The International Signing Period
Here's some detail on the international signing period, which begins today:
- Players born outside of the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico aren't eligible to be drafted; they're signed as free agents instead.
- The signing period begins July 2nd.
- The youngest eligible players for this year were born in late August and early September, 1994.
- This year's international free agents must turn 17 by September 1st 2011, or the end of their first pro season, whichever is later.
- Players don't make their pro debut until the calendar year after they're first eligible to be signed.
- They can sign with any major league team.
- Players can sign after August 31st if they don't do so immediately.
- A number of players older than 16 will sign as well.
- Check out this article by Baseball America's Ben Badler to see how the Reds signed Juan Duran before anyone – even his own agent - thought he was eligible.
Michael Ynoa set a record in 2008 when he signed for a $4.25MM bonus. Miguel Sano was the most-hyped prospect of 2009, but there has not been similar buzz surrounding any of this year's prospects.
Thanks to Cot's Baseball Contracts, Kiley McDaniel and Ben Badler. This post was first published on June 17th, 2009.
Reactions To The Changes In Arizona
The changes in Arizona have baseball writers buzzing from coast to coast. The D'Backs announced last night that they have replaced GM Josh Byrnes and manager A.J. Hinch with Jerry Dipoto and Kirk Gibson – at least for now. Here are some reactions to the D'Backs' dismissals:
- Bob Nightengale of USA Today says the D'Backs fired Byrnes because of his decisions, not because he was backing Hinch (Twitter link).
- Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic says the relationship between Byrnes and D'Backs CEO Derrick Hall may have contributed to the GM's dismissal.
- Chris Snyder told MLB.com's Steve Gilbert that it was "definitely time for a change." Brandon Webb says he's sure interim manager Kirk Gibson will do well.
- Frankie Piliere of FanHouse hears that Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer will get serious consideration for the GM opening in Arizona (Twitter link).
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney hears that A.J. Hinch is well-respected in the game and won't have trouble getting another job (Twitter link).
- Yahoo's Jeff Passan has a new twist on Byrnes' phrase 'organizational advocacy.'
- Dave Cameron of FanGraphs says the D'Backs "royally screwed up" if they made changes because of their record over the course of the past few years.
- Vote on the decision here and tell us what you think in the comments.
Poll: The D’Backs’ Decision To Fire Byrnes & Hinch
The D'Backs announced yesterday that they fired manager A.J. Hinch and GM Josh Byrnes, replacing them with Kirk Gibson and Jerry Dipoto, at least on an interim basis. There's no question that the 31-48 D'Backs are having a disappointing season, but that doesn't mean baseball fans agree with their decision to dismiss the ones in charge.
Were the D'Backs right to fire Byrnes and Hinch?
Click here to take the survey and here to view the results.
Blue Jays, Pirates Bidding On Luis Heredia
The Pirates and Blue Jays are bidding on Mexican pitching prospect Luis Heredia, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. A source tells Kovacevic that the Blue Jays offered the tall 15-year-old right-hander $2.8MM and the Pirates offered $2.5MM. The international signing period opens today, but Heredia cannot sign until August 16th of this year, when he turns 16.
Any teams interested in Heredia will have to negotiate with Veracruz, the Mexican team that currently owns his rights. Veracruz will keep three quarters of the bonus Heredia receives and controls the prospect’s future to a considerable extent.
The Yankees have also scouted Heredia, but the Pirates have been watching him for two years and are closer to the pitcher than any other team. Back in May, the Dodgers, Giants, Rangers and Mariners also appeared to have interest. The Pirates and Blue Jays have both scouted and invested in international prospects aggressively in recent years.
Chad Tracy Opts For Release From Cubs
JULY 1: According to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com, Tracy has cleared waivers and opted to be released rather than go to the minors.
JUNE 25: The Cubs designated Chad Tracy for assignment, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times (via Twitter). The Cubs had to create roster space for Aramis Ramirez, who is coming off the DL.
Tracy, 30, hit .250/.327/.295 for the Cubs in 49 plate appearances this year. He did not come close to matching the success he had with the D'Backs earlier in his career. From 2005-06, Tracy posted an .848 OPS and averaged 24 homers and 38 doubles as a corner infielder and outfielder. He signed a minor league deal worth $900K with the Cubs over the winter.
Dana Eveland Clears Waivers
JULY 1: Eveland has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis according to MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch (Twitter link).
JUNE 24: The Pirates designated Dana Eveland for assignment, according to the team. The club, which placed Zach Duke on the DL yesterday, will announce corresponding moves later today.
