January 15, 2021 International Signing Period (was 7/2/20)

[andyb]

USA Today article on the Latin America. Mentions the two Padres targets that were cut loose.

In Latin America, big league clubs are exploiting prospects as young as 12,...

[allentown]

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.

[andyb]

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.

[allentown]

Of the 50, it's just Flores as OF at #13 and Perez at #29.

[Squire]

BA Phillies International Preview is up:

5 Guys listed:

13 Yemal Flores, OF, D.R.

29 Ricardo Perez, C, Venezuela

Marcus Soto, SS, Venezuela
Leonardo Rondon, SS, Venezuela
Yamil Rosario, SS, D.R.

[andyb]

All position players balances the draft class a bit, though they are of course on very different timelines.

[allentown]

True, but recent history says our LA staff would have done a better job at identifying pitchers. I may be blanking on someone, but believe Ruiz was our last plus player out of international program and none of the LA position guys currently in the minors looks plus.

[Squire]

Happy July 2nd of No Significance Day to Everyone

[andyb]

Closing in on the actual international period. No real updates on the Phillies end from the guys Baseball America had in June.

Fangraphs updated their international board to include non-posted Asian players and other prospects not certain to be available. They have not listed the Phillies two top prospects yet. Not sure it means much as I was always considering them 2 of the top 50. Jung-hoo Lee looks like a really good player if he ever decides to come over in the next couple of years. Power/speed guy already very good in the KBO at age 21.

Presenting an Updated International Prospect List

https://www.fangraphs.com/prospects/the-board/international-players/summary?sort=13,1&type=0

[andyb]

A couple of updates the last few days. Oscar Colas (the Cuban Ohtani) was released from his Japanese contract and will be eligible to be signed in the upcoming international period. His problem is he is probably worth a bonus of $2 million plus and there may not be many teams with that much room left in their international pool. Big chance he waits a year to get more money, though one could argue that starts his free agent clock a year later since he is already 22. Scouts are divided on him and might be leaning more towards him hitting (LH 1B type) though that could also be because he pitched very little in Japan. Clearly not the plus plus overall athlete that Ohtani is however.

Also, Yoelki Cespedes, the 23-year-old younger brother of Yoenis has a deal with the White Sox for $2.0-$2.2 million apparently. He was another Cuban latecomer to this signing period.

[Squire]

Anybody with a current BA subscription that can give the skinny on the names included in the Phillies international preview. I am, of course, aware of Yemal Flores and Ricardo Perez

[allentown]

Anybody with a current BA subscription that can give the skinny on the names included in the Phillies international preview. I am, of course, aware of Yemal Flores and Ricardo Perez

I can't find it on the site. Has it been published yet (on-line or paper)? I don't think it has.

[Squire]

It would seem that International Signing Day is tomorrow.

[andyb]

Here is the BA preview page with everything behind the firewall. BA tweeted that 14 of the organizational previews were updated this week (not sure if there is anything new with the Phillies but if anyone is a subscriber....):

2020-21 MLB International Prospects Signing Preview

[kmc1019]

From the updated(?) BA international list, descriptions on likely Phillies signings are:

14 overall: OF Yemal Flores

"..... strong, sturdy build and big power. It comes at the expense of some swing-and-miss tendencies, but Flores generates loft, backspin and drives the ball with impact when he connects. A former third baseman, Flores moved to the outfield and fits best in a corner, with a strong arm for right field."

26 overall: C Ricardo Perez

"...Perez has a loose, fluid swing from the left side with good bat control and a knack for getting the ball airborne, projecting to hit for power once he fills out his lean frame. Perez has the defensive attributes to stay behind the plate with a tick above-average arm strength."

[andyb]

Those were the two we knew about, and since they are relatively high priced and the Phillies lost some international dollars, my expectations are modest for anyone else. Note I think Perez is number 9 in the MLB.com rankings while Flores was unranked there.

[allentown]

These are the only 3 other names mentioned:
"Venezuelan shortstops Marcos Soto and Leonardo Rondon are two mid-level shortstops the Phillies are expected to sign, with Dominican shortstop Yamil Rosario another player expected to join the Phillies' class."

[Austinfan]

I'm wary of LA players who've already filled out at 16, either they're lying about their age, use steroids or matured early, in which case there is limited upside. So you overpay for 16 year old production, which has little value.

Give me the skinny kid with growth potential who shows eye to hand coordination and good swing mechanics and speed, or a pitcher with velo potential with repeatable mechanics, command and a high spin rate.

[andyb]

One sliver of good news, assuming there is a DSL season of course, is that all these prospects will be able to play this season. In the past all the 16-year-olds in July would sign contracts for next season (there were usually a handful of older signees that could play immediately.

In concept delaying the signings 6 months is a good thing since it does not delay their debuts and gives teams 6 months extra to evaluate the prospects. Unless they are signed when they are 14.....

[allentown]

I'm wary of LA players who've already filled out at 16, either they're lying about their age, use steroids or matured early, in which case there is limited upside

Certainly the trap the Phillies fell into with big bonus babies Encarnacion and Ortiz, but generally the Phillies do sign quite skinny IFs, CFs, and ptichers and, apart from Sixto, haven't hit big with that strategy either. It will be interesting to see how the Phillies do with Yhoswar Garcia, who at a year older than claimed had a big evaluation advantage over the younger competition and a year's less upside growth (physically; with the suspension and Covid, more ike 2 years less developmental time growth potential).

Encarnacion and Ortiz were also products of the Phillies determination to sign amateur talent with power. It seems they only evaluated for batting practice raw power and gave a lot of $ to one-dimensional tool players. Too bad the tool they chose wasn't an in-game tool.

BA currently has a ranking of 10 best international July 2 signing classes, going back about 20 years. About 80-some guys on the list as best guys signed that year, more than a few franchise-changing talents. Two Philies signees listed: Galvis and Cesar Hernandez. Maikel Franco is listed as basically an interesting honorable mention in addition to his year's top signings. If Sixto's year had been counted as one of the top classes, he obviously would have been listed among the top signings -- if he stays healthy he may well join my list of franchise-changing talents. But, all-in-all, not a very impressive haul for the Phillies.