The 2021-22 international signing period is officially underway, and though this signing period is open until Dec. 15, 2022, many of the big names have already signed. Teams have long since lined up deals with newly eligible teenage players, so the news today largely represents confirmation of what was anticipated. Still, it’s a day of no small moment, particularly for the young men embarking upon professional careers.
Let’s round up some of the most notable signings of the day. Most of these agreements have been known for a while, as both Baseball America’s Ben Badler (signings tracker; scouting links) and MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez (Twitter feed; rankings) have listed each club’s expected landing spot and approximate signing bonus on their rankings for months. You can find each team’s total bonus pool and other information on the process right here. Check the above links for further information and other signings. Here are a few key deals reported on Twitter by Sanchez:
- Roderick Arias, SS, Yankees: The Yankees have come to an agreement with MLB.com’s top-ranked international free agent on the market for a signing amount of $4.oMM, reports Sanchez. The Dominican switch-hitter runs well, gets good reviews for his footwork and arm strength at shortstop, and brings a solid hit tool from both sides of the plate.
- Cristhian Vaquero, OF, Nationals: For the second consecutive season, the Nationals appear to have nabbed one of the top prospects on the international board. They have come to a $4.9MM agreement to sign the left-handed Cuban outfielder, the top prospect on Baseball America’s board. The Nats are essentially all-in on Vaquero, who will soak up more than ninety percent of their available pool money.
- Ricardo Cabrera, SS, Reds: MLB.com’s third-ranked international prospect has come to an agreement with the Reds. No signing amount has been listed as of this time.
- William Bergolla Jr., SS, Phillies: Philadelphia has come to a $2.2MM agreement with one of the top prospects on the board. While MLB.com has the Venezuelan fourth on their board, Baseball America is slightly less bullish, ranking him eighth overall in this class. The 17-year-old right-hander is the son of William Bergolla, who was a Reds farmhand who appeared in 17 games with Cincinnati back in 2005.
- Oscar Colas, OF, White Sox: The White Sox reached a $2.7MM agreement with Colas, one of the more intriguing prospects on this year’s board, in part because he’s on the older side for most international prospects. The Cuban outfielder is 23-years-old, but that could make him a quick-rising prospect for Chicago.
Several other well-regarded prospects also secured bonuses of $2MM or more, and we’ll keep this list updated throughout the day as more agreements come to light:
- Rockies, $2.8MM, SS Dyan Jorge
- Mariners, $2.5MM, OF Lazaro Montes
- Braves, $2.5MM, Diego Benitez
- Tigers, $2.2MM, SS Javier Osorio
- Giants, $2.2MM, SS Ryan Reckley
- Blue Jays, $2MM+, C Luis Meza
- Rangers, $2MM, OF Anthony Gutierrez
Ryan Reckley doesn’t sound too international to me. Did Farhan convince this kid to move out of the country like Lucious Fox so he could sign him instead of drafting him? This guy has to be the first international signing of any significance that The Giants have made in 3 years. Can’t wait to find out if Fraudhan has a better eye for talent here than in the draft!
He’s from the Bahamas…
What position does Diego Benitez play and why didn’t they list it? Also, where does he play? Any good?
Short stop right now….they say he has good bat.
His size will prob push him to 3rd
This guys spends more time tweeting about the Lakers and quoting scripture from the bible than anything else. 5-10 and 170 pound switch hitting SS from the Bahamas. Videos of him playing look like hes in a sandlot with dirt infields and neighbors fences as the outfield walls. Gonna hold out final judgment until 2028 when he makes his debut so everyone hold your breath.
Dude. Just shut up already you miserable clown.
It’s not getting under my skin princess. You bring nothing to the table and no, you’re wrong 99.5%. Quiet
Do you think kids in other countries usually play on beautiful green grass in well-constructed stadiums/parks?
I’ve played internationally in places you didn’t even know baseball existed and they had better fields than the “top prospects” out of the Bahamas. Seems like a good place for MLB to start building better baseball facilities so these kids don’t sprain an ankle on a gofer hole in the outfield.
ok hardo
I bet none of that is true but you keep telling yourself lies to make you feel better.
Search Tocopilla Baseball and tell me why a small town in the North if Chile has a baseball stadium like theirs yet a country where prospects have been getting signed for years that is less than 100 miles away has to play on sandlots. In countries like the DR, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and even Mexico these kids would be better looked after. Hope Ryan doesn’t get bit by the neighbors dog retrieving a homerun ball.