It's the third time Eveland has been designated for assignment this year. The A's designated him in February and dealt him to the Blue Jays, who designated him in May and dealt him to the Pirates. Back in March, the D'Backs reportedly had interest in the left-hander, but that was before Eveland posted a 6.79 ERA in 54.1 major league innings with more walks (5.3 BB/9) than strikeouts (4.0 K/9).
Rangers Acquire Bengie Molina
3:33pm: Andrew Baggarly of The San Jose Mercury News tweets that the deal is now official.
THURSDAY, 3:15pm: Baseball America's Jim Callis hears from a source that Michael Main will be the player to be named later going to San Francisco (Twitter link). Main was the 24th overall selection in the 2007 draft, and was ranked as the 21st best prospect in the Rangers' system by Callis' publication before the season.
In a second tweet, Callis notes that the deal is similar to the Casey Blake–Carlos Santana trade in that the Rangers had to give up a quality prospect to get the Giants to kick in money to pay Molina's salary.
WEDNESDAY, 9:03pm: The Rangers acquired Bengie Molina and cash for Chris Ray and a player to be named later today. Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports first reported that the sides were deep in discussions about Molina and Scott Boeck of USA Today added the details soon afterwards. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News noted that the Giants will send the Rangers cash (Twitter link).
Molina, 36 in July, is hitting .257/.312/.332 this year. The Giants can shift the full-time catching duties to Buster Posey, play Aubrey Huff at first and rely on Andres Torres, Pat Burrell, Aaron Rowand and Nate Schierholtz in the outfield. They don't need a catcher, but the Rangers do – Texas' backstops have hit .212/.311/.328 this year. Those numbers are eerily similar to Molina's, though there's no question that Molina's offensive track record inspires more confidence than Matt Treanor's.
Molina has about $2.3MM remaining on the $4.5MM deal he and the Giants agreed to last winter. The Rangers can add rental players, though the team's ownership transfer will limit its ability to take on long-term contracts.
Ray, who earns $975K this year, has a 3.41 ERA in 31.2 innings of work. However, the 28-year-old has walked as many batters as he has struck out (16). This is the second consecutive summer the Rangers have acquired a catcher (Ivan Rodriguez, 2009) and the second time a Molina brother has been traded (Jose Molina, 2007).
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Nationals Expressed Interest In Haren, Quentin
The Nationals have expressed interest in Dan Haren and inquired on Carlos Quentin, according to Bill Ladson of MLB.com. Quentin isn't available, but the Nats' interest in that pair of players, plus Edwin Jackson and David DeJesus shows that GM Mike Rizzo has an aggressive approach to the trade deadline. The 34-44 Nationals could be buyers or sellers, but Rizzo has identified the organization’s most pressing need.
"Our biggest need now and at the trade deadline is starting pitching," Rizzo said.
Like most GMs, Rizzo is reluctant to describe his team as sellers or buyers at this point. Perhaps the Nationals will be neither and continue making deals like the Nyjer Morgan trade, which was completed one year ago today. Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham are among the Nationals drawing interest on the trade market, so Rizzo will have chances to buy and sell over the course of the next month.
Odds & Ends: Moseley, Reds, Prior, Nationals
Links for Wednesday, as Dustin Pedroia gets an early start on his rehab assignment…
- The Yankees will soon add Dustin Moseley to their roster, probably at the expense of Chan Ho Park or Chad Gaudin, according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). Moseley's opt-out clause kicks in tomorrow.
- Reds GM Walt Jocketty told MLB.com's Mark Sheldon that he's looking at pitching, though the team has a limited number of 'bullets' to fire this summer.
- A veteran scout told Tom Krasovic of AOL FanHouse that Mark Prior was "just all right" in his workout today (Twitter link). Prior, who last pitched in the majors in 2006, is attempting a comeback.
- Nationals GM Mike Rizzo told Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post that he would like the Nats to become “younger, better [and] more athletic” if they make trades this summer.
- Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times notes that the Phillies scouted last night's Yankees-Mariners game and wonders if the Phils are eyeing Jose Lopez, who could fill in for Chase Utley and Placido Polanco.
- The Nationals appear satisfied with hot-hitting Roger Bernadina in right field, but they did have interest in David DeJesus at one point, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson (via Twitter).
- Two executives told MLB.com’s Peter Gammons that there's no way the Twins will give up pitcher Kyle Gibson this summer. Like Cardinals prospect Shelby Miller, Gibson is a 2009 draft pick who signed late, so he would have to be dealt as a ‘player to be named later’ in any July trade.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears that the Padres had interest in Eric Patterson before the Red Sox acquired him over the weekend (Twitter link).