Warned. For making it look like there are more posts and possibly updates on Moncada only for it to be a thread hijacking
The Dodgers still have legitimate reservations about going after Moncada given the high price he is expected to command, MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick reports [below]. The club’s ultimate interest level remains somewhat unclear, per the report, in spite of previous statements by GM Farhan Zaidi that the team would be “players” for Moncada “to the extent that our evaluation of him matches or exceeds where the market goes.” Dodgers wary in pursuit of Moncada Signing Cuban infielder would come at a high cost By Ken Gurnick | MLB.com — 90 minutes ago LOS ANGELES -- While Dodgers officials were reportedly very visible at Friday's showcase for Cuban second baseman Hector Olivera, their interest in fellow Cuban free agent infielder Yoan Moncada remains unclear. General manager Farhan Zaidi hosted a Twitter chat with fans Friday and avoided answering questions about Moncada, who is rumored to be targeted by other deep-pocketed franchises like the Yankees and Red Sox. That backs away from an interview Zaidi gave MLB Network Radio three weeks ago, when he said: "To the extent that our evaluation of [Moncada] matches or exceeds where the market goes, we'll definitely be players for him." Since then, however, one baseball source insisted the Dodgers have serious reservations about signing the 19-year-old Moncada because of the extreme cost. Because he is under 23 and did not play in a Cuban professional league for at least five seasons, Moncada is subject to the international signing guidelines, under which each team is allotted a $700,000 base and a bonus pool, based on the team's record in 2013 for the international signing period, which started on July 2 and ends on June 15. Exceeding that pool amount comes with a 100 percent tax on the pool overage and prohibits the club from signing any pool-eligible player for more than $300,000 during the next two signing periods. While the signing of Moncada would land a potential superstar, it would also sideline the franchise from future big-ticket signings for two years, in addition to costing $60 million to $80 million cash, all for just one very talented -- but unproven -- player. When manager Don Mattingly and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman attended Moncada's workout, speculation intensified that the deep-pocketed Dodgers would go all-out to sign him. But one baseball official said the organization is hesitant because of the three-prong cost, especially the signing ban. The Dodgers have utilized the recent availability of Cubans to jump-start the restoration of their farm system, with mixed results. They scored huge with outfielder Yasiel Puig's $42 million signing, but have little to show for spending $53 million on infielders Alex Guerrero and Erisbel Arruebarrena (who was outrighted to Triple-A). According to a Baseball America report, Dodgers officials Josh Byrnes, David Finley and Galen Carr were at Friday's showcase of Olivera in the Dominican Republic. Olivera, 29, is not subject to the tax and signing ban and, presumably, is advanced enough not to need any Minor League seasoning.
Clarification please. What would the length of this 40 million contract be? Is it five years at 8 million per? If so it could be financial insanity when combined with the 100% penalty. That is a effective cost of 16 million per year. What ever the length, the first couple of years could be in the minors rendering the effective major league compensation even higher. What ever the length divide the expected major league service years into 80 million and get the effective yearly cost for him. If only five years and it takes the 19 year old one season to reach the majors that's 20 million per major league season. If a five year contract and two years to the majors that's over 26 million per major league season. What is the expected contract length and perhaps unlike Puig, Abreu and the older major league ready Cuban players his youth will work against him.
as far as that international penalty goes, the Dodgers would be fucked over signing international players whether they give him 8 million or 40 million, and anyone rational in that front office knows Moncada is going to get paid, so it really shouldn't be an issue if they truly are interested in him.
and as far as Olivera, fuck that, 29 year old (and 30 by the time the season starts) 2nd baseman? Sorry, but too old. We have Kendrick, who is a sure thing that is only a couple years older.
Olivera's said to be pretty damn good and can also play 3rd base. He would be a nice option if Moncada doesn't sign. Or hell, even if Moncada does sign..they may move Moncada to the outfield where his range would be of better use or maybe even elect to move on from Kendrick. Who knows?
if our FO is having reservations about signing moncada because of the penalties they're certainly not going to sign someone of less talent and lose the next two signing periods
I don't know the rules, but it sounds like signing Olivera isn't subject to the same penalties because he is over 23 and (I'm assuming) has played 5+ seasons of professional baseball in Cuba.
With so many Cuban players defecting you have to weigh the risk of sinking money into one or many and if they can't sign guys for 2 years then I see the hesitation. Quality or quantity. My other concern is will we missing missing out on the next Tulo or Beltre? BM the age limit is 23.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but assuming that the $40 mil contract is 5 years, he'll be 24 when that contact ends. Given how young he is, he probably won't be ML ready until age 21-22, and we'd have to assume he'd need a year to get acclimated to big league pitching. That means we'd be paying like $80 million for essentially 2 years, maybe even just 1 year of impactful play. So shouldn't we just let another team sign him, eat that penalty, develop him, then we jump in and throw a monster deal at him right when he's hitting his stride as a player?
you may be right mousey i'm not up on all the rules either plus, didn't they just change/amend them recently?