International Amateurs
We just completed our monthly private practice with many young international amateur free agents who we hope can aid our club in the coming years. It was great to meet the players in-person and get to know them better, and I was able to improve my scouting assessment on all invitees.
In fact some of the players impressed me, since they showcased a higher potential than I had previously expected from them:
Edgar Luque, 16 year-old RF out of Dominican Republic
Lean and athletic, Edgar Luque hails from Cristóbal, Dominican Republic. At maturity he should be able to draw walks and work the count among the best in baseball. He has a chance to be an above average hitter with a loose, quick stroke that works inside the ball. He is an elite menace on the base paths. His speed is dangerous. Luque is projected to be an elite starting right fielder.
However, a few invitees left me disappointed as they did not appear to match my previous assessment, although they may still end up being future stars:
Sergio Montoya, 16 year-old C out of Dominican Republic
Lean and athletic, Sergio Montoya hails from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He has shown he can play the catcher position at the next level. He should demonstrate good plate discipline. He has an ok swing. He isn't a phenom, but he could be a decent contact hitter. Montoya profiles as an above average player.
Luis Amaya, 16 year-old SS out of Dominican Republic
Luis Amaya is a long, lean athletic shortstop who was born in Santiago, Dominican Republic. He is a plus contact potential. He makes all the routine plays as a shortstop. Amaya can be penciled in for a lion's share of starts at his position.
Personnel
The Giants make three appointments to fill their vacancies:
Scouting Director – Yadiel Batista
Team Training – Danny Mathewson
AA Hitting Coach – Grant Little
Mathewson is a solid Trainer across the board with OK ratings across the major topics and excellent ability to prevent arm injuries.
On the Scouting front, Yadiel Batista is a Neutral evaluator which is a change from the tools-based approach from the past, but he brings Legendary evaluation to the minor leagues and the amateurs, with Outstanding evaluation of international players. He gets straight to work evaluating the Giants club as well as International Amateurs for 2056.
Assistant GM Juan Fonseca is moving on after four years with the organisation as he is accepts the GM role with the Colorado Rockies.
The Giants move quickly to sign first-time Assistant GM Cain Buckby out of Australia to replace Fonseca.
Awards
It’s a successful Awards season for the Giants, headlined by Rickey Egget taking home the Reliever of the Year for the first time in his career. Juan Magana won his first, and Joel Hudson his third, Golden Gloves, helping Magana to a 2nd place finish in the Rookie of the Year Award with three first place votes; Greg Ward finished 4th but took two first place votes. Ward then followed that up with a 3rd place finish in the Cy Young Award, which is good enough to earn a Prospect Promotion bonus 1st Round Draft Pick, the first one earned by the Giants in the Stewart era.
Stewart himself took home the 13th Manager of the Year Award of his career, continuing to push that record to new levels. Stewart has moved within 200 wins of 3,000 in his career, and within 58 of Tony La Russa’s record for most wins all time. He will also overtake Bruce Bochy to move into second place for Games managed, although still 800 behind La Russa.
AL Great Glove
NL Great Glove 1B
Juan Magana SF | SS
Joel Hudson (3) SF
AL Platinum Stick C Nelson Saiz (3) KC | 1B Biaggio Torrisi KC | SS David de Anda (4) KC | CF Mike Gronkiewicz (4) KC | Bobby Nickelberry (5) KC
NL Platinum Stick CF
David Rojo SF
AL Manager of the Year Hector Figueroa (4) KC
NL Manager of the Year
Colin Stewart (13) SF
AL Reliever of the Year Chris Sisk (4) SEA
NL Reliever of the Year
Rickey Eggett SF
AL Rookie of the Year 3B Jabari Coach BOS
NL Rookie of the Year 1B Julio Molina CIN
AL Cy Young Tyrese Brazil TOR
NL Cy Young Jimmy Williams PIT
AL MVP SS David de Anda KC
NL MVP 3B Wilson Escobedo ARI
Pre-Arbitration Extensions & Trades
As hinted in the player evaluations, C Juan Ramos declined his player option, the Giants voided SP Josh Webb’s team option, and executed RP Mike Stark’s team option. In addition to several one-year extensions, the Royals signed RP Josh O’Neal to a 3-year contract, with two Team Options.
