International Free Agents

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1. That first IFA signing period under Andrew Friedman certainly was not his finest hour (and I am being kind).

   I think his advisors convinced him this was a “quick fix” of the Farm System. To his credit, they all walked the plank and were replaced with someone who is credible.

   There have been undertones from the Justice Department and MLB that some of the ones who were fired could be indicted… but that has not happened. It was a total trainwreck… almost! Some good will likely come from it, but not anything near what they anticipated.

2. AC,…. why would scouts sign a player at age 14? Was it legal and do you think they were trying to get the jump on the other scouts? I would think it would take a very talented scout to see the potential in a 14 year old and sign him to a multi-million deal.

3. It was an over reaction to the McCourt era, which ignored the international market. One of the desires that Kasten emphasized when the new ownership group took over was to make a big splash internationally. This was the realization that just throwing money around didn’t work. Don’t forget all the money wasted on Cuban players, who never panned out. Friedman and the Dodgers have evolved, hired more savvy people and are likely to see more success. Very good review, interesting read.

4. It still bothers me that with all the money that the Dodgers threw around in 2015, none of it went to Vlad Jr., who I believe was the top rated international FA that year.

   Hope what we saw from JT last night is a harbinger of things to come.

   1. It appears the Sale era is over. Chris Sale signed a 5 year / $145,000,000 contract with the Boston Red Sox, including $145,000,000 guaranteed, and an annual average salary of $29,000,000. He is signed through 2024. Current ERA 4.27.

      1. Has that ship Saled?

5. Thoughts on Joe Davis?

   I’m rapidly warming to him

   1. No one is Vin. Joe Davis is the best we could have hoped for. I really like him a lot.

   2. I love Joe Davis. He is gaining National notoriety and is in huge demand.

      Vin was Vin and Joe is Joe – I don’t compare them. I appreciate them both. No one will ever have a run like Vin, but Joe should be around for a long, long time.

      1. Joe Davis is a cookie cutter announcer. His voice is nondescript and his style typical. The stories don’t have that taste of reality, like they were heard in the clubhouse talking to the guys. I still say the most interesting team of announcers are Monday and Kennedy. Both have been in the trenches and have the respect of the players . And they are not talking heads like Davis’s partner. You can tell all their stories are 1st hand and not hear say. Oral was a great pitcher but as a color guy seems like it’s all I, I, I, I. With Monday and Kennedy you get the outlook of a former manager and a respected very good MLB player. And sometimes their opinions differ from the Dodger execs, but that makes it interesting. Not just spouting the Dodger corporate propaganda. Less professional and more personal. Oh well…just another opinion probably not held by many.

         1. Love hearing Kennedy and Monday. Whenever they are on together , which is not enough , my ears are peeled to the laptop. Loads of interesting insights. Have no issues with the others though.

         2. I strongly agree on Monday and Kennedy. They are my favorite announcing combo hands-down.

         3. I’ve softened my view on Joe Davis. He has relaxed more since the beginning of the season and has injected a lot more humor and off the cuff comments into his broadcasting. But, I agree, more or less, with you, Dirk. Cookie cutter and a very put together personality. He’s created a persona and it’s definitely modeled on Vin. He and Orel get along but they are far from people like Monday and Neverett, who I like a lot. But I have been able to tolerate Joe in recent weeks and don’t always turn to the other broadcasts to watch the game. But, I will never pass up Kruk & Kuip when the Dodgers play the Giants or Tim with St. Louis. ESPN sucks.

   3. I’ll join the chorus. A definite “yes” vote on Joe.

      1. I’m singing Joe’s praises also. I like him paired with Orel.

6. What is up with Andrew Toles? Any one have any news.

   1. The team and some reporters know, but out of respect for Andrew, no one will talk.

      I can only speculate that it is something akin to what happened to Zack Greinke years ago, but I don’t know. I do not think it’s anything criminal.

      We can only hope that whatever it is, Andrew can overcome it.

      Andrew is 27… the clock is ticking!

      1. Hard to believe that reporters would hold a story out of respect for anyone in this day and age. I mean this is not the era of idolization that baseball heroes used to get. Seems like if someone knew something it would be “leaked”.

         1. If it’s not salacious they can keep a secret… and do!

7. It was great to the boys break out last night against Sale. I like that Roberts pulled Urias after 2 innings of relief, no need to waste him after that huge lead. Pollock, Turner, Kike, Taylor and Freese evened out the lineup against a lefty and all is well again. CT3 didn’t get a hit, but he reached on a couple of walks.

   THE SKY ISN’T FALLING AFTER ALL!