Search how many hurricanes hit Chile per year and how many hit the Bahamas.
And yet here you are, talking smack about kids to feel good about yourself on the internet
Probably the same amount that hit Cuba and Puerto Rico. Actually more hit Miami than Bahamas so not really sure what point you’re trying to make. When prospects are getting paid more than 6 million dollars they should have better facilities no matter the weather. Chile has earthquakes year round and over here in California it sometimes rains and some nights it even freezes! How’s the weather in your moms baeement?
I’m clearly talking about how poor the facilities that these future major leaguers are playing on not the kids themselves. Interesting how you took it that way. Probably means you aren’t really reading or at least comprehending anything I’ve wrote which is discouraging because you might have learned something.
Let me remind you that we are all here on the internet talking and if you really want to be civilized you would actually read what I say before criticizing. I’m fine with being uncivilized too I just don’t want to hear you complaining when you are essentially doing the same thing.
We are all internet trolls otherwise we would have our own blogs or shows. BTW I would get much better ratings if I had a show than any of you nerds!
So don’t sign guys cause they don’t play on gold plated fields ?? Trout played on a dog track in NJ, better let him go. Or are you saying mlb should build stadiums in every zip code ? Btw both sound stupid
So Farhan is on here trolling you ??
That’s your excuse ?
You are a coward. Plain and simple.
He has a miserable life, pretty clear from all his comments. Never made it past freshman high school ball and was bullied his way off the team
You are right, both of your ideas sound stupid. My idea would be to invest money in facilities where players come from that are getting million dollar bonuses. Kind of like they have done in the DR and Puerto Rico with the baseball academies. Trout played travel ball from the age of 14 so I’m pretty sure he played on more than just one field.
Actually I was kicked off my high school team senior year for fighting. I punched the other teams pitcher in the nose and broke it for him.
So you haven’t grown up yet ?
Just taken it to the internet where it’s all nice and anonymous. Coward.
You using the internet to be a weak as piss coward, me calling you out. It’s going to be fun.
HARDOOOOOOOO
I’m sure you went international to “scout” kids ⚾️
Sure you did sweetie
Bahamas is a third world country. Sure some of the beaches and secluded islands are pretty but Freeport and Nassau are like any other poor city.
Millville is a crappy town.
Imagine thinking your so smart that teams should invest 100s of millions of dollars to maybe produce one major leaguer from a country that has a rich history of producing how many major leaguers?
Go back to pretending you played baseball in Belize or whatever you made up before.
*gopher
Dude, for real, go pay your late lot rent in your trailer park and find a different hobby bro. All you do on here is troll. Talking about moms now? What are you, 15 years old? Damn….
Interesting number on Arias. The projected number was $4.0 million and the actual number was $3.3 million. That gives the Yankees an extra $700,000 to use for signing players. It is also interesting they spent $1.6 million less then Washington did on Vaquero. Very good job by the Yankees.
The Yankees gave him 4.0 million, as reported above. Not sure where you’re getting the 3.3 million figure from.
The numbers being reported can be a bit fluid. There was an initial report at $3.3M, which might have been in the original story here since updated, and if you click on Sanchez’s linked tweet above, he reported it at $3.5M. About a half hour ago, Sanchez sent a new tweet updating it to $4M.
Vaquero was Baseball America’s top rated prospect.
Vaquero was projected to earn the highest signing bonus. BA ranks their international prospects based on expected bonus not based on talent.
Need a draft.
Why?
I assume so the stinky teams have a chance to get who the Yankees got.
The “stinky” teams have higher draft dollars. They could have signed him too.
True but other factors come into play.
By this time next year the Yankees will have signed the top prospect in three out of the last five years. Dominguez, Arias and Mayea (next year). Things are happening behind the scenes.
philly, it could be that many players want to sign with the most well-known and successful team in MLB history.
Yes, why? To limit not only the amount these players can sign for but also restrict their market to a single team?
The issue is prospects are locked in on and agree to deals much sooner than 16 years old.
Teams will sometimes have a deal in place as early as 13/14. Once that happens the prospects are pushed out of the eyes of other clubs and scouts. This is why ranking these guys is so difficult. They are out of the eyes of everybody. The need to showcase the athlete is over since the deal is already in place.
Nothing is stopping a “third party” from stepping in and “helping out” the trainer in exchange for exclusivity to certain players.
I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine. Usually that comes with a lot of their lesser prospects also being hooked up with a deal from clubs.
