Twins Fail To Land A Big One On International Signing Day
Posted on July 4th, 2008 – 6:18 PMBy La Velle
July 2 is becoming a day worth circling on the Major League Baseball calendar. It’s the day clubs can sign international players.
Just like the early June draft, bonus money is skyrocketing. And this year’s signing class is led by 16-year old Dominican righthander Michael Inoa, who’s 6 feet, 7 inches tall, weights 205 pounds and has hit 94 miles an hour on the gun.
Inoa signed with Oakland for a record bonus of $4.25 million.
Several players have been signed for seven-figure bonuses. Oakland, San Diego and Seattle are among teams aggressively making a bigger impact in Latin America and aren’t afraid to outwork and outspend teams like the Yankees and Red Sox to do so.
I checked with the Twins today to see if they signed any international players. I was told they have, in both the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. I’m not sure if I’ll ever get a list of their signings - although more teams are announcing theirs - and I was warned by a frustrated club official before Wednesday’s signing day that they wouldn’t sign anyone to a seven-figure deal. I sensed that the official was flustered because they’ve tried to sign top Latin prospects but have been outspent.
For instance, the Twins last year offered about $1 million to Dominican outfielder Kelvin DeLeon and were willing to go higher to sign him. But the Yankees swooped in, offered $1.1 or $1.2 million (I’ve seen both figures) and DeLeon was gone. Apparently, DeLeon fell for the Yankee mystique.
And they were all over teenager Miguel Cabrera, offering more than $1 million, only to get blown away by a $1.9 million offer from Florida.
But if the Twins are going to change the perception that they aren’t big players in Latin America, they have to go in harder for players - and not be afraid to beat their chests a little when they are successful.
Let’s face it, the Twins have swung and missed mightily in Latin American player procurement. Juan Rincon and Luis Rivas are the best they’ve come up with in recent years. Other teams signed Johan Santana and Cristian Guzman.
It appears that Twins may have a wave coming in a few years with catcher Wilson Ramos, third baseman Deibinson Romero, shortstop Estarlin De Los Santos and righthander Santos Arias all in A-ball - but it may be their first wave since the pipeline to Cuba dried up.
I fully understand that handing seven-figure bonuses to Latin teenagers doesn’t gaurantee they’ll be stars. Before Inoa. Wily Mo Pena ($2.44M in 1999) and Joel Guzman ($2.25M in 2001) were the biggest bonus babies. Among Latin pitchers, it was Riccardo Aramboles ($1.52M in 1998).
Those aren’t exactly All-Stars.
But it comes down to who the Twins feel is a good prospect. If they like someone, they shouldn’t get outspent. They shouldn’t lose out to the Yankees because of mystique.
Look at what A’s GM Billy Beane did to seal the Inoa deal.
The Twins have spent millions in recent years to improve their facilities in Latin America so players and their reps would actually stop by their fields instead of walking on by to visit another team. Now they need to land some top prospects to play on those fields. This year, in which their payroll is about $15 million lower than it was last year, would have been a good time to start.
They talk a good game but their good intentions need to become tangible results.
28 Responses to "Twins Fail To Land A Big One On International Signing Day"
Really dissapointing considering all of the money they aren’t spending on payroll this year. They should have taken those savings and decided to take some calculated risks this year to try to turn that reputation around of not being a front runner in that arena. It would pay dividends in future years.
I’m not too into bashing Pohlads for not spending because I think they do a fair job… but it would have been nice to see a “splash” made on that end.
It’s clear they aren’t making splashes in the Free Agent market. It also seems they are getting diminishing returns in FA because they usually are signing the Lamb’s, Everett’s, Ponson’s, Ortiz’s and Batista’s of the world. Even though they’re affordable none of them have enough up-side to hold off mediocre talent and all eventually loose their jobs. Doesn’t seem like the best track record for FA signings.
here’s a quote from the article that Lavelle linked too that sums up what the Twins should be doing:
“It’s no secret we had reduced our major-league payroll,” Beane said. “We wanted to continue to reinvest what would normally be major league payroll into the infrastructure.”
more…
Beane said it would not stop with Inoa. He is scouting worldwide, and there may well be more signings. It is a change in philosophy, and Beane backs it with his analysis.
“The money we invested, say $4.25 million, would be better than signing one major league player at 4.25,” he said. “It does relate very much to the major league payroll. The risks and potential of what this kid could do was worth it to us.”
Hopefully we can sign all the draftees we really want. Don’t pinch pennies. Thanks for the good article La Velle. Any chance baseball will go to a WORLD WIDE draft in near future?
