Weekly Mailbag: Insight on international market, Chapman a starter? Who makes the most starts?
Another weekly mailbag answers more questions
This upcoming week we will be unveiling our site rankings, as well as some tie-in pieces, so we pushed up the mailbag to Sunday. Remember, reply in the comments below with ‘mailbag’ written in it, or email us at bucsondeckqa@gmail.com to have your questions answered.
JoeSolo - With the latest international signing period behind us I would like to understand what is happening in the Latin market. I know the players have trainers who probably provide equipment, meals, and perhaps housing to these early teenage players along with instruction and, in return, probably get a percentage of the players signing bonus. Do the MLB teams actually sign/negotiate with these players/trainers when they are 14 years old? Do the players only participate in showcases where they hit, field, and throw, or do teams actually see them playing in games? Any insights into this would be appreciated.
I’m sure if John Dreker sees this question, he could give a better answer in the comments below, but I can give it a stab.
My impression of how some of the international stuff goes feels a bit like the wild west. There are rules, but maybe not as enforced. Teams have relationships with certain advisors/trainers that could give them an inside shot at signing certain players.
Most deals feel like they are already in place by the time the signing period actually starts, but that’s really no different than the draft in the States. Teams work to come up with a deal before hand just so they know how they are going to have to allocate their funds available for the signing period.
I’m sure there are some sort of leagues that go on down there for kids that age, with showcases that get the top competition together - and bring in the scouts.
The information on the Dominican/international side of things is scarce, which is why I generally stick to what I can physically follow, so my knowledge isn’t the greatest, but this is what my impressions have been of it.
Michael Miller - Any chance the Pirates try to make Chapman as a starter? When the Reds signed him initially, he wanted to be one.
At 35 years old having never started a game before in the majors, I’m going to say no. I don’t think they had anything cute in mind when they signed Chapman, just wanted to sure up the bullpen, which is never a bad thing with how volatile the position can be.
Largie Condios (@waywaylarge): Who starts more MLB games, JJones or BChandler or ASolometo?…thanks
If we are talking about this year, then Jared Jones, and it’s probably not close. I’m not sure either Solometo or Chandler are even guaranteed to make their debut this year, and if they do, it’s late in the season.
Now, if we are talking long-term, I do believe there is a chance Jones ends up in the bullpen at some point. I think with this kind of question, you have to look at who has the highest floor, which I believe is Solometo. It’d probably go Solometo, Chandler, and then Jones.
I can give some insight on the international stuff. Trainers in Latin American countries do get a percentage of the player's signing bonus. It's not a set percentage, but the players agree to it ahead of time. The players don't have money to pay for the training/food before signing, so they basically pay for it when they get their bonus. Trainers are investing in them, hoping to get a player who pays off big. I've been told 30%-40% is a standard range. Mexico used to charge a standard 75% before changes were made a few years back in that area. The players there were signed by teams before signing MLB deals. It wasn't required, but it was heavily recommended, as you would be blackballed from playing in Mexico without agreeing to a deal first. Now players there get the full bonus, while teams get paid for the player.
Players agree to deals by age 14 plenty of times. I wrote an article in 2022 about the Pirates agreeing to a deal with Iverson Allen, who was 14 at the time. He signed back on January 15th. There is nothing signed, it's a verbal agreement. Players break those deals, which of course is legal, because nothing is official until the signing date. Pirates agreed to a deal with Maikol Escotto two years before he signed with the Yankees. Pirates made an offer that pulled Tony Blanco Jr away from the Rays about two months before the signing period. Every player who signed on January 15th this year had a deal agreed to ahead of time. I've received the list of signing players weeks in advance before.
There are showcase games and events going on all of the time. HOWEVER, once a player agrees to a large deal, they are rarely seen again. The trainer still works with them, but they don't get seen by scouts anymore. Teams can also bring players into their Dominican academy for short periods of time before they officially sign.
The Pirates are supposedly interested in Tony Kemp. His .607 OPS in 2023 is an obvious attraction.