The proposed international draft will have a slotted monetary value like the mlb draft. First pick 4 mil, 2nd pick 3.75, etc. teams will have to sign players for that amount.
This prevents teams like Oakland from drafting a guy 3rd overall and only offering him 500,000 to sign. They are holding a 16 year old hostage in negotiations. The firm number keeps things fair.
This will hopefully spread out the talent more evenly to other teams. It will prevent the agree to a deal and hide the prospects like we see now. It would not benefit a trainer to hide a guy. All eyes are now on a prospect to help drive up his draft pick slot value.
Why would a kid currently sign with Oakland for $500k if he’s the third-best prospect? If he’s that good, he could sign with another team for a lot more.
My example was describing how an international draft will be held. The international draft pick will have a slot value teams will have to pay people.
In this open free agency system he can sign with any team for whatever he chooses.
philly, okay, now I get your point
My point is not to have an international draft at all. Why restrict players from signing with whatever team they want for however much they can get?
One way to handle this better could be similar to the NPB and KBO players declare. Those guys get a 30 day window to negotiate.
When a guy turns 16 maybe he can declare for international free agency and allow teams to bid on him over the next 30 to 90 days (whatever is decided on) using their international pool. This way all teams have the ability to bid and sign him.
The current system allows a first come, first serve bidding and this is occurring at a much younger age than 16. It also helps to prevent the back door deals going on with third parties and agents/trainers. Right now kids are agreeing to deals at 13 and 14. I think this is the scummy part of the whole process.
I don’t know if it’s first-come, first-served, but getting the handlers out of the equation would be great, if it’s possible.
Why? To reward lazinesses and/or cheap teams?
What they should do is eliminate all drafts, and replace them with a set draft spending cap that’s equal for all teams. For example, each team has an equal $7M cap to spend as they please during the international signing period. Some team may spend big on one player, another may spread it all about. Create an equal playing field money wise, but reward smarter organizations.
Some teams may not spend any/much of it. That’s their problem.
It’s less about the team unfairness, which I agree it’s up to the team, but it’s completely unfair to North American players who have to wait atleast 2 more years to get drafted and a check.
There should only be one set of rules for all amateurs, regardless of where they were born/where they play.
And most of the tanking teams were rewarded if you look at MLBTR’s IFA pool money per team article. Most teams had MORE money than the Yankees. But, Arias chose the Yankees just as much as they chose him. That’s not fair?
Wonder if any of these guys are going to work out for us, @Clip. Cash has certainly landed us another big name. Nice if he could go 3 for 3 here, uh?
Arias was already locked up at a much earlier age. If you do not get in on a guy at 13 or 14 then you missed the boat. For the most part negotiatins and deals are agreed upon way before they are officially announced on International Signing Day.
Only draft that’s needed is a for the next war. Send the dumbest people on the internet to the front lines who suggest solutions to problems when they don’t understand the problems.
Any of these guys have the chance to be a fast mover or is 2026ish the best case scenario?
The only reasonable one is Colas. He’s already 23, and has spent multiple seasons playing in Japan.
Prieto with Baltimore.
Colas and Prieto are older guys.
Arias and Vaquero may get a more aggressive assignment early on pushing them a year earlier than the others.
Most of the kids are 16 so like all high school kids in the US no none of them will likely be heard of until their 20 when ignorant fans will suggest teams are manipulating their service time even though the player has several defects in their game
The White Sox have been hyping this Colas signing now, for about a year. Reinsdorf loves those Intl Signings, he can get a whole team on a huge discount. And just this morning on his radio gig, Bruce Levine actually was comparing the signing, to Ohtani. I feel so sorry for the rest of the AL Central,(lol) how are they ever going to compete with this budding dynasty.
It’s competition.. the remaining central will adjust their strategy. (lol)
ChiSox win the central 1 year in the last 13.. and some think they are now a dynasty?
White Sox fans have been calling this team a “budding dynasty” for a while now and have yet to come close to it. Only reason they’ll make playoffs is bc they play in the worst division in baseball.
Sorry but the narrative that people like you have been saying for awhile now that White Sox are playing in the worst division in baseball is really incorrect, the NL central is way worse. The Brewers are not all that great of a team with that none existent offense of theirs. They have great pitching but not much else and that is the favorites to win the NL central.
Wrong. AL Central is the weakest division in baseball and it’s not close. To say the Brewers aren’t that good shows how little you know. The Cardinals are good.