The big move of the pre-arbitration period was the decision to move on from LF Wilfredo Polo and 1B Gabino Galindo. Polo’s inability to play in the field was always a hindrance and his return wasn’t enough to justify a DH-only roster spot. Galindo saw Juan Magana overtake him and with a limited profile that Stewart is confident in replacing if required. The deal with the Royals saw the Giants send $5m in addition to both players and, in return, received a four player package of prospects. Esteban Gallego was the OSA pick, with potential plus power with average contact and eye with a plus glove profile for 2B. For the Giants scouts, though, 2B Chaz Cosson is the better prospect, lower power and defensive ability offset by better gap power and speed.
Saturday, November 6th , 2055
C Juan Ramos declines his contract option.
Voided the team option year(s) of SP Josh Webb for a buyout of $2,700,000.
Executed the contract year option of RP Mike Stark.
Wednesday, November 10th , 2055
Signed RP Josh O'Neal to a 3-year contract extension worth a total of $7,400,000.
Friday, November 12th , 2055
Traded 27-year old LF Wilfredo Polo, 25-year old 1B Gabino Galindo, and $5,000,000 in cash to the Kansas City Royals, getting 21-year old minor league 2B Esteban Gallego, 20-year old minor league 2B Chaz Cosson, 24-year old minor league RHP Kevin Chockley, and 23-year old minor league LF Mike Moffitt in return.
Arbitration & Qualifying Offers
There were no surprises in the list of players not offered contracts but that list does include some regulars from the last few seasons as C Jesus Castro, 1B Kevin Dobbs, 3B Nevio Clinton, RP Jesus Barbosa, RP David Silva, RP Josh Parker, and RP Chris Gordon all depart the club.
Saturday, November 27th , 2055
1B Kevin Dobbs was not offered arbitration, becomes a free agent.
3B Nevio Clinton was not offered arbitration, becomes a free agent.
RP Jesus Barbosa becomes a free-agent.
RP David Silva becomes a free-agent.
Monday, November 29th , 2055
SP Josh Webb becomes a free-agent.
C Juan Ramos becomes a free-agent.
RP Juan Barboza becomes a free-agent.
C Jesus Castro becomes a free-agent.
RP Josh Parker becomes a free-agent.
RP Chris Wilburn becomes a free-agent.
RP Chris Gordon becomes a free-agent.
Transactions
Monday, November 8th , 2055
Signed international amateur SP Guadalupe Salas out of Venezuela to a minor league contract.
Thursday, November 11th , 2055
Signed international amateur C Toyohiro Matsumoto out of Japan to a minor league contract.
Minor League Promotions
A few of the Giants better prospects earn an end of season promotion, with the majority coming from Richmond to Sacramento, indicating a strong group of players who will be looking to make the step up the Big Leagues in 2056, headlined by 2051 1st Rounder 2B Beau Wartel and 2054 2nd Rounder RP Robby Przybyla.
Promoted CF Tyrese Yeboah from Class A San Jose to Double A Richmond 2052 3rd Round
Promoted 2B Beau Wartel from Double A Richmond to Triple A Sacramento. 2051 1st Round
Promoted 3B Alexis Vargas from Double A Richmond to Triple A Sacramento. 2051 Scouting Discovery
Promoted CF J.J. Zeman from Double A Richmond to Triple A Sacramento. 2053 6th Round
Sent CL Devin Hyatt from Class A San Jose to High-A Eugene. 2053 7th Round
Promoted RP Robby Przybyla from Double A Richmond to Triple A Sacramento. 2054 2nd Round
Promoted SP Kymani Devezin from Double A Richmond to Triple A Sacramento. 2051 11th Round