Mateo isn’t that bad control wise. Of course the #’s say it is “that bad” but watching him he is around the strike zone. It’s not Kevison Hernandez bad, who is throwing the ball to the backstop every other pitch.
And I get that’s not a huge bar to clear but I’ve watched plenty of Carlos Mateo and my opinion is just as I said, not terrible, he’s at least around the strike zone consistently.
I saw him a lot, too. He'd be around the plate for 5-6 pitches, but then a couple would go sailing off into the next zip code. That's why all the HBPs and WPs, and not just walks.
The most interesting prospects I’ve seen recently traded for some Int bonus pool money were Blake Dickerson, who SD traded to Detroit for 500K to sign Humberto Cruz for 750K, who is now SD’s 5th ranked prospect according to Pipeline(in a weak system).
And LAD trading Aldrin Batista, CWS 21st ranked prospect according to Pipeline(in a deep system) and Maximo Martinez(who has struggled in Rookie Ball) to the CWS for 1M in INT money to sign Hyun-Seok Jang, LAD 17th ranked prospect, for 800K.
If what u are asking, what it would take for a team to trade 500K-1M in bonus pool money to another team to insure they get Roki Sasuki, the top International UFA since Shohei and probably the immediate #1 prospect in baseball.
My hope is Mauricio and Baty for Oviedo and Peguero now. With a good faith agreement of pool space for a lottery ticket on Jan 15th 2025. The return on the player depends on the pool space needed.
I have to say I don’t get this Tony Blanco, Jr. thing. Is the guy capable of playing more than two days in a row? How can we take a prospect seriously who is never in the field? What the hell if going on with this guy?
Pre-Ben, but during Vizcaino's tenure, but I can't help but think about what a colossal failure Christopher Cruz was. He got a pretty penny and was just downright awful his entire, short, Pirates career.
In the spirit of your comment, I wonder what trading away the entire bonus pool would look like? You’d get to reallocate the funds, as you pointed out, plus you’d get something back for the bonus money. Wonder if there’s an argument that reallocating the funds and the trade return would be more valuable than their signings?
Almost exactly where my mind is going. Try to line up one top signing, add a handful of low dollar fliers, then trade the rest of the pool and spend it on the big club.
Yeah, maybe not the $10K types, but if the spots are available, feels like should just grab $100K-$300K signing and let it ride. At least until they show some ability to develop them.
i hate using pauper mentality but when forced, I think i'd rather them spend on the big club than throw $7m into an IFA class for which they don't have a big-dollar recruit.
Along those same lines, it seems Rene Gayo was more of an early adopter than some sort of scouting savant. Some early hits, no doubt, but that seemed to disappear once the league overall started recruiting from latin america.
Mateo isn’t that bad control wise. Of course the #’s say it is “that bad” but watching him he is around the strike zone. It’s not Kevison Hernandez bad, who is throwing the ball to the backstop every other pitch.
And I get that’s not a huge bar to clear but I’ve watched plenty of Carlos Mateo and my opinion is just as I said, not terrible, he’s at least around the strike zone consistently.
I saw him a lot, too. He'd be around the plate for 5-6 pitches, but then a couple would go sailing off into the next zip code. That's why all the HBPs and WPs, and not just walks.
Maybe you’re right. I just don’t remember it being terrible.
Ever watch Kevison Hernandez pitch? He’s not even close to strike zone, like never.
Yeah, I was kinda hopeful about him, but he went backwards this year.
You mean he hit the “backstop” every other pitch? It’s terrible.
Well, he generally hit something or other.
I’ve always thought the Bucs should try to land bigger fish in IFA, but whenever they sign a seven figure guy, he inevitably sucks.
wonder what kind of player/prospect the Pirate could get from a team looking to boost their Roki Sasaki Fund?
The most interesting prospects I’ve seen recently traded for some Int bonus pool money were Blake Dickerson, who SD traded to Detroit for 500K to sign Humberto Cruz for 750K, who is now SD’s 5th ranked prospect according to Pipeline(in a weak system).
And LAD trading Aldrin Batista, CWS 21st ranked prospect according to Pipeline(in a deep system) and Maximo Martinez(who has struggled in Rookie Ball) to the CWS for 1M in INT money to sign Hyun-Seok Jang, LAD 17th ranked prospect, for 800K.
If what u are asking, what it would take for a team to trade 500K-1M in bonus pool money to another team to insure they get Roki Sasuki, the top International UFA since Shohei and probably the immediate #1 prospect in baseball.
Right on man, really appreciate that reply.
So basically a complex league type guy who is 40?
My hope is Mauricio and Baty for Oviedo and Peguero now. With a good faith agreement of pool space for a lottery ticket on Jan 15th 2025. The return on the player depends on the pool space needed.
I have to say I don’t get this Tony Blanco, Jr. thing. Is the guy capable of playing more than two days in a row? How can we take a prospect seriously who is never in the field? What the hell if going on with this guy?
When looking at a draft class it’s considered a success if three guys make it.
Is there some equivalent metric for an international signing class?
That's a great question. Best I can tell from across the league, getting one guy out of a class is doing well.
Pre-Ben, but during Vizcaino's tenure, but I can't help but think about what a colossal failure Christopher Cruz was. He got a pretty penny and was just downright awful his entire, short, Pirates career.
I've soured on the whole exercise.
I suppose you can't just give up on the international market, but this has gotta be the lowest-return money they spend.
In the spirit of your comment, I wonder what trading away the entire bonus pool would look like? You’d get to reallocate the funds, as you pointed out, plus you’d get something back for the bonus money. Wonder if there’s an argument that reallocating the funds and the trade return would be more valuable than their signings?
Almost exactly where my mind is going. Try to line up one top signing, add a handful of low dollar fliers, then trade the rest of the pool and spend it on the big club.
I'm trying to think of the high-return money they spend . . . .
Yeah, maybe not the $10K types, but if the spots are available, feels like should just grab $100K-$300K signing and let it ride. At least until they show some ability to develop them.
i hate using pauper mentality but when forced, I think i'd rather them spend on the big club than throw $7m into an IFA class for which they don't have a big-dollar recruit.
In theory, yeah, but I think it's unlikely they'd see saving $7M from IFA as budget to spend elsewhere.
Totally agree. Year after year it’s a complete waste. But there’s always the thought that the next Acuna or Soto or Tatis is out there.
What bugs me is that the Pirates dominated the Caribbean for so many years with Howie Haak. Another example of how the mighty have fallen.
Along those same lines, it seems Rene Gayo was more of an early adopter than some sort of scouting savant. Some early hits, no doubt, but that seemed to disappear once the league overall started recruiting from latin america.