From top to bottom, the AL Central is better than the NL Central. They’re both pretty bad though.
I said the Brewers Offense isn’t good and I’m not wrong stating that. They’ve even gotten worse with losing Escobar to the Mets and replacing Avi with Renfroe. Also as someone who’s second favorite team is the Cardinals they’re good, but not that good to be a serious playoff contender. Also, did you even watch the playoffs? The brewers only scored 1 run in 4 games. Tell me that doesn’t show that their division is absurdly weak.
The playoffs are a crapshoot. I go by what a team does over a 162 game season to asses a team, not a 5 game or 7 game series. Just like the Braves weren’t actually the best team in baseball last year, they just won a World Series but got hot at the right time. That’s all there is to is. The AL Central is far worse than the NL Central, and it’s a sizable gap.
Show me advanced stats proving to me that the NL central is better because everything I have seen says otherwise
The AL Central may have been the weakest for the last 2+ seasons but not anymore. Tigers will be near .500 this year and the Royals have a TON of young talent, some of which will be in play in 2022. Guardians and Twins will bring up the rear but not with nearly as bad of records as you will see in basements of other divisions. AL Central no longer worst by good amount.
They will wait for the White Sox to max their payroll, like they seem to have already done, and then watch them follow the example of that other team, the White Sox, and trade away their young, cost controlled players for prospects, so they can do it all over again next decade.
Just before the new rules limiting the bonus signings of international free agents, the White Sox signed Luis Robert to a $26MM bonus that also included a matching penalty amount. They also signed Jose Abreu back in October of 2013 to a 6 yrs./$68MM MLB contract in an open bidding with no monetary restrictions because he was already 26 years old coming out of Cuba.
Don’t worry. The White Sox will adjust for the rest of the division by undercutting themselves.
Colas isn’t even a top 100 prospect, will never be compared to Ohtani in his life. Even if he turned out to be good, by the time we know, Giolito and TA7 will be gone. The Sox are never going to win anything, much less be a dynasty. They would not have even made the playoffs in 2020 or 2021 if they were in any division other than the pitiful AL Central. I’m pretty sure their record is below .500 against winning teams both those seasons.
This annoys me a little bit.
Baseball America clearly states one paragraph in their rankings that players are not ranked by skill or projection but by their expected signing bonus.
Stating a player is ranked #8 in Baseball America ranks should be stated as player is expected to receive the eighth highest bonus according to BA.
Ultimately, isn’t the signing bonus just a reflection of how teams perceive the skills of each player? If you were to create a list of all the top players and how they rank based on skills/projection, don’t you think it would closely resemble the list of top signing bonuses?
For the most part yes.
In the above write up for Bergolla the author compares the rank of MLB vs BA. The two publications are using two separate ranking systems (one on talent vs expected bonus).
To say BA is less bullish on a player because they rank differently is not journalistically correct.
It comes across as the author was lazy and just scrolled down the BA list while avoiding to read the first three sentences of their ranking methods.
Really looking for something to annoy you I see.
Isn’t the idea that smaller market teams can use this as a sort of equalizing type of opportunity? Then how the hell do the Yankees once again get the top guy?
I only hope the league continues to give the player the choice. If other teams want the signing, they only have themselves to blame for not trying harder.
It’s the way the Yankees approach international signings. Seems like every year they typically go after a top 5-10 type guy and give him most of their money and unless you follow the Yankees you never hear or know about the rest of their signing class. I could be wrong but I think they take a quality over quantity approach whereas a lot of teams do the opposite.
You are absolutely correct, and it makes complete sense ( especially with the cutting off of two minor league franchises). If I am a fan of a bad team in Baltimore I cannot be happy that the highest ranked player I signed is 22nd ranked and my main competitor ( the Yankees) signed the first or second best prospect in Arias.
When you limit the amount teams can spend which the league has, it gives a bigger advantage to teams like the Yankees that have rich historic advantages. It’s the Yankee brand. I’m betting if you ask some of these kids how many baseball teams they can name it’s only a handful.
And if they sign with a lower team like the Pirates for instance, they have a quicker path to the majors. It works both ways.
I agree 100%. But as I noted earlier only one of the really bad teams ( Colorado) signed one of the Top 10 ranked players. Teams like the Pirates who have an excellent farm system are the ones that should have signed someone like Arias. Why they chose not to? Good question.
