As we move ahead towards the arbitration hearings we have a few things to clean up and announce before we get much farther.
During the playoffs we signed two International Amatuer Free Agents. We had a limited budget for IAFA last season and with us spending everything we had on payroll last year some things were cut. This area was one of them, so we were not able to pursue any of the top end players in this class. There was a young SP that I had my eye on, but spending millions on a 16-year-old is hard for me to pull the trigger on anyway, especially a pitcher.
We actually have 3 signings to talk about as we signed one more after I escaped the meeting with Junior. Figured he wouldn't even notice if I spent another $175,000.
First off is RF Antonio Hernandez who is a Mexican almost 17 year old from Cuernavaca. He is a right-handed bat who we signed for $1.8 million during our playoff run. He has 1 star of current ability and has 4 star potential and could be a 5 contact hitter with an avoidance of strikeouts. His eye isn't the best and he will never be a big time home run hitter, although he does have the build for it at 6'4 and 195 lbs as a 16 year old. He has very good speed but could use some work on his base running and technic. Not a strong arm so full time RF seems to be a reach at this point. Probably a LF and we will start to work him out in CF as well. Doesn't really look like he can play much infield, but there is always 1B and DH.
Another almost 17 year old (will be right after Thanksgiving) is LF Ramiro Moreno who is also a RH bat out of Matagalpa Nicaragua.. Moreno is a power hitting potential slugger who has 5 star power potential. His other stats are pointing to average but we can always use a power bat in the OF in Chicago. Not a great runner with limited range and he is probably properly slotted as a LF, but we could see him in RF as well. He has some ability in the IF so he could be a 1B. Moreno signed for $850,000.
The third and last of our signings is another OF, but at least this one is left handed. He hails from Puerto Rico and is 16 1/2 years old. His stats peak is average so who knows what he will become. Was a low risk left handed bat, so I spent the money ($175,000).
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Below is the details in pictures on these new signings.
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I believe we have struck deals with our two arbitration case players. We have verbal committments from OF Samuel Amsden and RP Larry Stott on identical $2.25 million dollar deals. Both will be arbitration eligible next season, but we will try and nail down Stott to a long term extension this spring if we can.
Tomorrow will be the awards announcements for the league and any last minute signing around the league before FA files. I would expect to see a few guys come off that potential FA list.