   I hope they’ll stick with the same lineup today, but that probably won’t happen.

   Back to Urias, I still hope the plan is to put him into the rotation. But, taking him out after two isn’t going to help him build up his pitch count. I’m starting to get a little impatient.

   The bullpen looks shaky in the two games after the break. I’ll feel a lot better when they address this glaring need.

   I prefer to forget about that class of international free agents. It was a calculated risk that Yadier Alvarez et al would be a better haul than Joan Moncada, who’s strikeout totals make CT3 look like a contact hitter. Not all is lost, we managed to turn one of those guys into a piece of Manny Machado and Fields was pretty good for a couple of years and there’s till a couple of guys that might still work out like Estevez and??? Glad it wasn’t my money!

   1. WRT Urias, perhaps the plan is to trade for a starter and keep Urias in the pen.

      1. I wonder if they might do that and convert him back next year? He is a top-of-the-rotation starter – even Ray Charles can see that, but would it hurt him to pitch an inning or two, every other day? I don’t think so…

         He could be the Bridge.

      2. If they pay him 1st level starters wages. But doubt they would do that.

         1. Julio isn’t arbitration eligible yet, so they don’t even pay him like a scrap heap starter that they picked up on wavers wages. 😉 He gets paid $565K this year. I think the minimum is $555K. I don’t think their plans on how to use him has anything to do with what they pay him. I think that comes more into play when you’re a veteran approaching free agency or a big free agent signing.

8. My son and I went to Rancho last night (we try to do it once or twice a season) and had a chance to see some of the guys mentioned above.
   I was very impressed with Jeter Downs. He made a couple of nice plays at short, showed nice speed on the bases and handled himself well at the plate.
   Nico Hulsizer hit an oppo field homer that looked like a pop up when it left the bat. He’s definitely someone to keep an eye on. One of those guys who just looks great in his uniform.
   Miguel Vargas looked overmatched in his first at bat, but good in his following two chances. Considering he was facing a major league pitcher on rehab (Sean Manaea), he handled himself very well for a 19 year old. Another top flight prospect to keep an eye on.
   The front office seems to be doing an excellent job of keeping the pipeline filled. The future is bright.

   1. It’s unbelievable how stacked we are. Mann played as well last night. You really got to see a few guys that could be future stars.

9. These prospects are impossible to predict. Even after a few years in the farm system they still surprise….sometimes in a good way sometimes less than good. For instance, who could predict Will Smith would be a power laden HR monster. Not me that’s for sure. They’re children and they all progress at their own speeds. And some regress then progress then regress again. You’ve got to give them a chance or get bitten. High risk high reward. Personally I still think Yadier Alvarez will end up being something special for someone. That will come out in the wash sooner or later. Good or less than good.

   1. What the hell is going on with Yadier Alvarez anyway? It doesn’t look like he’s been playing.

10. Seems to me Andre Jackson and Edwin Uceta have really figured things out!

    Seems to me DJ Peters is a whole different player at AAA than he was AA, and Gavin Lux is just waiting for a call up to LA.

    Now if the Ace can take this game tonight, we’ll have taken a huge road series.

11. Good write up AC! I will readily admit that I do not pay too much attention the DSL Rookie teams or the international signees until they come state side. I appreciate you providing this background information. It gives me additional prospects to be excited about and to follow.

    I like Joe Davis and think he is the perfect replacement for Vin Scully. I had the opportunity to meet him at a Dodger/Mariner game in Seattle and he is a genuinely nice human being. There were many who did not think that Vin Scully was Red Barber when he first took over for him. Vin did not become “Vin Scully” for several years. I think the same will be true for Joe. I just wish they would let him call the games by himself. I don’t necessarily dislike Orel as a color guy, but, overall he is too much of a homer and captain obvious guy(“a three run homer right now would sure get the Dodgers back into the game” type comments wear thin for me) and it takes away from Joe’s ability to describe the game and the action. Heck, I would even prefer Alanna Rizzo in the booth with Joe.

    1. Sometime in the near future I think Joe will be alone in the booth. He might make more use of Alanna for dugout comments and might have guests in the booth to help him in his first year of solo. He needed the Dodger connection that Orel and Nomar gave him to ease into post Vin.

