Update: Luis Robert has been cleared according to Rosenthal

[maggsmaggs]

From Baseball America:

 

The White Sox, a team that has had success in the Cuban market and has typically pursued players with similarities to Robert, are one other club that has not exceeded its bonus pool that sources have pointed to as a possible landing spot for Robert.

[southsider2k5]

Reading the story it seems like the link is speculative in nature, in that the Sox have some pool room, and have signed similar players in the past, but not that there is any real connection to him.

 

Does anyone out there know how much international pool room we have left?

[PolishPrince34]

Very interesting. 5 months is a long time to figure it out his residency/paperwork. I would think the teams already over the cap are salivating and will win the prize.

[Y2Jimmy0]

Reading the story it seems like the link is speculative in nature, in that the Sox have some pool room, and have signed similar players in the past, but not that there is any real connection to him.

 

Does anyone out there know how much international pool room we have left?

 

 

I'm trying to get in touch with Badler. Signing this guy doesn't make any sense for White Sox. They have pool room but if they use it to go over and sign this kid, then they join the group of teams that can't spend this coming July 2nd. That's a problem because they are already linked to guys for the next signing period. If they do this prior to next signing period, it's a huge waste of resources as much as I'd like to add him. If he gets pushed to the 2017-2018 period starting on July 2nd, the most he can possibly sign for is $10 million and that would be someone's entire bonus pool. If he gets cleared to sign, I would guess it'll be a team like San Diego who blew past their limits for this year and can't sign a guy next year anyway. Athletics, Astros, Braves, Cardinals, Nationals, Padres, and Reds went over this past year and would be most likely teams to sign him.

Edited January 9, 2017 by Y2JImmy0

[southsider2k5]

I'm trying to get in touch with Badler. Signing this guy doesn't make any sense for White Sox. They have pool room but if they use it to go over and sign this kid, then they join the group of teams that can't spend this coming July 2nd. That's a problem because they are already linked to guys for the next signing period. If they do this prior to next signing period, it's a huge waste of resources as much as I'd like to add him. If he gets pushed to the 2017-2018 period starting on July 2nd, the most he can possibly sign for is $10 million and that would be someone's entire bonus pool. If he gets cleared to sign, I would guess it'll be a team like San Diego who blew past their limits for this year and can't sign a guy next year anyway. Athletics, Astros, Braves, Cardinals, Nationals, Padres, and Reds went over this past year and would be most likely teams to sign him.

 

Glad I am not the only one who didn't understand the connection there.

[Bob Sacamano]

It only makes sense if we don't go over our cap. Otherwise we should have just gone all out and tried to sign everyone this period.

[southsider2k5]

It only makes sense if we don't go over our cap. Otherwise we should have just gone all out and tried to sign everyone this period.

 

And I see no reason for Robert to settle for that when other teams can and will offer him so much more. The ONLY thing that the Sox MIGHT have is the ability to put him in the majors today and start his clock. But even with that, San Diego could offer him the same PLUS more money as they are already over the caps.

[Y2Jimmy0]

It only makes sense if we don't go over our cap. Otherwise we should have just gone all out and tried to sign everyone this period.

 

 

We are barely under. He's not signing for less than $1 million.

[Bob Sacamano]

And I see no reason for Robert to settle for that when other teams can and will offer him so much more. The ONLY thing that the Sox MIGHT have is the ability to put him in the majors today and start his clock. But even with that, San Diego could offer him the same PLUS more money as they are already over the caps.

 

 

We are barely under. He's not signing for less than $1 million.

 

Exactly. I wasn't suggesting he would take a significantly less deal. Just that it is the only way for us to be involved. Padres make a ton of sense since they already signed a lot of the best amateurs this signing period and are already over.

[bmags]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/internation...l7qhZ49hsvhS.97

 

So we had 3.443 million, and know we spent 2 million

 

So if the latter 3 were 100k or less, then we could have 1.1 million to spend.

[Y2Jimmy0]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/internation...l7qhZ49hsvhS.97

 

So we had 3.443 million, and know we spent 2 million

 

So if the latter 3 were 100k or less, then we could have 1.1 million to spend.

 

 

There's now way this kid takes that. They could sign him for whatever they want. Just won't be able to spend over $300,000 per guy next year. That's a problem though. It's also a waste because if you are going to go over, you should sign like $30 million worth of players or it isn't worth forfeiting the next year.

[southsider2k5]

There's now way this kid takes that. They could sign him for whatever they want. Just won't be able to spend over $300,000 per guy next year. That's a problem though. It's also a waste because if you are going to go over, you should sign like $30 million worth of players or it isn't worth forfeiting the next year.

 

Yeah, I really doubt this kid is worth missing out on two years worth of signings for.

[bmags]

So I read the article again, I think the reference to the White Sox is if he is not cleared by June 15th, i.e. if he is apart of the 2017 international signing period that features the likes of the Cubs, Dodgers, Giants, royals, Astros, Athletics, Braves, Cardinals, Nationals, Padres and Red Sox not being able to sign anyone for more than 300k.

 

If it's before then, then it tilts toward the Astros, athletics, braves, cards, nats, pads, etc etc who could just continue exceeding the pool.

