Miguel Sano

Miguel Angel Sano Rumors: Friday

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 3, 2009 at 10:16am CDT

The Orioles will likely make Miguel Angel Sano an offer in the coming days, though they haven't yet done so, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. Orioles president Andy MacPhail said the team wants to see how MLB's investigation into Sano's age turns out. The O's have decided Sano's worth a certain amount, but, obviously did not disclose the number.

Another Orioles note: they have scouted Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman, but aren't likely to engage in a bidding war to acquire the lefty prospect.

Meanwhile, Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette repeats that the Pirates have offered Sano a deal, which they followed up with a visit to his family home. However, nothing will likely be finalized until next week, when MLB could finish its investigation.

Miguel Angel Sano Rumors: Thursday

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 2, 2009 at 5:16pm CDT

5:16pm: According to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins have offered a deal around $3MM, contingent on verification of Sano's age and identification. It seems most of these clubs are willing to hold off until both have been verified.

3:34pm: Arangure Jr. says he's been assured the Pirates haven't offered Sano a deal. As he says, the difference between an offer and the parameters of a deal may just be "semantics," especially since Sano's age is still under investigation.

2:55pm: Kovacevic hears from multiple sources that the Pirates offered Sano a deal yesterday morning. However, nothing will likely materialize before MLB completes the investigation into Sano's age.

2:27pm: Roch Kubatko of MASN.com reports that the Orioles won't be signing Sano in the immediate future.

1:25pm: Arangure Jr. hears that the MLB investigation into Sano's age won't be completed today. Safe to say he won't sign today then.

12:24pm: MLB.com's Jen Langosch reports that the Pirates have not yet made Sano an offer.

9:47am: ESPN.com's Jorge Arangure Jr. hears that the Pirates haven't made Sano an offer yet.

8:56am: Today marks the beginning of the international signing period, when teams can start signing the latest crop of young international stars and the Pirates are starting the day off aggressively. Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports they are believed to have offered Miguel Angel Sano a contract, the terms of which are still unknown.

The Pirates will have to overcome a number of obstacles to sign Sano, however:

The Twins and Orioles are still in the mix and Baltimore could out-spend both teams.
The Pirates have a Latin American budget of $2MM, but Sano will likely command a bonus north of $3MM and could approach Michael Ynoa's record of $4.25MM. GM Neal Huntington says the Pirates could expand the budget under special circumstances, something they'd almost certainly have to do to sign Sano.
There are lingering questions about the shortstop's age which must be resolved.

In spite of this, Huntington says he expects to do "very well" internationally this year.

Odds & Ends: Zambrano, Royals, Hinske

By Eddie Schmid | June 30, 2009 at 7:26pm CDT

A dosage of links to soothe and satisfy between innings:

Paul Sullivan at the Chicago Tribune got Carlos Zambrano to respond to the poll that 57.2% of Cubs fans think he should be traded: "Fine, trade me to Boston," he joked.
Joe Posnanski gives an in-depth look at the problems facing the Royals. "The Royals execs are smart people. But the more they do to this offense, the worse this offense gets," he says.
Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel, cricket players from India who won a reality T.V. show called "Million Dollar Arm" and had never picked up a baseball until recently, are now set to play their first game for rookie-level Pirates affiliate Bradenton.
M.A. Mehta at the Newark Star-Ledger talked to Yankees GM Brian Cashman, who says the deal for Eric Hinske "made some sense…he's a pro."
Bart Hubbuch at the New York Post tweets that the Mets "inquired repeatedly" on Mark DeRosa but didn't like the price.
ESPN's Keith Law takes a look at some intriguing pitchers in the Cape League (Insider).
Kiley McDaniel tweets that Baltimore is a "serious darkhorse" for the services of Miguel Angel Sano, with the Pirates and Twins still favorites.
According to MLB.com's Rustin Dodd, the Royals have begun discussions with first-round pick Aaron Crow.

International Free Agent Update

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 29, 2009 at 1:37pm CDT

ESPN.com's Jorge Arangure relays the latest on a pair of international players with his Twitter account.

Cheslor Cuthbert, who agreed to terms over the weekend, will receive a bonus of about $1.2MM from the Royals.
The Rangers appear to be closing in on Jurickson Profar.
It looks like he'll receive a bonus of about $700k to play short.
He could probably have received more if he'd signed as a pitcher, but he doesn't want to pitch.

Our own Mike Axisa questioned Baseball America's Ben Badler about some other international players over at River Ave. Blues:

It looks like top Latin catching prospect Gary Sanchez will sign with the Yankees for about $3MM.
The Mariners seem to be the favorites to sign Guillermo Pimentel.
Ugueth Urbina's son, Juan, will likely sign with the Mets.
Badler says Miguel Angel Sano would have gone somewhere between fourth overall and the end of the first round if he'd been eligible in this month's draft.

Odds And Ends: Sano, Rays, Mateo

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 26, 2009 at 4:12pm CDT

Odds And Ends: Red Sox, Mateo, Sano

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 22, 2009 at 2:51pm CDT

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Sano, Pedro, Sabathia, Lopez

By Cork Gaines | June 19, 2009 at 1:33pm CDT

On this date 14 years ago, Darryl Strawberry signed a one-year deal with the Yankees for $675K, four months after being released by the Giants and five years after leaving New York to sign with the Dodgers as a free agent. Interestingly, this would be the most lucrative season of his career as it marked the final year of his Dodgers contract that would pay him $5.3MM in '95. Straw was never traded, but we are a little over one month from this year's trade deadline. Let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

Around the Majors spoke with Kiley McDaniel of Baseball Prospectus about Miguel Sano and the international signing period.
River Ave. Blues doesn't feel the Yankees will be able to find a spot for Pedro Martinez and doubts he could still be effective in the AL East.
Bleacher Nation finds the Cubs' interest in Pedro Martinez "strange," noting that they have no money to spend and that the Cubs need bats, not arms.
Jorge Says No! puts together a list of the teams that could be sellers over the next six weeks.
MLB Notebook looks at when it may be best for teams to deal specific players, including Erik Bedard, Juan Pierre and Matt Holliday.
Capitol Avenue Club goes back and reevaluates the C.C. Sabathia trade now that the Brewers have used the draft picks acquired for losing Sabathia as a free agent.
Goat Riders of the Apocalypse feels that Felipe Lopez would be a "cheap and quick upgrade" for the Cubs offense.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.

Odds And Ends: Cuban, Harper, Sano

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 19, 2009 at 12:57pm CDT

MLB Investigating Miguel Angel Sano’s Age

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 19, 2009 at 9:28am CDT

ESPN.com's Jorge Arangure Jr. reports that MLB investigators are looking into Miguel Angel Sano's age after the Twins requested more detail on the top Dominican prospect's background. Sano says he's 16, but some believe he's older because of his physique. The investigation will include a DNA test and could prevent a quick signing when the international signing period begins on July 2nd. Any player caught lying about his age receives a one-year suspension from MLB.

Arangure reports that Sano's expected to sign with the Twins or Pirates as long as he's not suspended.

Odds And Ends: Pedro, Padres, Sano

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 18, 2009 at 3:57pm CDT

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