       1. That is a very astute observation…

          Who are you and what did you do with Bumsrap? 😉

    2. I prefer Alanna in any booth. She’s much easier on the eyes.

    3. Not a bad idea using Alanna.

12. To DB Mom’s question above, baseball in some of these countries is a way of life not only for the player but also for their advisers. Many of the families have abdicated their control over the child to the adviser for money. It is not frowned upon, it is expected for the athletically gifted. Players can officially “sign” when they are 16, so teams need to make decisions when the player is 14 if they want the best. We all rationally know that a player at 14 is not necessarily going to be the player at 18-21 much less 16. The scout who agrees will not go back on his word as he will lose contact with all of those adviser clients. The adviser will not go back on his word as scouts will no longer come to their complexes. Word spreads fast when either the scout (team) or adviser cannot be trusted.

    It used to be that the adviser took the player out of competition after an agreement. But as can be expected that player got out of shape and was not the same player. “Rules” changed. Some started to use PEDs, but random drug tests became a norm and that was curtailed.

    But not for a moment believe this only happens in Latin America (primarily) or Asia. Look at the college scholarship world. Players in the 7th grade are getting scholarship offers. Basketball AAU coaches tie up their players with specific colleges. Softball players are often times tied up in by their freshman years in high school through their travel squad programs. When college recruiting coordinators go to high school games, they generally looking at the freshman as the other top players have already committed. Again the travel coach is not going to go back on his/her word as they will lose credibility and their programs will lose prestige. If the college goes back on their word, that school will no longer have access to the travel squads. Make no mistake the travel squad coaches for softball have far more control over the player than do the high school coaches. It was not that way when my son was in high school although he did receive pro scouts’ cards as early as 14. When he was 15 he was well known within the college and pro ranks. College coaches were not allowed to contact him until July 1 following his junior year in high school.

    I know many swim programs are the same. I do not know much at all about volleyball or soccer programs, but I suspect they are similar.

    So while it sounds incredulous that teams are willing to commit to 14-year-old children, it really is not all that different than the college sports scholarship programs.

    1. Wow AC. I never knew International scouting and signing was so involved as important as it is. I was very surprised to hear that recruiting is also happening in the US at an early age, especially in travel teams, having had grandchildren in travel baseball, hockey and volleyball.

       I truly understand about the “trust” issue and giving your word and keeping it. Is that how Urias got signed? I knew he was signed by age 16, but was he promised at 14? Would not surprise me knowing how talented he is. Thanks for the explanation. DBM

       1. All of the baseball gurus know who will be signing with who next year. The Dodgers are “rumored” to be signing Venezuelan SS Wilman Diaz. He is considered one of the top 7 international free agent prospects who will sign next July.

13. I can see why everyone online is clamoring over Lux but let’s go over a few things, he has played in 75 games this year ( 64 in AA, 11 in OKC) he has yet to face the league adjustments that usually happen over the course of a minor league season. He hasn’t faced adversity this year even though it will come, and the way he comes out off it will say a lot. The Front office is in no hurry to promote Lux, I have a feeling the FO is going to go the Verdugo route with Lux, which on the surface may seem wrong, but look what it did for Verdugo. It may not be the 2 years in AAA that Verdugo spent but it will be at least a full season, mainly because Muncy, Taylor, Turner and Seager. The FO won’t promote Lux to sit the bench and get little playing time, they want him to get everyday reps and see how he does with a full season of AAA under his belt. Also the dodgers are the best team in baseball so they don’t need to rush Lux at all, they have enough wiggle room to further his development. Let’s not forget what is going on in AAA this year with the juiced baseballs + playing in the PCL, if you don’t think that it is contributing to the offensive surge we are seeing this year in AAA then you may be a blind. Nevertheless Lux is having a good year.

14. The number of latin kids playing pro ball is incredible. The “Cradle of Shortstops”, San Pedro de Macoris alone has an estimated 100 pro players with a population of 195K. The numbers reported in the Dodger organization are staggering. A few years ago I had a scout explain that he could sign 5 young latin kids or more for the cost of one US college draftee. There were deals to be made. The latin kids were marketed through their Buscones who reaped a fat commission and warehoused numbers of prospects in poor accommodations while they were shopped to scouts. The prospects didn’t really play games for the scouts. They were polished at BP and taking infield/outfield. They might not know how to “play” the game. Now that story may or may not have been B.S.
    Looking at the bonuses now, it appears that the bargain prices are a thing of the past. These 16 year olds seem to be getting first round money or more. First pick this year, Adley Reichman got 8 million. Yadier Alvarez ($16MM), Yusniel Diaz ($15MM) seemed to have signed for much more 4 years ago. The image of these kids playing on grassless fields covered with stickers, using milk cartons for gloves is a myth. After signing, doesn’t every Big League team have an academy in the latin countries where they have a minor league team (or two)? It’s rare for a 16 – 18 year old now to be shipped off to Provo Utah, not knowing the language and with no education. At least it’s supposed to be.
    Years ago Sandy Alderson was commissioned to work on an International Draft. Whatever happened to that? The Buscones obviously wouldn’t like the bidding wars to end. But an International Draft is NOT in place now. Or is it? Hasn’t the bidding wars for prospects led to a lot of the shady business that’s gone on in the latin countries?
    The dominance of latin middle infielders has led to, in my opinion, a stereotype against non-latin players. When you see the tall, rangy shortstops of the past and present, the Mark Bellangers, Hal Laniers, Cal Ripkins, Troy Tulowitzkis, and Cory Seagers, seem to have to fight to be left alone to play shortstop. Some folks just seem to believe they have to move to 3rd (or 1st or somewhere). Cory is a terrific shortstop and should stay put. If time dictates a move later, fine, but not now. You don’t have to be Frankie Lindor to play the position and be a valuable Major League shortstop.

