The Rays have formally announced the signing of hard-throwing Cuban pitching prospect Sandy Gaston. The 16-year-old (17 in December) showcased for big league clubs at Marlins Park alongside Victor Victor Mesa and Victor Mesa Jr. in early October and, as of last week, was reported to be nearing a deal with the Tampa Bay organization. Jorge Ebro of El Nuevo Herald has previously reported that the would-be agreement was believed to include a hefty $2.6MM signing bonus. Slightly more specifically, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand tweets that the official bonus checks in at $2.61MM.
At last check, the Rays were reported to have about $3.5MM in their international bonus pool, meaning the signing of Gaston will account for the majority of their remaining resources. In return for their investment, the Rays will secure the rights to a young pitcher who ranked 16th among international prospects, per MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez, and 24th on this year’s class in the eyes of Baseball America’s Ben Badler.
Already listed at 6’3″ and 205 pounds, Gaston’s greatest asset is a blazing fastball that routinely sits in the upper 90s and has reached 100 mph. His secondary offerings are said to lack consistency, as one might expect from a still-developing arm in his teens, and he’s still working to refine his command. Badler’s report on him notes that some scouts who’ve seen Gaston more recently have come away with the impression that his delivery is more under control, though he still notes that Gaston bears similarity to another flamethrowing teenager who has yet to pan out — former Marlins No. 2 overall draft pick Tyler Kolek. That’s not an indictment on Gaston’s future, of course, but rather a means of illustrating that there’s a fair bit of risk associated with Gaston despite his considerable upside.
Wondering what the O’s are saving their international $ for when they have the money to outbid anyone. They need pitching desperately and if a near 17 year old who throws 96-100mph doesn’t do it for you, I don’t know what will.
Rays have had phenomenal success in the International market lately…guys like Vidal Brujan and Ronaldo Hernandez would be top 10 prospects in many organizations….and Wander Franco looks like the next Vlad Jr……..could be that with all the hoopla about the Mesa brothers, Gaston was the real prize…..
When your team NEVER spends on INT FA (Even NYM /PIT [insert small market team] spends on INT FA!!!) Finally, O’s decide to gear up and spend on INT FAs.. Strike out on all.
Congrats Rays. Respect O’s fans are some of best fans in MLB.
Yeah they have to be good fans becauae they are just screwed. No hope in sight. At least the Marlins have many intriguing arms throwing reeally hard as 18-20yr olds, a couple guys who would be really high ranked if not for TJ. They got the Mesa brothers and look like there is hope on the horizon. Jeter claims to have a plan and we have to believe him as fans.
But the O’s what do they have? Seriously I am asking….what do they do? When will they be relevant again? Cause at least in 3 years the Marlins will be fun to watch and have something going (I’m not saying playoffs or anything just that they could be one or those teams fun to watch and barely finish winning record) so yeah what do the O’s do?
Burn it to the ground and start over. Gonna be 5-7 years
Some players might prefer Florida being closer to their homes. Sucks Baltimore hasnt landed anyone with their money
I’d prefer THE WIRE, Edgar Allen Poe and clam chowdah over MIAMI VICE, humidity/daily rain and Mickey Mouse any day of the week. (Looks like we have some Michael Jan Vincent fans…lol)
*Jan-Michael Vincent
16 years old and throwing 100.
They don’t make ’em like they used to. Sheesh.
Nobody pitches the ball like gaston
does sandy have a brother named rock?
Yup, the Rays got the prize. Gaston could be a once in a lifetime prospect with that arm if they treat it correctly. Heard his secondary stuff isn’t far off either. 16 years old throwing 100, goodness.
Nobody knows how to treat arms correctly. It’s more likely the human body isn’t meant to throw a ball let alone one at 100 mph.
If any organization knows how to handle young pitchers, it would be the Rays. It’s what they do.