As of today, 21-year-old Cuban shortstop Yolbert Sanchez is formally cleared to sign with Major League clubs. Sanchez, who recently left Cuba and has since been living and working out in the Dominican Republic, emerged as the most touted talent on the international free-agent market in late January when it was first reported that he’d be cleared to sign on this day.
At present, the Orioles and their near-$6MM signing pool are the runaway leaders in terms of pool money available. The Dodgers’ $1.4MM remaining pool is the next largest, though teams are still allowed to trade international funds between now and the close of the current signing period on June 15.
According to MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez, the Orioles recently sent new general manager Mike Elias and a contingent of evaluators to the Dominican Republic to scout the newly available shortstop. The O’s aren’t the only ones who’ve seen him, however, as the report also indicates that Rangers president of baseball ops Jon Daniels and Astros president of baseball ops Jeff Luhnow were both in the Dominican Republic recently to scout Sanchez in person. Houston can’t offer Sanchez more than $300K until the next signing period begins on July 2, though Texas can trade for additional funds on top of the $850K the organization currently has in its pool.
The point regarding the next signing period is a key distinction, particularly given that Fangraphs’ Eric Longenhagen tweeted today that Sanchez’s camp has told interested teams that one club has already put forth an offer of $2MM if he’s willing to wait until the 2019-20 signing period begins. That could be a negotiation tactic, though it’s common for teams to have verbal agreements with international free agents in place well in advance of the signing period’s commencement, and Sanchez is surely a know commodity to other clubs throughout the league.
Sanchez isn’t necessarily considered an elite prospect, but he’ll turn 22 in March and, as such, could be closer to the Majors than most amateurs available in international free agency. Longenhagen and colleague Kiley McDaniel wrote at the time they reported Sanchez’s impending availability to MLB clubs that his glove, speed and throwing arm all draw above-average to plus ratings from scouts. His offensive upside, however, is not as universally agreed upon.
Sanchez appeared in 128 appeared across parts of three seasons in the Cuban National Series before leaving the island in 2018 and batted a combined .297/.338/.345 through 435 plate appearances. Sanchez homered just once in that span, although the majority of his plate appearances came as a teenager and he struck out at just an 8.7 percent clip.
Work your magic, Cash!
Ninja Cash!
Supposedly the Yankees have already committed to Jasson Dominguez for most of the 2019 spending pool.
Things could change and they could always acquire more (I expect they will), but this guy doesn’t seem to fit their M.O.
Get him, Rangers!
Hype machine, plug in, see if produce a big contract.
*yawn* this guy is an average hitter by the numbers in MLB terms, but while playing in the Serie. i have my doubts about his ability to transfer his skills to the next level.
Yeah, sounds like Hechavarria
If he can run and play plus defense at SS he doesn’t have to hit a ton to be useful. Jose Iglesias carved out a pretty nice career with that skill set. He’s certainly doesn’t look like an all star but he could be useful. Not a lot of risk for a team like the O’s.
He looks like a Rey Ordóñez type.
Well there’s the money, and perhaps finding a better use for it than for a guy whose skill set sounds similar to what they just got via Rule 5.
If we’re not going to use the money there’s little reason to not to give him 2 mil. It’s not our money and don’t kid yourself angelos will be raking in plenty. We need to collect all the talent we can. They peg him as a 2nd round talent so it’s not as if 2 million is egregious for someone w that skill set. Not to mention the added value of it not being a draft pick that would require money from that pool to be spent on. I don’t think we should go ahead and give him 4-5 million just cause we have it but if it takes 2 or less I don’t see why not. We need talent
A natural progression, going from Bay of Pigs to Baltimore.
You’re a riot
I wish you’d fall in the bay.
Goravioli funny man say things funny wow! haha haha. Mad the gorave man is mad and say funny things. Oh oh Goremi do mad say funny mad man. haha haha.
wtf?
Cmon rav The bay? I’d say the inner harbor. That’s a real punishment. His Johnson would probably fall off
Can’t wait for the Orioles not to get him
Oh no, they’ll sign him……then he’ll fail the physical……which, as we know, are given by Dr. Vinnie BoBats and Nurse Ratchet…..
U really don’t quit with your terrible false narrative physical jokes. I hope eventually you come up with one that’s actually funny or at least witty.
Jeesh. It’s not just this commenter; I’ve seen many similar comments. But this is getting old. The piece that gets left out about this, is the Orioles have been right most of the time. But don’t let the facts get in the way of a good joke.
Name one…just one failed physical that has come back to bite the Orioles.
Grant Balfour, Jeremy Burnitz and really, Aaron Sele who had modest success and didn’t pan out after a year or 2 in Seattle.
Seems unfair to make financial promises prior to the signing period reset. May be a ploy by agents to get Os to at least offer two million. Seems 2-3 is reasonable.
Well their scouts will determine that.
The pirates used to be amazing at signing international players then the system became only about outspending. I wonder if theyd be interested here. The more shortstops and center fielders you have in your system the better.
Marlins should find ways to increase international pool money again to sign him. Not sure if rules prohibit adding more at this point.
Fish should continue to be all over Cuban and all major latin prospects every year.