Phillies to sign Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez over $50M

[Wo1verine]

Gonzalez is getting closer to signing:

uban right-hander Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez has been drawing attention from scouts for months now, and the 26-year-old is getting closer to signing. MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez reports that Gonzalez's selection is down to just five teams, and he could sign a deal within the next couple of days. According to Sanchez, the price for Gonzalez has gone up, and the number of interested teams has gone down (Twitter links).

Last Thursday, Gonzalez's agent, Jaime Torres, told reporters that he hoped to have a deal in place sometime this week. At that time, the Dodgers, Cubs, Rangers, Red Sox, Phillies, Blue Jays, Braves, Twins, Yankees and Marlins had all shown interest in Gonzalez, though the Twins and Marlins were thought to be long-shots due to Gonzalez's price tag.

What do you guys think about this guy? Sounds like he could be legit and rumor is the Dodgers are interested and may offer 5/50M.

I am personally sick and tired on missing out on highly touted import players like Darvish, Puig, Chapman, Ryu etc..

We need the SP, and what better way to get some help by signing 26-year-old Gonzalez? After all it's only going to cost us cash ( a whole lot of it).

[Schad]

Cash (a whole lot of it) is the one thing we really don't have. Just can't see us committing another $10m to starting pitching when we already have six starters making $5m/year or more.

[galacticos2]

I'd never sign an unproven pitcher. Darvish has done well, but what about Dice-K or Hideki Urabu? Remember those? It's a risk to sign these guys to those big contracts. Ryu and Puig haven't finished a full season, i'd wait to see what happens with them.

[rarefind]

It is all relative, no way any more money is allocated to an unproven pitcher with the amount of money currently owed to Buerhle and Dickey especially with their struggles this season.

However, finally trying to roll the dice on an import would be nice.

[kwamebargnani]

I don't trust this team's scouting ability.

[galacticos2]

I don't trust this team's scouting ability.

your spot on, this team can't even develop it's own players. its disgusting. who have we developed that's even remotely good for more than 4+ seasons recently?

[dagger]

I don't trust this team's scouting ability.

I actually believe our scouts can spot and rate talent. Signability is another matter, but that's a separate consideration. What really worries me is player development. Our track record is poor, even setting aside guys who we traded away.

No, we're not going to throw that kind of money at Gonzales, but we should given our record at keeping pitchers healthy - we currently have double the major league average number of pitchers on the DL.

[Wo1verine]

Sounds like Boston really wants him.

The Red Sox are looking "pretty hard" at free agent Cuban righty Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, president and CEO Larry Lucchino said on WEEI's Dennis & Callahan show this morning (Tim Healey has quotes). "The auctioning can begin," said Lucchino. Noting that GM Ben Cherington guards the team's prospects "like his first-born child," Lucchino explained, "Reaching into your pocket for your wallet is much easier." Lucchino confirmed the Sox are searching for rotation and bullpen help.

I would look to move contracts out at the deadline or perhaps offer him a backloaded contract and take a gamble on this guy.

[Wo1verine]

The Phillies have reached agreement with Cuban pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez on a deal worth over $50MM, Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports reports (via Twitter). With bonuses, Gonzalez's contract could be worth more than $60MM. The Red Sox were the other main contender for Gonzalez, Passan tweets.

[Randle McMurphy]

At least he'll be in the NL.