2019 July 2nd IFA Thread

[-MetA4-]

Don't think we did one of these yet.

This is a year wherein they will divide their budget on a bunch of "middle tier" prospects as opposed to spending the majority on one player. These are the 5 names that BA listed today in their IFA preview:

Toronto Blue Jays

Rikelvin de Castro, a lean, athletic shortstop with a chance to develop into a plus defender, is expected to sign a seven-figure deal with the Blue Jays. They're also expected to land Venezuelan shortstop Estiven Machado, Venezuelan outfielder Robert Robertis, Venezuelan catcher Victor Mesia and Dominican outfielder Cristian Feliz

[vaff87]

Robert Robertis

[-MetA4-]

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[Cyrus]

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I know there isn't any slot deals for these prospects, but curious how some of the guys ranked way later (i know ranking is also subjective) is getting more $$$, thaan guys ranked in like the 15-20 range.

[Cyrus]

Here is an article on the signing:

Here’s what we know about De Castro: He is a high-energy athlete with an impressive set of tools across the board. De Castro is slender, but he’s strong. He’s a prospect with good hands, solid footwork, speed and a high baseball IQ.

He shows solid defensive actions and plus arm strength.

The Blue Jays have also been linked to outfielder Piniel Brito. Additionally, they’re expected to sign these players out of the Dominican Republic: right-handed pitcher Nathanael Perez and outfielders Cristian Feliz, Penier Brito and Estarlin Beltre along with shortstop Leafar Yeje.

https://www.mlb.com/news/blue-jays-to-sign-dominican-shortstop-prospect-rikelvin-de-castro

[Cyrus]

Another:

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This guy isn't ranked in the top 30

[Cyrus]

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[Cyrus]

On side note, from Baltimore not having an international presence , they are trying to make up for lost ground, by going buck wild this IFA period, not sure if they signed any top guys, but signed like 15 guys.

Baltimore Orioles

Luis Ortiz, lhp, Dominican Republic
Anderson Rogers, ss, Dominican Republic
Luis Gonzalez, of, Dominican Republic
Leonel Sanchez, ss, Dominican Republic
Dax Stubbs, of, Bahamas
Moises Chace, rhp, Venezuela
Robert Martinez, ss, Dominican Republic
Moises Salas, lhp, Venezuela
Cesar Aguasvivas, ss, Domnican Republic
Raul Rangel, rhp, Venezuela
Luis De La Cruz, of, Dominican Republic
Charbel Abbou,d rhp, Venezuela
Harol Arias, rhp, Venezuela
Erick Caines, rhp, Dominican Republic
Ricardo Rivera, c, Colombia
Jesus Alvarado, of, Venezuela
Francisco Crispin, rhp, Dominican Republic
Cesar Alvarez, rhp, Venezuela
Kenny Baez, c, Dominican Republic
Rolphy Cruz, ss, Dominican Republic
Jose Ramirez, lhp, Venezuela
Edgar Portes, rhp, Dominican Republic
Johan Berroa, lhp, Dominican Republic
Randy Beriguete, rhp, Dominican Republic
Adrion Lacle, lhp, Aruba
Erinson Placencia, rhp, Dominican Republic
Alejandro Mendez, rhp, Dominican Republic

[SharoneWright]

On side note, from Baltimore not having an international presence , they are trying to make up for lost ground, by going buck wild this IFA period, not sure if they signed any top guys, but signed like 15 guys.

Baltimore Orioles

Luis Ortiz, lhp, Dominican Republic
Anderson Rogers, ss, Dominican Republic
Luis Gonzalez, of, Dominican Republic
Leonel Sanchez, ss, Dominican Republic
Dax Stubbs, of, Bahamas
Moises Chace, rhp, Venezuela
Robert Martinez, ss, Dominican Republic
Moises Salas, lhp, Venezuela
Cesar Aguasvivas, ss, Domnican Republic
Raul Rangel, rhp, Venezuela
Luis De La Cruz, of, Dominican Republic
Charbel Abbou,d rhp, Venezuela
Harol Arias, rhp, Venezuela
Erick Caines, rhp, Dominican Republic
Ricardo Rivera, c, Colombia
Jesus Alvarado, of, Venezuela
Francisco Crispin, rhp, Dominican Republic
Cesar Alvarez, rhp, Venezuela
Kenny Baez, c, Dominican Republic
Rolphy Cruz, ss, Dominican Republic
Jose Ramirez, lhp, Venezuela
Edgar Portes, rhp, Dominican Republic
Johan Berroa, lhp, Dominican Republic
Randy Beriguete, rhp, Dominican Republic
Adrion Lacle, lhp, Aruba
Erinson Placencia, rhp, Dominican Republic
Alejandro Mendez, rhp, Dominican Republic

Or 27!

[polo007]

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TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays sought to diversify their spending in Latin America as the international free agent period opened Tuesday, making Dominican shortstop Rikelvin de Castro their top spend at $1.2 million and then signing a handful of other six-figure buys.

Prime among them is Venezuelan centre-fielder Robert Robertis, who gets $750,000, and Dominican slugger Penier Brito, who gets $600,000, according to industry sources. The Blue Jays had a bonus pool of $5,398,300 to work with this year and their approach is in contrast to last year, when they devoted roughly 70 per cent of their bonus pool to shortstop Orelvis Martinez, who signed for $3.5 million

Their other six-figure spends Tuesday are outfielder Christian Feliz and left-hander Cristopher Castro from the Dominican Republic, and catcher Victor Mesia plus right-handers Cesar Ayala and Dahian Santos out of Venezuela.

They are also in agreement with Venezuelan shortstop Estiven Machado, with more deals likely to come in the next few days.

Back on the international side, de Castro is the headliner, described as lean, wiry, quick-twitch athletic shortstop who plays with lots of energy. While the Blue Jays like his swing and feel he’ll grow into the strength to be a gap-to-gap doubles type of hitter, they’re particularly bullish on his defensive abilities, feeling he’s got all the ingredients needed to be a plus defender up the middle.

Robertis is a left-handed hitting centre-fielder with speed and impressive pull power with the potential to be a five-hole type of bat. He has a big leg kick when he hits but is able to time it up well.

Brito owns what’s described as “monster power” he generates from a wide, Jeff-Bagwell-esque base. He’s built like an NFL tight end and projects as some type of corner player, with the arm and agility to play third base or right field.

[Ong_dynasty]

So Brito is built like a tight end.. how is beltre built like? Lol

[augustine]

Did they spend any of the extra ifa money they acquired?

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[-MetA4-]

Did they spend any of the extra ifa money they acquired?

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using RealGM mobile app

That money was for last year's IFA period. They used it to sign a pitcher from Cuba and two pitchers from the Netherlands.

[Black Watch]

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What is Shannon Sharpe doing standing next to Starlin Beltre?

[Cyrus]

https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/press-release/blue-jays-sign-33-international-free-agents

Any of these guys of note?

[Fairview4Life]

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What is Shannon Sharpe doing standing next to Starlin Beltre?

Everyone wants a picture with the world's largest human thumb.