7/2 international signing period - 2011

[OregonStrosFan]

The date is fast approaching, but I haven't seen the Astros linked to anybody yet.  Anyone seen/heard anything?

[astrosfan76]

Nope.  BA may have something, but I haven't seen anyone mentioned in tweets.  I know they have plenty of stuff behind the paywall (which may or not link us to someone), but I don't have a subscription.

[OregonStrosFan]

Nope.  BA may have something, but I haven't seen anyone mentioned in tweets.  I know they have plenty of stuff behind the paywall (which may or not link us to someone), but I don't have a subscription.

I have one, but not much Astros noise there as of yet, though Badler is generally conservative with linking kids to teams.  He has been posting his 7/2 previews though, so there is some good info out there on some of the potential signees.

[Navin R Johnson]

I hope they can sign a big arm.  Maybe it is just where they have been picking but they haven't used big bucks on a pitcher since Heck took over.  Castro, Jio, Deshileds Jr, Springer(soon to be), & Ovando are the highest paid guys to date.

[EasTexAstro]

I hope they can sign a big arm.  Maybe it is just where they have been picking but they haven't used big bucks on a pitcher since Heck took over.  Castro, Jio, Deshileds Jr, Springer(soon to be), & Ovando are the highest paid guys to date.

They have signed a lot of arms, maybe not at the very top, but if they don't have a defense behind them, even a good pitcher will struggle. There was almost no position players in the system. I know, if you develop enough good arms, you can do some trading for position players, but...

Maybe they have seen pitching in the drafts have had more depth, and they needed to get some solid players early to build up the system to support them.

[astrosfan76]

I hope they can sign a big arm.  Maybe it is just where they have been picking but they haven't used big bucks on a pitcher since Heck took over.  Castro, Jio, Deshileds Jr, Springer(soon to be), & Ovando are the highest paid guys to date.

I think it's been part design, part luck-of-the-draw when it's come to pitching.  They seemed ready and eager to drop a lot of money on Archie Bradley, had they been given the opportunity.  Armstrong may wind up jumping one or two of those guys if he proves himself dominant this summer (not guaranteeing it, but I could see it happening). 

When it comes to the international market, it depends on what's out there.  I don't know too much about this year's crop, other than that it is better than last year's.  Granted, it was Wade and Drayton's baby (and there's the limbo with Crane), but with the new Dominican academy, I can't see them dropping a big contract on Ovando one year and then reverting to 5-figure contract maximums afterward.  So, I imagine they'll try to make at least one splash this year.  We may not be talking Ovando-money, but someone significant.

[OregonStrosFan]

I don't know too much about this year's crop, other than that it is better than last year's.

IIRC, they were saying this 7/2 crop was a very good one!

[jbm]

Seems to me at least that while Wade/Heck values ceiling over certainty, they focus more on the mid-priced young arms, rather than the high-priced young arms.  I am curious what the hit rate is on first round high school arms versus first round high school position players. 

[OregonStrosFan]

I don't know too much about this year's crop, other than that it is better than last year's.

Via Badler at BA in his June 13 article: LINK (subscription required)

Many international scouts say the 2011 class looks stronger than last year's. The Dominican Republic has several talented outfielders who should be in line for seven-figure bonuses, Venezuela has a host of promising pitchers and catchers, and both countries have solid depth of position players. Mexico and Colombia also have players who are expected to command bonuses around $1 million or more.

"I definitely think this year's class has more depth and better players out there than last July 2," said an American League international director. "More teams are going to focus on Latin America, there are more showcases, more agents and it's easier to see the players. It does sound like there's going to be money spent on July 2."

[AppyAstros]

I hope they can sign a big arm.  Maybe it is just where they have been picking but they haven't used big bucks on a pitcher since Heck took over.  Castro, Jio, Deshileds Jr, Springer(soon to be), & Ovando are the highest paid guys to date.

Folty got 1.3 - that is nothing to sneeze at and is almost the same as what Jio got (1.38m).  In addition each of the following got 500K or more: Lyles 900K, Seaton 700K, Velasquez 655K and Bushue 530K. 

