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:
Juan Espinosa, 16 year-old RHP out of Dominican Republic
Lean and athletic, Juan Espinosa hails from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He mixes in a curveball with his primary fastball. Both are currently raw but should develop to quality offerings. His stuff should play well above average once he's finished developing. And he has great command of his pitches that he'll rarely give up a long-ball. Espinosa should have no problem coming into close situations and getting out of jams.
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:
Juan Vega, 16 year-old LF out of Nicaragua
Juan Vega is a big 6-foot-5 , 200-pound left fielder from Jalapa, Nicaragua. He projects to have an impeccable eye at the dish. He has plus raw power potential and has the chance to be a run producer. He has an ok swing. He isn't a phenom, but he could be a decent contact hitter with a .250 batting average. Scouts project Vega to fill a key role for a contending team in the big leagues.
Daniel Morales, 16 year-old LF out of Dominican Republic
Daniel Morales is a long, lean athletic left fielder who was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He shows contact potential which should translate into an above average batting average. He has an above average power ceiling. He can draw a walk and get pitches to hit by laying off the bad stuff. He should expect to draw 60 walks each year. Scouts project Morales to fill a key role for a contending team in the big leagues.
Hall of Fame
There is both celebration and heartbreak as one new name is added to the list in Cooperstown. Ismael Betancur is on 75.3% of ballots in his third year and is named to the Hall of Fame. Betancur is the Pirates first Hall of Fame electee since the start of the save, and first since Billy Southworth in 2008. There are now nine teams left without a Hall of Fame star since the start of the save, one of which is the San Francisco Giants. Betancur doesn’t have incredible numbers but 487 HR, 1426 RBI, a .298 AVE and a .928 OPS mean this is not a case of best in a poor pool.
One man desperately unluck to miss out is CF Jackson Merrill. Merrill was on his last year on the ballot and was named on 74.8% on ballots to cruelly miss out but that is the standard of the Hall of Fame with plenty of very good players not taking the walk to Cooperstown. Edgar Mir is still threatening to join the group, polling 71.9% this year, with seven more chances.
Financial Update
As we get closer to the start of the season, I have reviewed the team's financial state as of this moment.
As a reminder, you have $290,000,000 available for the total team expenses for the season.
Transactions
The Giants secure their top target from the International Amateur market, CF Alejandro Villareal joining from the Dominican Republic and, even at 16, he will start his Giants career in the DSL.
There were two major league moves, both coming on January 23rd as SP Julio Rangel signs a one-year deal worth $14.5m and Ben Thomas is traded. While he is fragile, the LHP Rangel is armed with plus stuff and movement, paired with average control. His five pitches are headlined by a plus-plus fastball and slider. Ben Thomas had been overtaken by potential utility infielders and so the chance to acquire two prospects from the White Sox was gladly taken. Neither SS Arturo Candanoza nor RP Danny Crouther project as stars but both have enough upside for a chance in the Giants minor league system.
Tuesday, January 18th , 2056
Signed international amateur CF Alejandro Villarreal out of Dominican Republic to a minor league contract with a $4,750,000 signing bonus.
Promoted international complex member CF Alejandro Villarreal to Rookie League San Francisco (DSL).
Sunday, January 23rd , 2056
Signed free agent SP Julio Rangel to a 1-year contract worth a total of $14,500,000.
Traded 27-year old 3B Ben Thomas to the Chicago White Sox, getting 18-year old minor league SS Arturo Candanoza and 24-year old minor league RHP Danny Crouther in return.
