2011 Red Sox international scouting and signing

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DPL is reporting more signings after the Allstar game highlited by Tampa's signing of LHP Luis Cepeda for $60,000 ( i like this signing) Cepeda who won't turn 17 yrs until later in the Spring is 6-0 170. Yankees signed 20 yrs CF Feirte marte for $100,000 bonus, The Brewers outfielder Elvis Rubio (on his birthday, 17yrs) for $95,000 bonus, Cardinals signed16 yrs RHP for $66,000 bonus, The Indians signed 16 yrs catcher Kevin Calderon for $80,000 bonus and the Pirates signed 17 yrs Leandro Rodriguez for a $80,000 bonus.

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BA is reporting that Seatle has signed Dominican outfielder Gabriel Guerrero. Guererro who is 17 yrs is Vladimir's Guerrero's cousin signed for a reported $400,000 bonus.

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Earlier in the Fall I reported that the Red Sox had signed Venezuelan RHP Joseph Carpabire, them latter in the Winter reported that Carpabire contract was voided, at the time the reason wasn't known. Today MLB has released that Carpabire (who is a free agent) and Dominican right handed pitcher William Abreu (who MLB is reporting that he had signed with the Sox in December 2010) have been suspended for 50 games for failing a drug text. Abreu has been linked to the Sox since 2009 and for some unknown reason the signing hadn't taken place until December.

In other news both BA and DPL are reporting that the Twins have signed Dominican RHP Felix Jorge to $250,000 bonus.

PS Abreu was signed by the Red Sox on his 18th birthday (12/10) is 6-1 190-200 lbs, is going tol miss the first 50 games of the DSL in 2011. Carpabire was signed originally in September 1 is 17 yrs and was available to be signed since July 2 2009.

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I want to share with the readers a question that i have been asked by email. The question is about my opinion on how the Red Sox have approached the 2009 and 2010 International phases, the players signed and the dollars spended, so lets look at the top prospects that the Sox have signed those years.

In 2009:

Jose Vinicio SS (Signed out of the Dominican for $1.9 Million
Iago Januario RHP (Signed out of Brazil for a reported, not confirmed 7 figure bonus)
Raul Alcantara RHP (Signed out of the Dominican for $500,000 bonus)
Xander Bogaerts SS (signed out of Aruba for a $410,000 bonus)
Mario Alcantara RHP (Signed out of the Dominican for $350,000 bonus)
Ricardo Betancourt LHP (Signed out of Venezuela)
Jair Bogaerts C (signed out of Aruba for $180,000 bonus)
Robert Del Rosario CF (signed out of the Dominican for $150,000 bonus)
Sully Bonnelly RHP (Signed out of the Dominican)


In 2010:

Juan Carlos Linares CF ( Signed as a Cuban defector for a $750,000 bonus)
Adalberto Ibarra C (Signed as Cuban defector for a adjusted $750,000 bonus)
Jorge Padron LF/1B (Signed as Cuban defector for a $350,000 bonus)
Edwin Osorio RHP (Signed out of Colombia)
Anthony Amaya CF (Signed out of Panama)
Edwar Garcia RHP (signed out of the Dominican)
Aneudis Peralta (Signed out of the Dominican for $95,000 bonus)
Aneury Tavarez signed out of the Dominican for $80,000 bonus)

By taking a look at the information above is clear that the Sox spended a lot more money (bonus) than it has in 2010, however the 2010 International signing phases isn't over and the Sox have changed for a bit its signing philosophy having signed the more polished and older Cuban defectors over the younger Latin players (Non Cuban) but the 2010 signing phase isn't over. The talk among the International scouting community is that the Sox may have under valued this market, but also that it may be in the market looking for bargains or playing out the field. Above is a listof the TOP availalable players that can sign profesional contracts before the start of the next (July second 2011) International signing period.

Christopher Pichardo 3B (Dominican)
Eskarlen Vasquez OF (Dominican)
Luis Marte SS (Dominican)-signed with Texas
Antonio Gonzalez SS (Dominican) Signed with the Cubs.
Angel Mejia LHP (Venezuelan) Signed with the Cubs.
Yorman Londa RHP (Venezuelan)-Signed with the Twins
Felix Carvallo LHP (Venezuelan)

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A couple more names to follow for the July second International signing phase. SS Yairo Diaz-Munoz Known as the magician is 16 yrs 6-0 168 a switch hitter and outfielder Carlos Valdez a 6-0 180 right hander hitter and thrower. Valdez unlike most of the elite prospects available for July second signing period isn't 16 yrs, but 17 yrs. Both Dominican prospects are 6.6/60 runners.