LaVelle,
I agree wtih you 100% on this, and it’s nice to see some edge with the Twins and questioning of their accountability on things… I’m tired of all of a sudden reading how Punto is the holy spirit, and as Danny B puts it, Baby Jesus Mauer… that crap is just too thick to stir with a stick if you know what I’m saying… The Pohlads had a chance now to sign someone that could be ready by 2011, and bolster this team, but they play everything on the cheap, and you have to spend real money to make real money in baseball… I know they have a nice steady income from the Twins, but we will never have a championship team until they buy themselves some brass balls… I’m not a big football fan, but atleast Ziggy has the testicular fortitude to go out and spend on talent.
One-note Beneke agrees with LaValle. I’m sure he lives for your praise.
Where have you been with all your bellicose fire Gardy and Vavra rants?
You’re so pathetic, sitting in your cave waiting for the Twins to lose … what a know-it-all dreg.
mmmhmmm
I’ve been busy working, and taking care of my mother who had surgery. She also had her best friend die… so my family and I have been checking in on her more and more… so less time to be on here. Thanks for caring.
I don’t even remember really ever talking to you Mmmmhmmm… so since I am not sure what I did to personally piss you off… I will apologize if I said something DIRECTLY TO YOU. I certainly don’t remember doing that.
So unless you can show me where I personally went after you… I expect an apology from you.
From someone with as much class as you’ve just shown… I would expect that apology addressed to me with a SIR!
The Yankees AND the Red Sox have a certain mystique among the Latin American kids. They all know David Ortiz for example, but associate him with Boston and not with the Twins. Trying to explain to Romero why I don’t like Boston - given that I know more Spanish than he knows English and that’s not saying much - was sort of a lost cause.
We’ve got some good L.A. kids in the system beyond the ones you’ve mentioned, and this year saw the signing of Mauro Schiavani, the first player we’ve ever had out of Argentina. Perhaps that’s where the strength of the Twins will lay - finding as of yet untapped sources beyond the Dominican and Venezuelan hotbeds. We also have three new kids out of South Korea, the Asian market being another one that’s been largely overlooked by the Twins. And then there’s Europe.
On the whole though, something needs to be done to lock down prices, both in major league salaries and in signing bonuses.
The Twins have an aversion to paying Latin players, much money.
LEN III
Great point about the team being approx. $15 million under their projected salary cap. Plus they are now less than 2 years away from the new stadium. Now would have been the perfect time to go down to Latin America and steal 2 or 3 players away from the big boys.
Do you see the Twins having any interest in 15-year-old Yorman Rodriguez, from Venezuela? He can be signed in August when he turns 16.
The real problem I think the Twins have is their reputation in Latin America. Even if they offer a player more money doesn’t mean he is going to come play here. They need to change their image with these players more than anything else.
This has been an issue that has troubled me for a long time with the Twins. Even when your major league payroll isn’t significantly less than it was in previous seasons “targeted signings” with special players like a Miguel Cabrera should be made. MC really hit the points on the nose at the beginning of this thread and jama finishes it off by mentioning the new stadium in the near future. All the money in the world can’t compare to the prestige the Pohlads would have with a world championship team. We haven’t won for 17 years.
Perhaps the image of the Twins in Latin America is that they DID NOT want Johan Santana or David Ortiz, and that would say quite a bit to a prospect. Thanks for holding the Twins’ feet to the fire, LaVelle. I’m glad to see here that the Pohlads are not getting a free pass for not doing their job just because those on the field are getting it done.
I don’t think signing high-priced international kids should be a higher priority than signing draftees. The success rate of the international kids is not very high and Inoa’s signing bonus was more than that of Aaron Hicks, Carlos Gutierrez and Shooter Hunt combined.
The money can be better spent in the amateur draft signing bonuses, and when trading prospects for an occasional higher-salaried established MLB player to fill a glaring hole. (3B?, SS?, P?)
If Latin American kids are a priority, I would rather obtain them AFTER they have established themselves in professional baseball; ie. Johan Santana, Francisco Liriano, David Ortiz, Carlos Gomez, Alexi Casilla.
Or continue to develop the lower profile kids like Wilson Ramos, Deirobinson Romero, Jose Mijares, Estarlin De la Santos, Angel Morales, Danny Ortiz, Oswaldo Sosa, and (not quite Latin American) Loek Van Mil.
Whats the point? dont we have a DRAFT???? why is anyone allowed to draft these KIDS?? come on Major league baseball, it shouldnt always be about money! Every team should get a fair chance!
Im with sane on this one. I don’t quite understand the logic behind spending several million on a kid from Latin America when their chance of being a star is so low (and face it, if they don’t become a star, they aren’t worth that money). Once the guy gets in to the pipleline, they become just another piece of chatel that can be obtained in trade. Why not let others pay the absurd bonuses and then let your scouts figure out which are worth grabbing in trade or Rule V draft later?