[OregonStrosFan]

Folty got 1.3 - that is nothing to sneeze at and is almost the same as what Jio got (1.38m).  In addition each of the following got 500K or more: Lyles 900K, Seaton 700K, Velasquez 655K and Bushue 530K.

Dydalewicz got $425,000 too.

[OregonStrosFan]

One of the few Astros mentions for Badler this year is kind of, well, interesting.  LINK (subscription required)

At a showcase run by the Arias and Goodman academy in the Dominican Republic on June 18, scouts started asking questions about a new pitcher who showed up throwing 98 mph. As it turns out, the pitcher—6-foot-2, 220-pound righthander Enmanuel Cedano—isn't so new. Cedano was an outfielder three years ago when the Astros signed him in August 2008 and immediately put him on the mound. Cedano spent two years pitching in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and racked up a 9.75 ERA in 26 2/3 innings as he battled his control, though he was better in 2010 with a 4.50 ERA 18 strikeouts and 13 walks in 18 innings.

Cedano, 21, was still with the Astros in extended spring training this year until they released him on April 29. According to a source who saw him this spring, Cedano threw up to 95 mph but was also extremely wild. His velocity has increased since the Astros released him, though he's still more of a thrower than a pitcher and his secondary stuff is well behind his fastball. *** He's likely to get a second chance with another organization.

[Travis]

Do you think the Astros will actually be that active in the signing period? It seems like the ownership transition could diminish the team's ability to sign players. I guess I'm confused about how this would work.

If the Astros sign players, is it Drayton's money still or is it Crane's? If it's Drayton's, why would he spend at this point? If it's Crane's, then how does Drayton deal with it?

[OregonStrosFan]

Do you think the Astros will actually be that active in the signing period? It seems like the ownership transition could diminish the team's ability to sign players. I guess I'm confused about how this would work.

If the Astros sign players, is it Drayton's money still or is it Crane's? If it's Drayton's, why would he spend at this point? If it's Crane's, then how does Drayton deal with it?

TOTAL conjecture, but I'd imagine that there was some sort of budget figure included in the sale talks/agreement for $X to be spent on draftees and $X to be spent on the international front. Best GUESS is that the Astros prospect people are going to be allowed to do what they do with the $X alloted to them, and that if there were a legitimate reason to go above that then Crane would have a say.

[Travis]

TOTAL conjecture, but I'd imagine that there was some sort of budget figure included in the sale talks/agreement for $X to be spent on draftees and $X to be spent on the international front. Best GUESS is that the Astros prospect people are going to be allowed to do what they do with the $X alloted to them, and that if there were a legitimate reason to go above that then Crane would have a say.

That would make complete sense, and is hopefully the case.

[Reuben]

That would make complete sense, and is hopefully the case.

Good conjecturing by OSF, makes sense to me too. Looking at it another way, Crane obviously has incentive to want to get moving restocking the system in this critical time of year. And Drayton, too- if Crane for some reason doesn't get approved and he has to put the team back on the market, beefing up the farm system and/or making a splash international signing will only help the franchise look more appealing.

[AppyAstros]

[Casey Kasem voice] Projected top 40 bonus list by BA [\Casey Kasem voice]

[chuck]

[Casey Kasem voice] Projected top 40 bonus list by BA [\Casey Kasem voice]

Put me down for Dawel Lugo and Franmil Reyes.

[hubert]

From BA

The Astros spent $2.6 million last year on Ariel Ovando, and the organization was so high on him that he skipped the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and began his career in the more advanced Rookie-level Appalachian League until he came down with elbow soreness. They were one of the top spenders last year, though they're unlikely to sign anyone for Ovando money this year. After spending mostly in the Dominican Republic in 2010, they could branch into Venezuela for a player like shortstop Arturo Michelena or possibly outfielder Anthony Santander. Catcher Eric Otanez could be a possibility in the Dominican Republic.

[Reuben]

Rangers have already signed one guy for $5mil (Nomar Mazara), and another for $3.5mil (Ronald Guzman). Old Lynn Nolan sure is trying hard to get his team's name in the papers.