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Baseball America is reporting that the Yankees have signed Cuban defector Yadil Mujica. Mujica a 25 yrs short stop was a All Star in Cuba and the switch hitter was in the mix to made the Cuban team the last two years before they found out of his intensions of leaving the Communist Island.

PS Cuban defector Kenen Reyna finished second in the DPL All Star Home Run Derby, but the Cuban outfielder is 26 yrs.

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[QUOTE=scaffolds;1845556]A few more names to keep an eye for the start of International signing period on July second 2011:

Yairo Munoz SS
Dawel Lugo SS
Adelin Santa 3B
Angel Yenter 3B
Ronald Soto 3B
Franmil Reyes OF
Vladimir Almanzar OF
Jose Rodriguez OF
Alvaro Noriega C
Dionis Rodriguez C[

A couple more names of top prospects for the July second start of the internationalearly phase signing.

3B Angel Yender
OF Carlos Valdez

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Need to bring my board up to date, Dominican SS Antonio Gonzalez and Venezuelan LHP Angel Mejia signed with the Cubs.

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Need to bring my board up to date, Dominican SS Antonio Gonzalez and Venezuelan LHP Angel Mejia signed with the Cubs.

Arizona signed Venezuelan SS Ronnie Mejias.

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There is talk that the Red Sox have signed 16 yrs Venezuelan catcher Alison Suarez. Suarez is 6-1 180 and a right handed hitter.

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The Red Sox have signed RHP Jose Espitia and SS Cleriluis Rondon both Venezuelans. Espitia is 17 yrs and 6-2 180, while Rondon will be 17 yrs in 6 weeks is 6-0 155 a right handed hitter.

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The Red Sox have signed Dominican RHP Oscar Melendez. Melendez is 17 yrs 6-1 150.

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To answer a question that i was ask by email about my opinion on the last four internaltional players signed by the Sox, Alison Suarez, Jose Espitia, Cleriluis Rondon and Oscar Melendez. none of these players are top prospects, however all of them became available to sign profesionally just this past July second, it isn't like players that has been pass on by teams and them signed as they get older as some of the signing that has been taking place lately by some teams. Suarez is perhaps the top signing out of this group, he hasn't been catching for too long, a former infielder who also has some pitching and is considered a better prospect than fellow catcher and Venezuelan David Sopika (who also signed as a 16 yrs) late last Spring. Rondon at this time isn't as a good product as fellow shortstop and Venezuelan Dernier Lopez who signed earlier in 2010, the same with Espitia and Melendez they aren't as well regarded as fellow RHP Edwin Osorio (Colombian) and Edwar Garcia (Dominican) who both signed earlier in 2010.

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The DPL is reporting more signings: Toronto signed OF Francisco Tejada for $150,000. Tejada who is 17 yrs is 6-4 185 R/R. The Brewers signed 3B Estervin Matos for a $100,000 bonus, Matos is 17 yrs. The National signed 1B Deury Vasquez fora $30,000 bonus, Vasquez is 18 yrs. The Mets signed RHP Miguel Anguel Bautista for $10,000. signing bonus and is 18 yrs and Arizona signed 19 yrs second baseman Jesse Liriano for $10, 000 signing bonus.

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The Twins signed Venezuelan RHP Yorman Landa. A Athletic pitcher throw a fastball in the 87-92 range.

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MLB had a week camp/clinic in Brazil for the countrys top 48 baseball players at the end of February. The Braves has a baseball academy in Brazil believed to be the only by a MLB team, the Braves all has a baseball academy in Spain.

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Dominican RHP Dioscar Romero is another top prospect for the July second international signing date. Romero is a 16 yrs who is 6-2 195.

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Baseball America is reporting that the Red Sox spend $1.640 million in signing bonus in 2010 to sign International players, this amount doesn't included what the red Sox spend to sign Cuban players (Linares, Padron and Ibarra) I believe that the Red Sox will sign 3 to 5 players (probably all pitchers) to complete the 2011 Red Sox DSL roster, asit stands now it looks like this.

Pitchers:

1- William Cuevas RHP
2- Iago Januario RHP
3- Ricardo Betancourt LHP
4- Edwin Osorio RHP
5- Edwar Garcia RHP
R- Elis Jimenez RHP
R- Jose Espitia RHP
R- Francelis Monta RHP
R- Pedro Reyes LHP
R- Carlos Pinales RHP
R- William Abreu RHP
R- Oscar Melendez RHP
R- Sully Bonnelly* RHP


Catchers:

1- Jair Bogaerts
2- Alixon Suarez
3- David Sopilka

Infield:

1B- Juan Ugas
2B- Aneury Taveras
SS- Denier Lopez
3B- Aneudis Peralta
2B- Derward Ruiz
SS-Cleriluis Rondon
3B- Roberto Duncan
UT- Ali Gonzalez

Outfielders:

LF- Dreily Guerrero
CF- Roberto Del Rosario
RF- Curtley Doran
LF- Alfredo Soto
CF- Anthony Amaya
RF- Ynoel; Aguero

1-5 are the projected starters, * projected closer.

