caulfield12

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/chicago-seeks-authorization-sell-830-214041625.html Chicago's credit rating takes a hit as attempted bond offering nears

"Serrano, a 16-year-old from the Dominican Republic, received more money from the Twins than he would have with the Dodgers, according to FanGraphs. A 6-1 center fielder who hits lefthanded, Serrano is ranked No. 50 on MLB.com’s top international prospects list. “He can really run,” Barinas said. “He can really hit — advanced approach at the plate. There is actually some power, too. Really exciting at a premium position.” Serrano is one of the Twins additions headlining their 2025 international signing class, with five players expected to command signing bonuses around $1 million or higher. The Twins entered this year’s signing period with $7.56 million they can spend in bonuses, one of eight teams with the highest international bonus pool." http://www.google.com.hk/url?q=https://www.startribune.com/twins-international-signings-teilon-serrano-santiago-leon/601206371&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwie8tG36_iKAxWiI0QIHSM0B58QFnoECAUQAg&usg=AOvVaw0j-Z7H-H2-5qgTQGaKvpIn "Honestly, this is kind of the craziest signing period I’ve seen,” said Roman Barinas, the Twins’ director of Latin America scouting. "In addition to Morel and Patiño, the Dodgers also lost a commitment from Teilon Serrano as too received a larger bonus upon signing with the Minnesota Twins, according to baseball insider Francys Romero: Dominican SS Teilon Serrano is set to sign today with the Minnesota Twins for approximately $1M, sources confirmed." 50. Teilon Serrano, OF, D.R.: Twins ($847,500)

At the plate, Serrano shows off plus bat speed among his peers, giving confidence that despite his current smaller frame, there will be more pop in his bat as he matures. He employs a dip in his left-handed swing and front leg kick in an attempt to generate power from his 185-pound frame. His sweet swing is his best known commodity, which when coupled with pro instruction, gives him the floor of being at least an average bat. Serrano’s carrying tool is his well-above-average speed, which should suit him well as he makes the transition to center field in pro ball after getting looks on the infield as an amateur. A dynamic, high-twitch athlete, Serrano has had 60-yard dash times clocked as quick as 6.4 seconds. Those wheels have clubs believing he is destined for gap-to-gap outfield coverage, which enhances his overall upside as his pro career begins. mlb.com scouting report

Twins pick DR OF Teilon Serrano off from Dodgers...their third none lost player. "Some executives with knowledge of the International market predict Sasaki will make his decision first before giving the chosen team some time to acquire further bonus pool money (teams can increase the total value of their pools by 60 per cent). In the Blue Jays’ case, they could increase their allotment from $6,261,600 to $10,018,560. Whether Sasaki would expect all that money is one of the many unknowns here, but he’d certainly get most of it, meaning the winning bidder for Sasaki will likely have to back out of some existing deals." https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/blue-jays-in-limbo-as-roki-sasakis-decision-looms-large/ Only pool cash move so far for Sabol...between SFG/Boston.

BLue Jays still haven't announced their anticipated Christopher Polanco signing fwiw. https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/news/toronto-blue-jays-set-to-sign-exciting-shortstop-christopher-polanco-out-of-dominican-republic

Daniel Hudson come on down...

https://pinstripesnation.com/who-is-kyle-hart-ex-red-sox-kbo-record-lefty-on-yankees-radar-2025-01-1/ Does anyone know? Harold? Mac?

Maybe we can have a contest to name the Twins' final price?...good case study, not a premium franchise by any stretch, but still potentially undervalued. High/premium price would be anything over $1.65-1.80 billion.

Roki Sasaki is from Rikuzentakata in the Iwate Prefecture. Born in 2001, he was named after the villain Rouki from Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger, a Super Sentai show that was aired in the same year.[2][3] He was in the third grade during the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake. The resulting tsunami swept away his house. His father and grandparents died, while Sasaki, his mother, and his two brothers had to live in a nursing home during the recovery.[4][5][6] The family moved to Ōfunato the next year and Sasaki began to play baseball at his new school. wikipedia Wow....didn't know this part of his backstory.

The problem here is that Toronto already seems to be out... SD doesn't have any high profile targets like the last two years and the Dodgers have already lost a couple of their better guys. And Sasaki isn't as motivated by up front money, as they're looking at a plethora of marketing/sponsorships from Japanese companies to start off with. Have the White Sox ever ACQUIRED instead of traded away international pool money lol???

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/toronto-blue-jays-2025-international-class-scouting-report/ Look for movement here if there's even the slightest chance he goes to Toronto instead of SD/LAD. Or Toronto trading for signing pool money in increments of $250k.

Unfortunate that they couldn't get a live signing video out today with Cruz and/or Patino. Makes it feel more like mlb draft//NCAA signing day excitement.

Well...haven't you heard that mantra repeated ad nauseum everything is more expensive in California these days? $105 Sounds like a rounding error on the Dodgers' payroll, but still almost double where the White Sox are heading without Robert and Benintendi. Meanwhile, Cohen doing Cohen things... https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mets-sign-elian-pena-to-5-million-bonus-to-open-2025-international-signing-period/

That job and UCLA have seemingly been cursed...getting grounded by an average Iowa team didn't help much.

And Morel to the Pirates for even bigger money... Would have expected news of teams trading cash/pool money to LA SD Toronto by now. Toronto has at least 4-5 prospects that are upper tier but all the attention on the two West Coast teams right now. Fwiw, Toronto believes their "splitter" factory/pitching philosophy might be one of the reasons they made the final cut.

https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2025/1/14/24343286/today-in-blue-jays-history-trade-david-wells-for-mike-sirotka

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/andrew-salas-signs-with-marlins-for-3-7-million-in-2025-international-signing-period/ Cash-challenged Marlins betting big on another Salas brother....

https://nypost.com/2025/01/15/sports/how-teams-are-interpreting-roki-sasakis-very-serious-demeanor/ Tea leaves coming back in the direction of SD... https://www.si.com/mlb/yankees/news/insider-reveals-reason-why-roki-sasaki-might-have-denied-yankees-grant9

Note DeLoach a DH for Seattle lol. No Julks starting for Houston...

https://www.mlb.com/news/shotaro-morii-signs-with-a-s A’s are almost getting interesting…especially compared to Angels.

That was peak Yolmer…like comparing Eaton 1 and 2 with the Sox, two totally different players. Well, minus the Gatorade baths.

The Amaya/Colson Montgomery comp is just scary….to consider how much of a setback that would constitute.

Other than Fulmer, and Kopech…we’ve mostly been successful with hyped pitching prospects. Of course Rodon and Lopez have excelled moreso after leaving the team, and 2nd/3rd round has been a minefield, but it's harder to find niche success other than Padres’ relievers with other teams, perhaps, or Orioles’ position prospects.

Found this touching video from over a year ago…this is what it’s all about, the dream of so many growing up in extremely difficult conditions.

But by definition DH and LF are also big bats usually but suffer the worst for defensive short comings in the fWAR system for the inability to play defense period....arguing Benintendi Viciedo Vaughn in past years for example in LF was/were much more valuable to the Sox than a benign or negative offensive presence. Or that Pods/Pierre were actually more valuable without huge offensive numbers.