    1. Amen!

15. I’m one of those people who says on a regular basis “we just seem to be ineffective against lefty starters”.
    The stats don’t really back that up. Although we are playing at a .667 clip against righty starters, our record against lefties is .613 (19 wins in 31 games). That’s a better win percentage than every team in MLB except the Yanks and Astros. And I’m referring to their overall win percentage, not their percentage against lefties. True, we do better when the other team throws a right handed starter at us, but I think I’d better stop complaining about how we do against southpaws.

16. Brooklyn – hope you’re right about JT.
    We will certainly gonna need him to be successful this year.

    However, I’m concerned at how timid he is running the bases at the moment.

    He looks like he’s running with a stone in his shoe. He looks very tentative to me, as if he’s carrying an injury.

17. Watford,

    If you look at my comment carefully, I said that I “Hope” that JT’s game was a harbinger of things to come. So if he suddenly takes off I won’t be able to claim that I predicted it.

    Also, I like Joe Davis as well, but have no one to compare him with. I watch (never listen to the radio broadcasts) the games on MLB.tv and never get to listen to Monday/Kennedy. And because there is a slight delay in the transmission, watching the tv broadcast and listening to the radio broadcast at the same time would probably not synch up. Even the tv broadcast on my computer or tv is out of synch with my phone.

    1. Davis is a much better version of Buck to me. Fox would be wise to move Buck out of the top spot for Davis.

18. AJ!!!! Hey, kind of a cheap home run, but you should have seen the grin on the guys face rounding the bases. The guys in the dugout were stoked for him. They know how valuable he can be in the fall if he gets it going. Like I said a month ago, don’t count this guy out. He flies below the radar. Love it.

19. Freese has to catch that ball. Bad enough Kike didn’t cover 2nd when he should have but an average defensive first baseman makes that play.

    1. Agree 100%, Freese had bad position with the runner bearing down, didn’t step towards the ball coming in and muffed the short hop, and didn’t keep the ball in front of him allowing the 2nd run to score. Kike slipping and sliding on two different plays and forgetting to cover 2nd but no reaction from Ryu, which I really like about him.

20. Can someone explain to me if the ball Freese dropped would have been the third out, why the run which scored on the subsequent single was ruled as an earned run?

    1. If there was not a hit later it would it not have been earned. But there was

       1. Yeah, that’s what they said on the tv broadcast, but it makes no sense to me. If Ryu caused the hitter to hit into what should have been the third out, I don’t think the run should be counted against him. The pitcher did his job. The run should be unearned. So say I.

    2. Because they ruled it a hit plus error I believe so the error becomes irrelevant

       1. Ah, that makes sense. Thanks Hawkeye.

21. Ok, THIS is the Pollock that can really really carry us in the 2nd half and God willing into October!

    1. You mean god actually wills against the Dodgers?

       1. what else explains the 31 year drought

22. Verdugo’s throw – if the throw was accurate I saw that coming.

23. Don’t worry guys: bullpen is not a problem here. This is just a hiccup.

    The most important thing is we hoard all of our prospects, including 4-5 catchers. We can always covert starters into impact relievers because it’s just that easy.

    1. :0)

24. We lose the bullpen game every time because not only does our bullpen suck but offensively we don’t produce against opposing bullpens! It’s getting more expensive each day for Dodgers to acquire a star reliever!

    1. I think the opposite is true. To trade now, you would have to overpay because so many teams are still in it.

25. I see a Matt Latos, Jim Johnson, Jesse Chavez, John Axeford, Ryan Madsen type BP acquisition in our future.

    1. or Zac Roscup?