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BA is reporting that the yankees have signed Dominican RHP Juan Carlos Paniagua. Paniagua 6-1 170 is 20yrs signed for a 1.1Million dollars, was suspended by MLB for a year because age and indentity fraud last year, but throw a fastball in the 93-95 range touching 98, his breaking pitches are a work in progress.

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More Cuban defectors signings, Tampa signed LHP Sergio Espinoza for a $100,000 bonus. a reliever in Cuba, throw a fastball around 90, but his best pitch is a sharp slider. the Giants signed RHP Reiner Roibal for a $ 400,0000 bonus. Roibal 21 yrs 6-1 215 throws a fastball in the Mid 90's and a slider, while he hasn't pitch on a regular basis since he left Cuba is considered a very good prospect. The Cubs signed RHP Juan Serrano for a $ 250,000 bonus. Serrano 5-10 220 has a fastball in the high 80's that tops out at 91 but with a very good movement.

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More Cuban defectors signings, Tampa signed LHP Sergio Espinoza for a $100,000 bonus. a reliever in Cuba, throw a fastball around 90, but his best pitch is a sharp slider. the Giants signed RHP Reiner Roibal for a $ 400,0000 bonus. Roibal 21 yrs 6-1 215 throws a fastball in the Mid 90's and a slider, while he hasn't pitch on a regular basis since he left Cuba is considered a very good prospect. The Cubs signed RHP Juan Serrano for a $ 250,000 bonus. Serrano 5-10 220 has a fastball in the high 80's that tops out at 91 but with a very good movement.

Talking about Cuban players scouts where very impress by the talent of the Cuban 18 and under who played in Canada last July, is the same type of age team that Sox's prospect Jose Iglesias defected from, this time outfielder Yasiel Balaguert defected, but with the possibilities that some of this talent may defect in the future hereis a list of the top prospects on this team.

Pitchers:

Omar Luis (the staff ace)
Eddyalb Valentin
Yosbel Castillo
Darien Nunez
Yordanis Casanova

Hitters:

Guillermo Aviles
Gerkis jimenez
Jorge Soler
Yamil Rivalta
Lazaro Hernandez.

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The Red Sox signed Mexican outfielder Jose Colorado. Colorado the second Mexican prospect (OF Jesus Layya the other) signed in about a year after years without sign Mexican players is 20 yrs and is possible that he will skip the DSL and play in the GCL in 2011 where he would play with Layya.

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The A's have signed Venezuelan LHP Anderson Mata. Mata 17 yrs is a polished LHP. rangers signed Dominican SS Luis Marte. Marte 17 yrs show good pop for a middle infielder, most scouts thinks he could stay as middle the infield player. marte is the 6 SS (the fourth from latin America) signed by Texas, the other two are from Netherland and Taiwan this signing period.

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According to Baseball America the Giants have signed Dominican LHP Adalberto Mejia to a #350,000 signing bonus. Mejia 6-3 190 and 17 yrs has a fastball in the 87-90 range that tops at 92.

PS to asnswer a email question about where do the Red Sox International scouting programs stands compare to the rest of the MLB teams. In my opinion is a middle of the pack program. I am not a fan of the Sox director of international scouting Craig Shipley.

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Dominican Dreily Guerrero is in Spring training in Ft Myers and more likely wil play at the GCL in 2011. Guerrero a utily type of player has played, 2B and LF in the DSL (played in 2009 and 2010 at the DSL) Guerrero 20 yrs is a similar type of player (slighter bigger) to Heiker Menesses (who played at the GCL in 2010) led the Sox (DSL) entry in stolen bases with 24. Also in Ft Myers is recently signed second baseman Aneuris Taveras, however isn't sure where Taveras will play in 2011. The only second baseman in the DSL roster is Arubian Derward Ruiz, but it has two SS Dernier Lopez and Cleuluis Rondon both Venezuelan. On a down note it seems the future of Dominican OF Alfredo Soto Red Sox carreer maybe over after spending spending 2010 in the restricted list and is still on it. Soto signed in June 2009 showed very good right powerat the DSL the same year.