2010 International Free Agents

[Melan-cynic]

We're gonna get him if he clears the investigation.

Bonner.

[Joltin' Joe]

i was perusing a red sox board, read through these 4 pages regarding DePaula not sure if its legit but one of their main posters from the Dominican thinks it really is DePaula's trainer posting, check it out:

http://www.talksox.com/forum/red-sox...x-depaula.html

[ICEBERG18]

Posted already, for people who haven't seen him throw.

http://vimeo.com/5265661

[Joltin' Joe]

Posted already, for people who haven't seen him throw.

http://vimeo.com/5265661

Very simple smooth delivery for a 17 year old.

[JavyVazquezIsSick]

If he can be had, and the Yankees don't get him, I'm going to be extremely pissed off.

[flymick24]

If he can be had, and the Yankees don't get him, I'm going to be extremely pissed off.

you mean more than you already are in life?

[JavyVazquezIsSick]

I'm actually very happy now, think about that.

[CallOfTheCrow]

It's because I bought JVIS a Butterfinger.

[flymick24]

or you GAVE him a butterfinger?

[CallOfTheCrow]

You'll have to wait for the video to come out.

[flymick24]

two guys, two fingers, one hole

[McMoose]

Hey Buz, any idea how the Depaula investigation is going?

[Melan-cynic]

*crosses fingers*

[Joltin' Joe]

Apparently DePaula passed the investigation and is actually 17:

http://www.jce.do/web/Descargas/tabi...x?EntryId=2208

Can anyone read spanish? it looks like the court ruled in his favor.

[kan_t]

Apparently DePaula passed the investigation and is actually 17:

http://www.jce.do/web/Descargas/tabi...x?EntryId=2208

Good, now the Yankees better not blow this one.

[Melan-cynic]

Translator STAT.

EDIT: Here is a google translation of the decision:

DECISION: To recommend to the plenary of the Central Electoral Board, to inform the interested party regarding the case there is a marked Case No. 545-08-00099, dated 30 May 2008, passed by the House Civil Appeals Court of the Judicial Department Santo Domingo with the Authority of the irrevocably judged, ordering the correction of the birth of Rafael De Paula Figueroa, that this sentence has been executed by the Central Electoral Board and in Indeed, it is issuing the birth certificate on behalf of Mr. Rafael De Paula Figueroa, without any legal impediment.

[Buzah!]

That looks like it's from last May.

Anyway if he passes we're pouncing.

[Melan-cynic]

That looks like it's from last May.

Anyway if he passes we're pouncing.

The document is dated Dec. 17, 2009.

Assuming it's legit. Where'd you get that from anyway JoltinJoe?

[Joltin' Joe]

The document is dated Dec. 17, 2009.

Assuming it's legit. Where'd you get that from anyway JoltinJoe?

This guy's twitter:

http://twitter.com/WWWUZzCOM

[Buzah!]

that was the first investigation, not the one the Yanks asked for.

[McMoose]

Does the fact that the Yanks asked for another investigation have the potential to cause any bad-blood between the Yanks and Depaula's camp or is this just due-diligence stuff?

[Buzah!]

No. The Yanks have first pick everyday in IFA, but in the past year they have had Felix Perez, Arredondo and Bautista all get suspended as they were signing them or right after. They're gonna be vigilant going forward because these kids have no value to the Yanks if they can't get a Visa.

[McMoose]

Gotcha.

[JavyVazquezIsSick]

Annnnd they passed on Sano why exactly?

[Jason2237]

Annnnd they passed on Sano why exactly?

Because they did not think he was worth what he wanted.

[JavyVazquezIsSick]

Oh right.

[budstinks]

Again, why was he suspended if his papers checked out?

Or have teams just put him on hold until MLB? works through the investigation.

[Buzah!]

I know they thought Sano was a 3b or LF and not a SS, but I'm still not absolutely sure why they passed. They passed on Mateo cause of his eyesight.

[dpbddd99]

The Angels have turned their attention to a recent Cuban defector, 19-year-old shortstop Adeiny Hechevarria.T hey were among a half-dozen teams to send scouts to the Dominican Republic last week to watch Hechevarria work out, according to a league source. Wonder if Yankees are in play?

http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angele...ory?id=4903359

[bmxstreetrider86]

jorgearangure Expect Hechevarria to get more than the $8.2m the Red Sox gave Jose Iglesias

others think he will get less. more offensive upside than iglesias, not quite the defender supposedly

[I'm A Wenner!]

If the guy is legit, they'll be after him, since SS is a position at which the Yankees are super-thin. They don't have a single prospect that projects to be a solid regular at the position at this point.

[JavyVazquezIsSick]

It would require the Yankees to grow testicles and spend millions. Doubtful.