I know you were just using them as an off the cuff example but the Pirates have been doing much better on international signings the past 3 or 4 years since they got rid of Rene Gayo who headed up that department and was caught taking kickbacks from agents to sign players. Today they officially announced signing Yordany de Los Santos and Tony Blanco Jr. MlB Pipeline’s number 11 and 12 prospects. Blanco is a 6 foot 5 inch and 260 pound OF as a 16 year old kid. Power to dream about, as a Bucco fan hope he makes enough contact for it to play in games.
The Pirates by no means are the worst offender when it comes to not signing players. I
Mentioned Baltimore, but Arizona is another team that certainly could have done better. I noticed the Angels and A’s did not spend a lot either. The Angels shocked me, because they spent their entire draft on pitching so they can use hitters. As for the Pirates, they have been doing better at securing talent ( the 2021 draft was exhibit A with 5 top 100 players signed)-
The rankings are done by the most part who gets the most money. At least that’s how BA has done it in the past this season I’m not sure about. So in theory a team like Arizona who has 6+ million could sign 1-6 ranked guys in terms of talent but all for 1 million each.
Just because the Yankees gave one guy the most money he isn’t necessarily ranked the top guy. Jasson Dominguez doesn’t fall into that category as he was clearly the top guy in that class.
@NY Yankee the Pirates system is loaded with talent. I’m not a Pirate’s fan just a baseball fan but I like what Cherington brings to the table as far as building a farm system. He was dealt a bad hand in Boston and they used him as a scapegoat for the signings of Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval when in all reality those signings were made by people with no business in that role. I know Pirate’s fans aren’t happy they dealt everyone away but I think it’ll pay off.
While they were signed today, I wonder how young some of these kids where when they agreed to sign with these clubs. This process is so broken.
13-14
Yankees snag Rod-A!
The biggest problem with IFA is the teams that SHOULD sign an Ariae are not. Look at the top 10 Signings. The only player going to a bad team is Jorge with Colorado.
The biggest problem is ignorant people questioning things when they lack knowledge on a subject. Spending 4 million on a player and using 90% of your budget doesn’t guarantee you get the best player from the class. The A’s for example spent 6-7 million on a guy on year Michael Ynoa I think his name was a giant bust. Lucius Fox got 6 million from the giants one year and couldn’t spend for two years, 2019 they got Luicano for 2.2 million. It’s a crapshoot, making decisions on 16 year old kids remember.
Better to put big money into one guy like Yankees or buckshot the farm like Baltimore did?
How well do you trust your scouts? How stocked is your farm system? How interested is the in joining your franchise? All factors to consider…
O’s approach
Generally speaking I’d prefer my team to spread the wealth around instead of blowing their wad on one or two guys. These kids are roughly 8 or so years from reaching MLB if everything works out. In a lot of cases the top guys could’ve simply physically matured at an earlier age than their peers and the pack will catch up. Ninety percent of the game in signing teenagers is expectation of development which is impossible to quantify so I’d rather have 20 chances at some kid having a big breakout than only a handful.
No prospect is a sure thing. Sure highly rated prospects have a better shot but lots of big money is spent on lots of bad performances. We’ll know who guessed right in 5 years. Assuming the CBA is signed by then.
White Sox got the Cuban Ohtani.
What a surprise!
I feel that all amateurs should be in one draft. Equal rules for all players and all teams. Teams could still be subject to alloted draft amounts. The Draft is the most “fair” way to allocate amateurs. In the current International rules, if your favorite team offered you $4m but the “Sockies” offered $4.5 then who would you sign with? If the “Spankees” offer someone $3m but (wink-wink) they’ll buy your family a new house on the island do you really think they’ll sign with Team B for a little more? The point is that the current system allows for shenanigans but I am certainly not accusing anyone. Just saying, the propensity for said shenanigans is increased ten-fold whereas a draft is deemed fair dinkum. As is, these unproven teens have way more control over their professional fate than new FA 33 year old Tommy Pham has ever had. All NCAA and high schoolers are subject to the draft… why do International teens get “special” treatment? Something is off and my belief is one amateur draft would solve most if not all issues. Don’t @ me if you’re angry or wish to devolve this statement into anything more than a baseball discussion. Have a great weekend everyone!
I personally do not see special treatment issues. If ncaa and high schoolers are complaining, wouldn’t there be more hesitation to sign? I believe there is still a non-drafted free agency. I think there are still loopholes and grey-areas to be had.
