2021 International Signings

nvalvo

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Jul 16, 2005
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Looks like the Sox just signed a haul of Latin American teenagers.
  • Miguel Bleis, OF from DR, for $1.5m. Toolsy outfielder with a projectable frame expected to add plus power as he grows into his body.
  • Luis Ravelo, SS from DR, $525,000. Listed as a RHH, but his Perfect Game writeup (since when did Dominican teenagers have Perfect Game profiles? Is this the wrong kid?) talks about switch hitting.
  • Enderso Lira, C, from VZ.
  • Alvaro Mejias, RHP from VZ.
  • Jedixson Paez, RHP from VZ.
  • Curaçaoan "power arm" Yizreel Burnet, RHP.
They've also been linked to a few others, and I figured we could use a thread to keep track of them as more announcements come out.
 
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Sandy Leon Trotsky

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Mar 11, 2007
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Looks like the Sox just signed a haul of Latin American teenagers.
  • Miguel Bleis, OF from DR, for $1.5m. Toolsy outfielder with a projectable frame expected to add plus power as he grows into his body.
  • Luis Ravelo, SS from DR, $525,000. Listed as a RHH, but his Perfect Game writeup (since when did Dominican teenagers have Perfect Game profiles? Is this the wrong kid?) talks about switch hitting.
They've also been linked to a few others, and I figured we could use a thread to keep track of them as more announcements come out.
Just came here to post this too.


The Red Sox have reportedly reached an agreement with one of the most athletic prospects in this year's international class.
According to MLB.com and Baseball America, the Red Sox have reached a $1.5 million agreement with right-handed outfielder Miguel Bleis.
The 16-year-old native of the Dominican Republic is considered a consensus top-20 prospect in this year's class. He's 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds, with a projectable frame that suggests plus tools across the board.
Baseball America describes him as one of the top athletes in the class, "(with) a sleek, athletic frame with high physical upside." MLB.com, meanwhile, raves that he's one of the biggest and strongest players on the market, but also blessed with an advanced approach at the plate.
"Bleis has a plan once he steps into the batter's box with a feel for the strike zone and it shows," MLB.com wrote.
While the draft is typically the focus of how teams stock a farm system, the international market has produced no shortage of stars in recent years, from San Diego's Fernando Tatis Jr. to Washington's Juan Soto to Atlanta's Ronald Acuña Jr. All three reached the big leagues by age 20, while Soto posted a .406 on base percentage at age 19.
It's too soon to say how quickly Bleis will develop, but he represents another step towards rebuilding the farm.
According to Baseball America, the Red Sox have also reached agreements with a handful of other prospects, including Venezuelan catcher Enderso Lira, Dominican shortstop Luis Ravelo, and Venezuelan right-hander Alvaro Mejias.
 

oumbi

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Sandy Leon Trotsky

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I am stealing this from Soxprospects:

Bleis' bonus is tied for 9th-highest for an IFA signing with Boston

1. Moncada, '15, $31.5M
2. Iglesias, '09, $6.25M
3. D. Flores, '17, $3.1M
4. Lin, '12, $2.05M
5. J. Vinicio, '09, $1.95M
T-6. A. Espinoza, '14/Tazawa, '08, $1.8M
8. D. Diaz, '17, $1.6M
T-9. Bleis/Devers, '13/C. Acosta, '14/M. Almanzar '07 $1.5M

https://forum.soxprospects.com/thread/5377/2020-international-signing-period-thread?page=5
Holy shit... what a drop off from Moncada!
 

Manramsclan

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Jul 14, 2005
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Holy shit... what a drop off from Moncada!
There have been significant rule changes with international free agents since the Moncada signing.
There is now an allotted pool for each team in the $1-6M range based on competitive balance tax and compensation from FA's signing with other teams.
The Red Sox had $5,348,100 to spend this year along with a number of other clubs.
The handful of teams that had the most to spend had a little over $6 million.
More here
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

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There have been significant rule changes with international free agents since the Moncada signing.
There is now an allotted pool for each team in the $1-6M range based on competitive balance tax and compensation from FA's signing with other teams.
The Red Sox had $5,348,100 to spend this year along with a number of other clubs.
The handful of teams that had the most to spend had a little over $6 million.
More here
That's right... duh! Forgot about that.
I know Moncada was being called the next ARod (I suspect partly for his good looks) so a signing of that amount during that time was still pretty astronomical IIRC, but I wonder how to apply a ratio now that those sums aren't being tossed around. Basically wondering where Bleis sits in regard to Moncada during that time.
 

jon abbey

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That's right... duh! Forgot about that.
I know Moncada was being called the next ARod (I suspect partly for his good looks) so a signing of that amount during that time was still pretty astronomical IIRC, but I wonder how to apply a ratio now that those sums aren't being tossed around. Basically wondering where Bleis sits in regard to Moncada during that time.
It's not really comparable, Moncada was the top guy that year, Bleis is #21 this year on mlb.com and #33 on Fangraphs. Many guys today got bonuses as big as Bleis', the main thing that chart above shows is that BOS hasn't given out too many big deals internationally in the past.
 

The Gray Eagle

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Aug 1, 2001
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Here's a list of the international signings with links to their soxprospects.com pages:

"Agreed to terms with international free agents Miguel Bleis, Enderso Lira, Luis Ravelo, Alvaro Mejias, Jedixson Paez, Josue Castillo, Karim Ayubi, Yevganni Reinita, Ahbram Liendo, Yizreel Burnet, Jean Carlos Reyes, Elvys Castro, Helison Mota, and Armando Sierra."

The pages are currently sparse, but surely will be updated as these guys start to play.
And some have brief scouting profiles. For example, Jedixon Paez: "Repeatable delivery. Good control. Three-pitch mix includes an advanced curveball for his age."
And interesting info, like how Yizreel Burnet from Curacao is 17 but is already 6'2", 215.