2006 International Signing Date

[Cleef]

Sunday was the first day teams can sign international players who will turn 17 years old before September of this year.

Dominicans litter the list: (age)

Angel Beltre, OF, Dominicana (16)
A left-handed hitter with extra-base power. He has a powerful throwing arm and plays great defense in the outfield. There's a rumor that he has a verbal agreement with the Boston Red Sox (he has - go Saaaaawx).

Angel Villalona, 3B, Dominicana (16)
A five-tool player (hits for average, hits for power, has speed, fields well and has a good arm). Villalona is 6-foot-2 and weighs 200 pounds.

Moises Tejeda, SS, Dominicana (16)
He could be the most athletic of them all. He's a stunning pitcher, a great runner and a good hitter.

Esmeily Gonzalez, SS, Dominicana (16)
A great player who can hit from both sides of the plate. Because of his size, good defense and powerful arm, he's compared to Rafael Furcal.

Carlos Triunfel, SS, Dominicana (16)
Somewhat similar to Miguel Tejada when he was signed. He has great power and knows how to hit. Scouts say "he bounces the ball off the bat."

Francisco Pena, C, Dominicana (16)
The son of ex-catcher Tony Pena is considered a great prospect because of his bat. There are rumors that he has shortened his list of favorite teams to the Yankees, Mets and Braves.

Other prospects: Dominicans Freddy Galvis, SS; Ramon Mota, OF; Jose Toussaint, SS; Moises Montero.
Full listing

Many of these kids will be on the rock to play in the Dominican Summer leagues (2007).

These names won't be hard to forget; Tejeda, Alou, Pena and two Angels.

More Information from BA

[Cleef]

Red Sox signed outfielder Angel Beltre and shortstop Moises Tejeda to minor league contracts.

Beltre reportedly received a $600,000 bonus and Tejeda got $550,000. The 16-year-olds were ranked second and fourth, respectively, on ESPN's ranking of the newly available Latin American prospects. Beltre is a left-handed hitter and center fielder with power potential. Tejeda is a toolsy shortstop with a big-time arm.

An excellent haul for the Saaaawx. They haven't developed much to date from their academy, hopefully these two will add some value.

[Cleef]

Esmeily Gonzalez, SS, Dominicana (16) WASHINGTON $1.4 million
A great player who can hit from both sides of the plate. Because of his size, good defense and powerful arm, he's compared to Rafael Furcal.

(Significant signing for Washington, sending a message to the buscones that they are willing to do business)

A MFY's source lists this for Dominicans:
Yankees have signed:
Carlos Urena, OF - Santo Domingo, DR
Hario Heredia, RHP - Santo Domingo, Dr
Jose Tuossen, SS - La Romana, DR
Jimmy Parades, SS - Santo Domingo, DR
Arkeily Lapaix, SS - Haina, DR

(These are lesser known prospects. Many teams have likely collected as many or more to fill out 2007 Dominican Summer League rosters).

The new signing date has allowed teams to somewhat even the playing field for the international talent. It also allows for better documentation of players (read: age).

By 16 most prospects are known to the industry and are there for the wooing. This doesn't diminish the buscone's part in the process, but it does bring more of their work to light, hopefully paving the way for better administration of the players best interests.

Now the buscones seem to be "controlled" in part by the sport agents of the world. Still a bunch of rats, but these ones wear suits.

Until MLB can figure out a drafting process for international talent the mining of that talent will continue to be a work in progress.

It's crazy to imagine how $2.2 million can change the life of a 16 yr. old catcher from Venezuela, but the MFY's ponied that up - and likely much more to be in a position to sign Jesus Montero - and will have to hope that the hunger that got Jesus into this position will stay with him to become the hopeful prize they hope he will be.

I'd imagine the odds of buying 2.2 million quick-picks in the next big lottery might turn out better in the long run.

[rellosk]

Cleef, thanks for the great info and link. You mentioned the 2007 Dominican Summer leagues, do you have ANY info on the 2006 schedule or locales?

[miguel]

Nice list.

Fair to add 5-9 more years, in our minds, to each Dominican player?.

[Cleef]

Nice list.Fair to add 5-9 more years, in our minds, to each Dominican player?.

Not anymore. MLB has put regulations in place to administrate this far better. This shouldn't be an issue going forward.

[Cleef]

Some signings of interest:
Luis Soto Boston 2/03 $500,000 DR
Felix Hernandez Seattle 4/02 $710,000 Venezuela
Erick Aybar Anaheim /02 $100,000 DR
Juel Guzman Dodgers 3/01 $2,250,000 DR
Andy Marte Atlanta 2000 $600,000 D.R
Chien-Ming Wang Yankees 2000 $1,900,000 Taiwan
Willy Aybar Dodgers 2000 $490,000 DR
Aneudis Mateo Boston 2000 $400,000 DR
Jose Reyes Mets 2000 $20,000 DR
Byun-Hun Kim Arizona 1999 $2,000,000 Korea
Miguel Cabrera Florida 1999 $1,800,000 Venezuela
Chin-Hui Tsao Colorado 1999 $2,200,000 Taiwan
Willy Mo Pena Yankees 1999 $2,440,000 DR
Hong-Chih Kuo Dodgers 1999 $1,250,000 Taiwan
Chin-Feng Chen Dodgers 1999 $680,000 Taiwan
Seung Song Boston 1999 $800,000 Korea
Alfonso Soriano Yankees 1998 $3,100,000 Japan
Enrique Cruz Mets 1998 $400,000 DR
Frankie Rodriguez Angels 1998 $900,000 Venezuela
Ricardo Arámboles Yankees 2/98 $1,520,000 DR
Julio Guerrero Boston 2/98 $700,000 DR
Jesús Cordero Dodgers 1998 $600,000 DR
Jung Bong Braves 1997 $1,700,000 Taiwan
Jossephang Bernhardt Toronto 1997 $1,300,000 DR
Sun Woo Kim Boston 1997 $1,000,000 Korea
Wilson Betemit Braves 1996 $40,000 DR
Jackson Melian Yankees 1996 $1,600,000 Venezuela
Katsuhiro Maeda Yankees 1996 $1,500,000 Japan
Miguel Tejada Oakland $2,000 DR

[suarezn]

Hopefully my brother will get signed this year too (left handed pitcher currently throwing around 89 m/hr)...still developing.

[ExtremeR]

Wow suarezn a lefty throwing at 89 has serious prospect of landing a good contract (300,000+). How old is he? I also have a brother who is lefthanded and is slowly developing into one of the best pitchers of his league.

[suarezn]

Wow suarezn a lefty throwing at 89 has serious prospect of landing a good contract (300,000+). How old is he? I also have a brother who is lefthanded and is slowly developing into one of the best pitchers of his league.

He's 19 right now. You'd think that would be the case, but I just don't know how this recruiting game works. I just feel so bad that I can't help him more. I wish I knew some of the scouts / recruiters and could somehow get them to see him. He's working his a$$ off to try to get a contract...He's just completely dedicated to Baseball and his studies (He's also an a+ student), etc...but coming from a poor family is very tough.

He is a very good outfielder and a great hitter with plenty of speed too, but I told him a couple of years ago that he had a better chance of being drafted if he went into pitching instead as outfielders are a dime a dozen, but left handed pitchers are not that easy to come by. He did start pitching and is slowly getting his speed up there. Last time I talked to him he told me he can now get it up to about 88-89...if he had the proper nutrition, instruction, etc...I think he could definitely get into the mid 90's.