Look up how many high-school draftees and NCAA draftees forgo their selection in the Draft. If they’re not AT LEAST drafted in the top 5 rounds, they’re better off making more at dang Arby’s or McDonald’s than the minors unless Baseball is literally the only thing they do in life. Meanwhile, a 16-year old from Cuba or Dominican Republic cashes that $5 million check even before hitting the field in the minors. Hello? Newman’s head altogether?
HS and NCAA players have vast more opportunities than their international peers. Whether that be outside of baseball. in some function with baseball, or outside the game. To say they are getting special treatment seems really backwards. Yes, the top kids get a great signing to start their lives. But, so do the top kids from rounds 1-4 in the mlb.
No one is forcing “your team” to sign these kids. If they don’t want, to they don’t have to. The MLB is giving an opportunity for a kid, just as much as the draft does. And the draft pays out tremendously when concerning the top talent.
The biggest level of unfairness is in 16-20 year olds from North America that get used by their high school and university coaches with no real concern for their health or future playing careers and no money to fall back on.
I’d like to see either an international draft or one amateur draft with everyone combined.
Used? They are voluntarily playing a game. Come on guys. Our kids our fortunate to live in this country. Many of the collegiate athletes are fortunate enough to have their education paid for.
If MLB wants to make an impact around the world and expand this game, so be it. It’s their right and their money. I’m all for it.
I’m fine with one draft only if they penalize tanking/losing. If losing keeps getting rewarded then forget it. At least this way winning teams have a chance to get higher prospects.
@Clip- I would agree. I like the NBA/NHL model of a Draft Lottery with some necessary MLB tweaks to prohibit eternal tanking.
At the very least all major conference NCAA teams should be required to give all baseball players full scholarships. Most teams have half their team on partial scholarships or no scholarship at all (mostly because college baseball doesn’t generate a bunch of revenue for the school) and there’s lots of kids in minor league ball making essentially below minimum wage on a per hour basis and also carrying tens of thousands of student loan debt just to chase the dream.
This would have to occur with both genders and every sport.
The school better have a profitable football team to sustain this.
Gwynn you realize that’s what the braves tried to do and got caught and were penalized for years until this year right? The next team that gets caught doing that is probably going to get double the penalty.
Since most of you are ignorant and think the draft solves everything look up how the draft destroyed baseball in Puerto Rico and it took years decades to repair.
It is a fairness issue. Why? 1: Sweeney had three options, sign with the Yankees, go back to school or go overseas. Arias had thirty options ( the Yankees included). Why? Because he was not born in the US or Canada ( unlike Sweeney who is penalized because he is American).. 2: I am a Yankee fan but it has to be demoralizing for fans of teams like the Orioles and Diamondbacks to see their teams top IFA prospects ranked in the 20’s and 30’s by MLB Pipeline respectively and the Yankees get the first or second ranked Arias. Those two reasons are why you need a world wide draft like the NHL or NBA.
Yes.. what a shame. Sweeney has to suffer, choosing whether or not to make money playing in the NY Yankee system. Let’s coddle the Orioles and Diamondbacks, because no one is playing for them; and they don’t have the same resources anyone else in the league does. If only the Orioles, Pirates, and Dbacks could sign one single of top IFA, by the grace of god, they would no longer be suffering.. playing baseball.. in America.. for a living. First world problems are just too much
Newman- I have a hard time understanding your arguments for continuation of the current systems. Would it be deemed fair if the roles were reversed and all NCAA and high schoolers were “free agents” and all International players would be subject to a draft?
Of course, if it’s agreed upon.
Iverbure- For sake of argument, do you think ATL is the only team to do this? Perhaps there have been hidden deals that we don’t know about? A comprehensive draft for all amateurs would solve this issue.
As soon as Volpe moves to the majors (hopefully) we can just recycle all the articles on why they didn’t spend money on needs in free agency, but insert Arias’ name where Volpe’s was. #Hal’sExcuses
Wonder if any of these guys are going to work out for us, @Clip. Looks like Cash has certainly landed us another big name. Nice if he could go 3 for 3 here, uh? Hell, just 1-3 would be fine.
The Cardinals have got to do better in the international market. For a team that depends on cheap controllable players I don’t understand why they don’t go after players who on average earn less than white players in MLB instead of players like Flaherty who’s obviously gonna go to LA for a 200 million contract. Something the Cardinals will never pay?
There shouldn’t be a cap on International signings. Teams should be able to just empty their wallets. The hell with competitive balance, im sick of the luxury tax cap as well. MLB should have two tiers, those with money who can compete and those who don’t. We have too many teams as it is the product is watered-down.