 

edit: read it again including the paragraph before:

What makes things even more complicated for Robert is that other teams have already committed large chunks of their 2017-18 bonus pools to other international players eligible to sign on July 2. So if Robert doesn’t get cleared until after June 15, several teams that have been aggressive on the international market for 2017-18 would have less money available in their pool to offer him.

 

The Cubs, Dodgers, Giants and Royals won’t be signing Robert regardless of when he’s cleared to sign because they won’t be able to sign anyone for more than $300,000 during either the current signing period or the next one as a penalty for exceeding their 2015-16 pools. The White Sox, a team that has had success in the Cuban market and has typically pursued players with similarities to Robert, are one other club that has not exceeded its bonus pool that sources have pointed to as a possible landing spot for Robert.

 

 

Read more at http://www.baseballamerica.com/internation...7045UWmmWZSQ.99

[Con te Giolito]

The White Sox, a team that has had success in the Cuban market and has typically pursued players with similarities to Robert, are one other club that has not exceeded its bonus pool that sources have pointed to as a possible landing spot for Robert.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/internation...oeBLK4EF5pFd.99

 

Some idea of what Robert is about:

I've spoken to consider him the best prospect on the island. Robert has a chance to not only remain in center field in the States, but also hit well and hit for power. While there are a few precociously talented outfielders still in Cuba, none has a future offensive profile quite as complete as Robert's. Advanced barrel control, tremendous hand-eye coordination and plus bat speed allow for lots of contact despite some effort and general noise in the swing. That effort is an attempt to coax as much power as Robert's body will allow right now, but as he fills out, the pop should come more naturally and the swing will quiet down.

 

The end result projects as a 55 bat (on the 20-80 scouting scale) with plus raw power, more than enough to profile in an outfield corner should Robert fill out so much that he must move out of center field. Not everyone thinks he'll have to, and if that sect of observers is correct, Robert is a star.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id...s-island-beyond

[Y2Jimmy0]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/internation...oeBLK4EF5pFd.99

 

Some idea of what Robert is about:

 

http://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id...s-island-beyond

 

 

We already have this discussion in the FutureSox board. Can someone merge the threads?

[Con te Giolito]

My bad I didn't even check FS (doh!)...feel free to delete mods

[ChiSox59]

We already have this discussion in the FutureSox board. Can someone merge the threads?

 

I think it is relevant enough to stay on the main board (but agree the convo should be merged). I personally (and I am sure many others) don't visit the Futuresox board much at all in the off season.

[Y2Jimmy0]

Feel free to grab a thread I created a month ago about the new International Signing rules as well if you want. I thought it was interesting but nobody really looked at it.

[harfman77]

We are barely under. He's not signing for less than $1 million.

 

He may be, that is the new economics of the international FA market. With so many teams already having money committed to signings this summer, a bunch of teams restricted from making signings, that leaves teams like the Sox and Orioles with room from last season or the list of teams that are about to go on timeout.

 

The Sox also have the option of perhaps trading a guy off the 40 man roster to a team that has extra bonus money left over like the Marlins or Orioles or a combination of teams.

[Y2Jimmy0]

He may be, that is the new economics of the international FA market. With so many teams already having money committed to signings this summer, a bunch of teams restricted from making signings, that leaves teams like the Sox and Orioles with room from last season or the list of teams that are about to go on timeout.

 

The Sox also have the option of perhaps trading a guy off the 40 man roster to a team that has extra bonus money left over like the Marlins or Orioles or a combination of teams.

 

 

I just meant that if he signs during this period, it won't be with the White Sox. Only shot Sox have is if he's eligible after June 15th.

[reiks12]

Would be a huge pickup! Having Moncada and Abreu hopefully gives us an edge.

[Bob Sacamano]

Would be a huge pickup! Having Moncada and Abreu hopefully gives us an edge.

 

Would have to be next signing period.

[credezcrew24]

Can anyone explain to me how Kevin Maitan who some claim to be a "Once in a Generation Talent" signed for 4.25 million while Moncada signed for 31.5 million the year before?

 

Furthermore, highly hyped Cuban prospects such as Yadier Alvarez signed for (16 million) and Lazarito (3 Million)

 

I would be very surprised to see Luis Robert sign for over 3 million due to the fact that I assume teams have already spent a good portion of there allocated money for international free agents.

 

I may be in the minority and having no inside information I could certainly be horribly off base, but my initial observation is that the White Sox can offer a competitive amount of money without going over the spending limit and incurring penalties.

[Bob Sacamano]

Can anyone explain to me how Kevin Maitan who some claim to be a "Once in a Generation Talent" signed for 4.25 million while Moncada signed for 31.5 million the year before?

 

Furthermore, highly hyped Cuban prospects such as Yadier Alvarez signed for (16 million) and Lazarito (3 Million)

 

I would be very surprised to see Luis Robert sign for over 3 million due to the fact that I assume teams have already spent a good portion of there allocated money for international free agents.

 

I may be in the minority and having no inside information I could certainly be horribly off base, but my initial observation is that the White Sox can offer a competitive amount of money without going over the spending limit and incurring penalties.

 

Teams that are over their cap and will be penalized the next 2 years can still sign him if he is cleared before next signing period so he could still do very well.

[harfman77]

Would have to be next signing period.

 

No it doesn't. Sox still have some space under this years limit and can trade for more. With the Sox facing a 40 man roster crunch when Q is traded, they could move some guys off to get additional international slots for the current signing period.