July 2, 2018 International Signing Period

[Squire]

We traded 2017 9th Round Pick Jack Zoellner to the Orioles for International Allocation Money. Perhaps the Orioles are "out" on Victor Victor Mesa

[Austinfan]

Zoellner was struggling as a 22 year old in the GCL, not much future there.
If I were the Orioles, I'd be holding out for at least a marginal prospect, but this might be one of those, "we can't use it so we'll trade the allocation for a favor to be named later."

[andyb]

Odd trade after they acquired allocations at the trade deadline. Wonder if Mesa may not be declared eligible for a while or is waiting till the next period when all the teams will have money again?

Zoellner's not even remotely a prospect so good trade for the Phillies.

[allentown]

I'm less interested in what the Orioles won't be doing with the allocation than what the Phillies may be doing with it. Any thoughts. I've seen no rumors.

[Squire]

If history is any guide, the most likely explanations are (1) they still needed some to make the Felix Ortega signing official; or (2) there is nobody significant they are targeting but like 250k-500K in their back pocket so that Sal can stay in the game between now and next spring.

[andyb]

Probably only $250K. Imagine they are just going to add a few mid-level late signings like they did last year and they are coming up against their bonus limit. Have not heard of any higher profile guys and we would probably need a bigger deal to get enough allocations for that.

[andyb]

Orioles fans not super happy:
http://forum.orioleshangout.com/forums/index.php?/topic/33015-orioles-spend-250k-of-their-international-money/

[bigegypt0417]

Dan Connolly on Twitter

[andyb]

Wow. Great for the Phillies. And probably not good for VVM signing with Baltimore. Not that anybody could offer as much money. I just wonder if international players really want to sign with the O's. Can't be a great destination if the organization does not really believe at all in Latin America.

$750K might get us someone. I assume the Asian market still breaks a little later. And no Mexican prospects have signed so that market could also open up at some point.

[LoneStarPhan]

I can only guess that the Orioles had something planned that hasn't worked out. Certainly good to see the Phillies pick up the extra money. I hope it leads to a good signing(s).

[fish]

The Phils signed Zoellner for $10,000. This deal makes as much sense as the DBacks including Touki in the deal to the Braves for salary relief- but i'm glad the Phils came out on the positive side of this! Baltimore's new analytics department must be in it's nascent stages. .

[Squire]

Phillies signed 18 year catching prospect from China named Yang "Bruce" Wang per the transaction wire at phillies.com

[Lawman]

The should drop the "Bruce." Yang Wang is so much cooler.

[Austinfan]

Unless, of course, his alter ego is the Chinese Batman.

[gmwannabe]

There's 2/3 of Zoellner's money. didn't take long.
gm

[andyb]

Let the Victor Victor Mesa games begin:

Victor Victor Mesa now eligible to sign in MLB

Orioles have $6.7 million. Marlins $4.3, Rays $3.6 and Dodgers $2.78. There are two Mesas - the top prospect and his 17-year-old younger brother (who might also be top 30 but not near the top). Cuban Sandy Gaston is out there too (throws 97, reportedly failed PED test). Mexican signings still on hold I believe.

[nycphils]

How much do we have left?

[andyb]

I think we were almost out of money before we added the $750K. Our initial signings that we knew about added up to close to what we had available especially if you assume the pre-draft estimates on our one late birthday signing.

Which means absent trading for more allocations we probably have 1-2 mid-level prospect offers to make ($250K-$500K). No chance of getting those 3 Cubans though. Given our late signings last time from Mexico and Asia I was assuming we would look in those directions again since signings in those countries might take place a bit later for various reasons.

[Austinfan]

I think they knew they were out of the running for Mesa, you negotiate with the agent, then you negotiate for additional allocations if you need them - but the losers in the Mesa auction may be willing to dump some allocation money at low cost, and I could see Klentak swooping in with a list of guys he's lined up.

[bigegypt0417]

https://twitter.com/Matt_Winkelman/status/1044225117071577090?s=19