       1. Quackenbush

26. How many times! Since mattingly they have tried to make baez the 8th inning guy. It’s a losing strategy again. I feel sorry for the starters. Ryu pitches his rear off and the blowpen gives it back before an out is recorded.

27. Everyone knows that’s where JD likes the ball.

28. Problem wasn’t producing against the opposing bullpen. The problem was the inability to tack on runs after the first inning.

    1. The defensive issues in the first bit them in the ass

29. Again Baez. Long wrong strategy. You need something more to pitch an 8th inning in such condition. Ryu could have handle it.

30. Maybe we could score off our own bullpen! Seems like our all or nothing offense has returned!

31. What a beautiful job of hitting by Verdugo! When will he be given the leadoff job??

32. Really bad AB by Seager. Swung at ball 3 before popping out. Suspect that long layoff contributed to that. Did not like seeing Pollock, who generally doesn’t bunt, trying to bunt runners over.

33. Thank you Mr. Pollock…Thank you Mr. Kelly…
    Goodnight Mrs. Calabash wherever you are!!!

    1. Mrs. Calabash and Jimmy Durante were the only people we had left in the bullpen in case Kelly wasn’t sharp. Luckily we didn’t have to use them.

34. Joe Kelly’s improvement can be the biggest help to our October (even more than Pollock)

    1. I think Rosscup literally pooed himself when he came in. Yimi looked uncomfortable too. I’m glad Kelly is improving but they can’t go toe to toe with the big dogs relying on Floro, Shaggy, Rosscup, and Yimi. They’re in a weird spot with Urias. He’s most likely got a spot in the rotation next year so they need to build his innings up some this year. Enough for him to build on next year. However, he’s become the most effective relief pitcher in the pen and he’s more effective in relief than Stripling.
       ~
       Nice job by Kenley and AJ tonight. Petey put his pitch to JDM in a bad spot. After giving up two bombs he didn’t cave. He K’d the side.

35. Whew!!!!!!!!!!

    Floro’s walk after getting ahead 0-2 on the first hitter made me uneasy to say the least.

    Given all the players returning from the IL after long layoffs, I had my doubts about how the Dodgers would do in this series. Very happy with taking the series, especially after losing the opener..

36. What a bullpen. What a team. We’re unbeatable!
    Thought I’d say it so Mark wouldn’t have to.
    Can’t believe we actually won that game.

37. REDEMPTION ROAD, PEOPLE!! Pollock and Kelly come back from the dead and flat out deal tonight. Pollock reminded me tonight of all the years he tormented us as a D-Bag. The dude just gets it done. Crucial base hit to put us up front in extra innings. And Kelly looks like a different guy from a month ago. Don’t really care who trashes my ass, but I give credit to Roberts, most of you guys favorite punching bag. The man never gave up on Kelly, the human dumpster fire, and had the brass balls to say Pollock was his starting outfielder as soon as he came back from his injury. Roberts may not be a genius strategy guy, as most of you guys have pointed out, but one thing he excels at that most managers don’t these days is he gets his guys to buy in 100% to the cause, and you can tell it on the field and off it. Even ESPN announcers were giving props at how close knit this team is, how focused they were, how they didn’t give any at bats away and were relentless. Next game we lose, and all you guys are piling on about how horrible Doc is, don’t forget, this guy has us on another run to a 3rd straight World Series, and please don’t bore me with the”We win in spite of Roberts”. Total BS. He is perfect for this team at this stage in time. Go with it, enjoy the damn ride, and quit bitchin about the small stuff.

    1. Pollock would absolutely destroy the Dodgers and look incredible until he got hurt and then fizzle out. I will hold my breath every time he gets hit by a pitch, slides, dives for a catch, etc. He definitely looked more in the zone this series than he did the entire time before his IL stint. If they can get Seager and Pollock going with the rest of the crew and bring up Smith the offense will be set. I was glad to see Roberts put Joc in LF, move Verdugo to RF and Belli to first. I know Cody has been awesome in RF, but let’s not forget with Verdugo’s arm, he was supposed to be the future Right Fielder for the Dodgers. In a tight game like that I don’t want to see Joc at first. Taylor could wind up on the DL. It sure would be nice to bring Smith back up, but it will probably be Beatty or Garlick I imagine. I don’t see Lux getting moved to the 40-man yet.

38. Very pleasing win.
    To grind out these kind of results bodes well for the Post Season, especially on the road.

    Kelly really does have elite stuff when he gets it right.

    Roger – just read your post and agree about Pollock. He is a quality player and is like having a new signing for the second half.

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