Cabrera would have been nice to get, clearly. But how many other “bonus babies” lately really turned out to be worth their money to the team that signed them? I don’t follow that stuff as closely as others but if Wily Mo, Guzman and Aramboles are the best examples outside of Cabrera, that’s not much of a case for wild spending in LA.
What a waste of taxpayers money on a stadium for a second rate ball club.
Hey Minnesota Fans; Why so negative about all your professional teams. You have no idea how lucky you are to have the Vikes, Twins, Wild and Wolfes. Please do yourself a favor and check out other major cities and see/read what their issues are; in most cases you might feel pretty good about Minn Teams. Its easy to be Negative everyday….Try looking at things from the positive side and Enjoy what you have !!!!!
Hey, Lavelle,
I agree that it is good to get some top latin players, but why all the negative vibes? We have the most exciting team in the A.L. right now, and you try to tear it up with this? Let’s enjoy the run we are on and quit all the complaining.
this crap has to stop. no player should be able to enter MLB without being first subjected to the draft. these players from japan should not be able to hold the teams hostage until they get 50 million just to sit down at a table and throw numbers around for a contract. the international players either go to the east coast, or whoever decides to overspend on them. we need a world wide draft,… not to mention some kind of salary structure, so the zitos and silvas of the world do not get 200% more then they are worth.
BC, I haven’t weighed in much lately, but I gotta tell you I still get annoyed with your use of the “holy spirit” and the “Baby Jesus” references. As a Christian, it bothers me. I know that I have no right to not be offended sometimes. However, since you are a creative writer, I both encourage and challenge you to find alternative words with which to describe people/players. Just my 2 cents worth.
MAYBE THE TWINS SHOULD START LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE KIDS THAT MADE IT TO THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES. THERE’S A LOT OF GOOD BALL PLAYER RIGHT HERE IN THE GOOD OLD USA. THE TWINS SHOULD CHECK BACK THROUGH THE YEARS.. LOOK AT ALL THE GREAT PLAYERS THEY HAVE HAD & SOME THEY HAVE NOW.
Hey IEE, I see from you name your cap’s lock isn’t broke. Please don’t scream at me, I get enough of that at home from the better half.
my little finger still works!
the lineups
gomez cf
casilla 2b
mauer c
morneau 1b
monroe dh
young lf
harris 3rd
punto ss
span rf
If these kids are so enthralled by Yankee and Bo-Sox “mystique” then what is Cabrera doing signing with Florida and Inoa with the A’s? It’s gotten to the point now that when a Latin player actually signs with the Twins you just figure that he can’t be much of a prospect or he would have signed with another team.
Of course, if the Twins are in fact really disappointed in yet another great Latin prospect “slipping through their fingers,” they could make it up to themselves by adding in whatever money they were offering to any proposals they’ve already made to unsigned draftees BJ Hermsen and Joe Loftus.
David Estum, July 5th, 2008 at 11:00 am says:
“…You have no idea how lucky you are to have the Vikes, Twins, Wild and Wolfes [sic].”
Nevermind how fortunate we all should feel for having healthy children, a good education/job, food on the table, a roof over our heads, and a car that gets more than 30 mpg… WE HAVE THE TIMBERWOLVES!!! I can just see all those parents in Omaha with children in Iraq who curse their luck every day for not having Keven McHale run a professional sports franchise in their city.
Every blog someone has to come on and start bitching about the lack of “positivity” on here and how we’re not patting PROFESSIONAL athletes making millions of dollars on their backs often enough for “trying” and “battling their tails off.” These are the same people who think parents who spank their children ought to be locked up for life, and lobbied to change the high school hockey tournament into a format where every school in the state gets a trophy.
These are PROFESSIONAL athletes and PROFESSIONAL franchises who run to us to build them their stadiums and compensate payroll via ticket-price hikes and yet we’re all supposed to just settle for mediocrity, have no expectations, and just feel blessed that we have sports teams in the area that give us the honor of watching them, huh?
People who need the reassurance of “positivity” on a constant basis are people also who have self-esteem issues and really need to get some sort of psychological counseling.
Basically, only Matsuzaka’s AGENT held the BoSox hostage. There were plenty of other Japanese plauyers to go around at much more reasonable prices. For example, how about Iwamura, who I begged the Twins to try to land. His contract is certainly nothing outlandish by today’s standards, and you get durable, hardworking player who won’t be whining every five minutes. Instead the Twins don’t even try to play the game or do so half-heartedly as Len III has mentioned.
