston either. The future is always bright in Hollywood.
Do they still have homeless people in Spider-Man costumes mainlining in the alley off of Hollywood Blvd?
Yes we do lol but the costumes are getting much more diverse than spiderman
Lmao!
Yes, plus they have added a few locations.
Rays will sign Victor Victor, Victor and Garcon……must be off to put my uniform on, get into my little car, and drive to the circus……..
That will still leave them one victor short of victory.
y?
Hopefully the Marlins get them, after Fernandez tragedy and our All Star OF’s trades the team is just dead. The signing of these 3 would for sure do a change in the near future.
I don’t think Acuna was ranked among the top int. prospects when he signed either