International Signing Day

[Frayed Knot]

This is starting to take on the stench of 'High School Signing Day' that gets far too many supposed adults slobbering over the potential future athletic exploits of teenagers so that they can walk around with their chests puffed out a bunch of Saturdays next fall.

But anyway, the Mets signed a bunch of 16 y/o Venezuelan short stops and pitchers. I don't believe any of them were among the highest rated available prospects--although, as Jerry Seinfeld once said to Lloyd Bridges; 'Who knows how official any of these rankings really are'.
So learn the names Yoel Romero, Edgardo Fermin, Jhoander Chourio, Daniel Guzman, because there's a alight chance you might hear of them again in like five years.

There are team bonus caps in int'l signing these days which carry 50-100% penalties depending on how far you go over plus reductions in future years. So the Yanquis, knowing their bonus situation but also acknowledging the age of their roster and the state of their farm system, signed about a thousand guys including most of the big budget ones going like 457% over budget.

And if you think the draft is a crap shoot, here's a list of the highest bonuses ever paid out to non-professional int'l players. Some good ones in there of course (and maybe more still to come) but successes are hardly the majority.
John Sickels' list, my comments

Michael Ynoa, 16, RHP, 2008,Athletics, Dominican Republic, $4,250,000
Miguel Sano, 16, SS, 2009, Twins, Dominican Republic, $3,150,000 -- currently one of the top prospects in baseball, although missing this season injured
Gary Sanchez, 16, C, 2009, Yankees, Dominican Republic $3,000,000
Rafael Rodriguez, 16, OF, 2008,Giants, Dominican Republic, $2,550,000
Yorman Rodriguez, 16, OF, 2008,Reds, Venezuela, $2,500,000
Wily Mo Pe�a, 17, OF, 1999, Yankees, Dominican Republic, $2,440,000 -- not just a big contract as a teenager ... but a MAJOR LEAGUE CONTRACT that forced them to rush him beyond any logical reason
Joel Guzman, 16, SS, 2001, Dodgers, Dominican Republic, $2,255,000
Angel Villalona, 16, 3B, 2006, Giants, Dominican Republic $2,100,00 -- I believe was at one point arrested for manslaughter back in the DR
Juan Duran, 16, OF, 2008, Reds, Dominican Republic, $2,000,000
Adys Portillo, 16, RHP, 2008, Padres, Venezuela, $2,000,000
Guillermo Pimental, 16, CF, 2009,Mariners, Dominican Republic., $2,000,000
Jose Vincio, 16, SS, 2009, Red Sox, Dominican Republic, $1,950,000
Miguel Cabrera, 16, IF, 1999,Marlins, Venezuela, $1,800,000 -- turned out pretty well for a fat boy
Jesus Montero, 16, C, 2006, Yankees, Venezuela, $1,650,000 -- amazing how bad the trade for him and Pineda worked out for both sides
Jackson Melian, 16, OF, 1996, Yankees, Venezuela, $1,600,000 -- I remember Suzyn Waldman crowing about how good this guy was going to be ... because, y'know, the yanqui brass told her so
Jurickson Profar, 16, SS, 2009, Rangers, Cura�ao, $1,550,000
Ricardo Aramboles, 16, RHP, 1998, Yankees, Dominican Republic, $1,520,000
Luis Sardinas, 16, SS, 2009, Rangers, Venezuela, 1,500,000
Michael Almanzar, 16, SS, 2007, Red Sox, Dominican Republic $1,500,000
Esmailyn Gonzalez, 16, SS, 2006,Nationals, Dominican Republic., $1,400,000
Fernando Martinez, 16, OF, 2005,Mets, Dominican Republic., $1,400,000
Willy Aybar, 16, IF, 2000, Dodgers, Dominican Repubic $1,400,000
Carlos Triunfel, 16, SS, 2006, Mariners, Dominican Republic, $1,300,000
Luis Domoromo, 16, OF, 2008, Padres, Venezuela,, $1,250,000
Juan Urbina, 16, LHP, 2009, Mets, Venezuela, $1,250,000 -- currently in Brooklyn
Chesler Cuthbert, 16, 3B, 2009,Royals, Nicaragua, $1,200,000
Roberto De la Cruz, 16, 3B, 2008, Cardinals, Dominican Republic., $1,100,000
Julio Morban, 16, OF, 2008, Mariners, Dominican Republic, $1,100,000
Kelvin De Leon, 16, OF, 2007, Yankees, Dominican Republic., $1,100,000
Alvaro Aristy, 17, SS, 2008, Padres, Dominican Republic, $1,000,000
Jharmidy De Jesus, 17, SS, 2007, Mariners, Dominican Republic., $1,000,000

[Edgy MD]

I had thought Juan Urbina was out of the system. Kept making prospect lists but never scratched the surface in terms of actual performance. He's becoming quite a fixture in Coney Island.