[primetime714]

If the guy is legit, they'll be after him, since SS is a position at which the Yankees are super-thin. They don't have a single prospect that projects to be a solid regular at the position at this point.

Yep I would assume there is at least some interest on the Yankees part given that they could use some more depth at this position particularly a few years down the rodad when Jeter is done or almost done. He could slot in pretty nicely in Charleston.

Although I kind of think the Yankees are focused on DePaula right now. So would they pony up the money for both? I'd guess not, but they definitely should consider it. Our system needs some more potential top level talent.

[Matsui55]

others think he will get less. more offensive upside than iglesias, not quite the defender supposedly

There is a large question mark about Iglesias' bat that only Red Sox apologists refuse to acknowledge. In other words, saying that he has more offensive upside isn't saying much- because this is only saying that he could be Ramiro Pena instead of Ramiro Mendoza.

[Matsui55]

It would require the Yankees to grow testicles and spend millions. Doubtful.

Honestly, I don't care about Cuban SS- the track record of successful Cuban SS over the past several decades is pretty slim. Better off going after some high end SS prospects in the Domincan and Venezuela- you could probably sign 2-3 good ones with the same amount of money that this Cuban SS would cost- and probably turn out better as well.

At this point, it is too late to develop an immediate in-house replacement for Jeter- unless the Yanks trade for a high end SS prospect. Just focus on getting someone who has the potential to come in and replace Jeter's replacement for a long period of time.

[McMoose]

Hey Buz, any word?

[bmxstreetrider86]

It would require the Yankees to grow testicles and spend millions. Doubtful.

the kid had a mid .600 OPS in cuba, i wouldnt go lambasting the yankees over that one yet

[JavyVazquezIsSick]

And Chapman had a mid-upper 4 ERA, as we all know, numbers don't always tell the whole story.

[flymick24]

but they're certainly somewhat indicative of future performance

[Fabien Brandy]

Has http://www.cubanballplayers.com/ been discussed in this thread?

Juan Carlos Linares sounds interesting for CF if Gardner doesn't work out.

[bmxstreetrider86]

And Chapman had a mid-upper 4 ERA, as we all know, numbers don't always tell the whole story.

chapman can throw 100 MPH left handed, this guys claim to fame is he might hit slightly better than a guy who cant hit.


i see a significant difference there

[Matsui55]

And Chapman had a mid-upper 4 ERA, as we all know, numbers don't always tell the whole story.

Its more simple than that- if the guy has a .600 OPS ina substandard league, what would make you think he can hit ML pitching?

[Buzah!]

I don't think the Yanks are terribly high on any of the Cubans. They were looking at the righty who hits triple digits, but I don't know where they are with that.

Also don't know if the second DePaula investigation has concluded yet.

[JavyVazquezIsSick]

chapman can throw 100 MPH left handed, this guys claim to fame is he might hit slightly better than a guy who cant hit.


i see a significant difference there

How is that his claim to fame exactly? His claim to fame would be comparisons to Alfonso Soriano with better hands. His tools, age, and fantastic glove are what make him valuable.

This was all based on a poster stating "if he's legit." If he is legit, the Yankees would actually need to grow balls and spend some money.

[bmxstreetrider86]

How is that his claim to fame exactly? His claim to fame would be comparisons to Alfonso Soriano with better hands. His tools, age, and fantastic glove are what make him valuable.

This was all based on a poster stating "if he's legit." If he is legit, the Yankees would actually need to grow balls and spend some money.

are we talking about the same person? where is this alfonso soriano comp coming from.

There's debate on Jose Iglesias vs Adeiny Hechevarria but if ppl I've talked to are right Hechevarria is not quite the prospect Iglesias is

@joe_kehoskie I'll have to wait and see. Guys I talked to preferred Iglesias D and said it was no lock he'd be a better hitter than Iglesias

both of those are fromFrankie Piliere's twitter account

[Melan-cynic]

Soriano?......

[JavyVazquezIsSick]

are we talking about the same person? where is this alfonso soriano comp coming from.

both of those are fromFrankie Piliere's twitter account

A National League executive compared him to Alfonso Soriano with better hands, according to a Spanish article pasted here.

http://fromthedugout.freedomblogging...s-plays/45487/

[teknetic]

So one side believes he can't hit and the other thinks he has 40 homer potential. I bet it was Minaya.

[bmxstreetrider86]

So one side believes he can't hit and the other thinks he has 40 homer potential. I bet it was Minaya.

seems like a solid bet there

[Yankees1962]

Since it's George King, take it for what it's worth as the Yankees appear to have interest in this latest Cuban SS.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yanke...rkZjCcBA6XHaiO