'#13 and #29 is pretty good, I'd rather have 2 in the 30 than the #7/#8 or so, since most years only the top 2-3 are close to sure things, give me more lottery tickets.
Reminiscent of the Pujols and Grullon signing year in a lot of ways. But I like going after projectable powerful outfielders- they don’t do that enough.
Mlb.com did their top 30 list. Flores is not in the top 30 but Perez is 8th
Hopefully the big discrepancy is just because of limited info, but that’s kind of alarming about Flores and surprising about Perez
I am guessing there is more limited info than usual. Probably better to characterize our top 2 prospects as 2 of the top 50 rather than top 30. It is good that we are represented again in a year where we still lose $500K in allocations. After the apparent disappointment in the 2019 class (likely overpaying for our top prospect who is older than anticipated, not signing any other top prospect, losing allocation dollars while apparently not trading for more), it is good to at least return to normalcy.
BA is starting their team by team International Signing Previews this week. Today was the AL East.
I have no idea whether he could be a true free agent or would be subject to the international signing rules, but Cuban Oscar Colas wants to go back from Japan to MLB. He is a 2-way player at the moment. 866 OPS at age 20 last year in Japan. A handful of pitching innings in Cuba so I don't think he is quite the Cuban Ohtani. But he's an interesting prospect especially in the Japanese contract means he could be posted rather than subject to the international signing pool.
Every international player under 22 is subject to the signing rules.
July 2, 2020 period start officially delayed until January 15, 2021.
Are they changing the eligible birth dates? Under the old rules you had to be 16 or turn 16 prior to September 1st. If they suddenly allowed another 4.5 months of birthdays it would upset some plans and pre-existing deals.
Oh, dear! It would be "terrible" if plans and pre-existing deals that are borderline against the rules, and characterized by under-the-table payments to buscones, were upset by an international pandemic. Color me... not concerned!
Same eligibility birthdays. Move largely about cash flow but the period will last through December 15 and the article implies it could be a permanent switch. Since 16 year olds can only play in the following season after they sign anyway, this changes little.
Current period extended to October 15 but they are in a signing freeze now anyway.
And the pool amounts:
Looks like we are down about $100K from last year (after losing $500K in each year due to free agent signings).
Looks like the Padres cut loose 2 of their possible top signees (read on another site). They are open for bidding. Does Sal know these two kids? i hope. Article is about latching on to young kids at a very early age so they can't sign with any other team. interesting.gm
USA Today article on the Latin America. Mentions the two Padres targets that were cut loose.
Even more disgusting than earlier articles had led us to believe and so much of the problem seems to stem from the Commissioner's office. I can well believe enforcement of the rules is selective. Baseball's commissioners have seemed to favor certain teams. Makes an international draft seem even more desirable. Baseball imperialism. The Phillies seem to be following the rules/guidance.
BA Top 50 is up if anyone wants to list the Phillies prospects (hopefully more than the 2 we learned about). I assume they had this scheduled anyway before the period was pushed back.
In one final note they did have an article on interesting smaller country prospects and they listed two Phillies. Josh Gessner from Australia who got $850K at the end of the 2018 period. They also listed Italian signee Samuel Aldegheri as getting a $210,000 bonus last period. Not a hard thrower (up to 91), but a "strike thrower" with a good feel for his breaking ball. Just interesting that he got that mid-level bonus and was apparently at instructional league last fall.
Of the 50, it's just Flores as OF at #13 and Perez at #29.
BA Phillies International Preview is up:
5 Guys listed:
Marcus Soto, SS, VenezuelaLeonardo Rondon, SS, VenezuelaYamil Rosario, SS, D.R.
All position players balances the draft class a bit, though they are of course on very different timelines.
