Red Sox sign Moncada

[gunnarthor]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/02/red-sox-to-sign-yoan-moncada.html

 

31.5m signing bonus.  Because Boston had gone over its international spending allotment, they have to pay another 31.5m to mlb.

 

"Moncada, a 19-year-old switch-hitting infielder, is the most sought-after international prospect in recent history. Said to be a true five-tool talent, scouts have likened his upside to that of Robinson Cano and Chase Utley (in his prime). Prospect specialists at Baseball America, MLB.com, Baseball Prospectus and Fangraphs have all suggested that Moncada would rank in the top five to 15 prospects in Major League Baseball upon signing, which will make him Boston’s new No. 1 prospect. Unlike recent Cuban signings such as Jose Abreu and Rusney Castillo, however, Moncada will likely require at least one season in the minors — possibly two."

 

 

[gunnarthor]

To put that money into perspective, that 63m the Sox are paying for his rights are more than the the highest 6 teams had in their bonus pool amounts from last years draft.

[Mike Sixel]

Well, I would have been wrong on that bet.......

 

I don't get what they Yankees did there. They have enough money, a bad farm system, and were already over the max. I also thought the Dodgers might go in on this one. 

[jimmer]

I expected this, good for them and good for the kid.

[Twins Twerp]

Yikes. I wonder how many years they will spread out that 30 mil

[HitInAPinch]

"Moncada will likely require at least one season in the minors — possibly two."

 

I'm curious.  For what?  That's a lot of money for a player that not ready right now.

[KGB]

Yikes. I wonder how many years they will spread out that 30 mil

 

They can spread out the bonus, but they owe 100% tax which is due by July 15

[Willihammer]

How does this even happen?

[Mike Sixel]

I'd say it is reasonable.....if harper or strasburg had been on the open market, they would have received around $50MM I'd guess, so with inflation, sure, I can see that price tag.

 

These teams (not the Twins) with big cable deals are literally swimming in money. Why not use it to buy good players (prospects)? 

[Kwak]

 

 

These teams (not the Twins) with big cable deals are literally swimming in money. Why not use it to buy good players (prospects)? 

 

Of course!  The Twins have been blaming poor results on a weak roster (and posters agree!).  No one should be surprised that franchises with huge revenue streams would spend huge sums to obtain/retain a roster loaded with talent in order to keep winning.

[biggentleben]

Yikes. I wonder how many years they will spread out that 30 mil

 

They can only spread it out over 3 years maximum, per MLB rules.

[biggentleben]

"Moncada will likely require at least one season in the minors — possibly two."

 

I'm curious.  For what?  That's a lot of money for a player that not ready right now.

 

Not really.  As mentioned, Harper/Strasburg probably could have topped the $30M mark without problem.

 

He'll need a year in the minors because he's had so much time off, and he's 19.  If the Twins (or any team) rushed the #1 pick immediately to the majors, regardless of the cost, fans would be irate and calling for heads for "ruining" the player.  All along it's been said that Moncada will likely need to have a year or two in the minors before he's ready.  Heck, he's added something like 2-3 inches of height since his last professional game played.  That alone will take some getting used to.

[walt-o-meal]

To put that money into perspective, that 63m the Sox are paying for his rights are more than the the highest 6 teams had in their bonus pool amounts from last years draft.

Yikes!  At what point do we start spreading some of that hatred traditionally reserved for the Yankees over in the direction of the Red Sox and their $$$$$?

[TheLeviathan]

I think this is only the beginning of some crazy finances.  As these TV deals continue to escalate we're going to continue to be dumbfounded by the money being handed out.

 

Time to start pooling and splitting media revenues baseball.  As in, like 10 years ago you should've started.

[Willihammer]

Sounds like the Yanks and Dodgers were right there too.

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/02/details-on-the-runners-up-for-yoan-moncada.html

 

edit: and  Brewers

[Mike Sixel]

I think this is only the beginning of some crazy finances.  As these TV deals continue to escalate we're going to continue to be dumbfounded by the money being handed out.

 

Time to start pooling and splitting media revenues baseball.  As in, like 10 years ago you should've started.

 

How about every team put 70% of their income in a pool? Big markets keep some advantage, but not as large a one as they have now.

[bird]

Outrageous and sad, frankly.

 

If I'm running ISIL, this news gets incorporated into my training video.

 

More wretched excess.

[Mike Sixel]

What should the owners do with the money, birdwatcher?

[Willihammer]

I assume a portion of the 100% tax on the signing will be re-distributed via revenue shsaring, no?

[jimmer]

What should the owners do with the money, birdwatcher?

pocket it :-)

[nater79a]

Wonder if the Moncada signing pushes the Red Sox even harder in trying to deal for Cole Hamels? Moncada could backfill some of the talent lost in a trade.

[gunnarthor]

Yikes!  At what point do we start spreading some of that hatred traditionally reserved for the Yankees over in the direction of the Red Sox and their $$$$$?

Oh, I'm already there.

[gunnarthor]

There is a downside, as I understand it, to what Boston did (and a few other big market teams).  They are not allowed to sign any high end international talent next year since they went so far over their pool this year.  So a few big names won't be grabbed by them.

[jimmer]

I don't hate any team that uses their money the way those teams do.  They have the money and they spend it within the rules.  Even if I had an issue with it, I would hate the system for being the way it is, not the teams that use every resource available within the rules to try and make their team the best it can be. 

[jimmer]

Dave Cameron's take on this: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/why-63-million-for-yoan-moncada-makes-sense/

[gunnarthor]

I don't hate any team that uses their money the way those teams do.  They have the money and they spend it within the rules.  Even if I had an issue with it, I would hate the system for being the way it is, not the teams that use every resource available within the rules to try and make their team the best it can be. 

Honestly, hating teams is a big part of sports.  It actually makes me sad knowing that you don't hate Boston or NY.  

 

You do hate the Packers, though, right?

[biggentleben]

Honestly, hating teams is a big part of sports.  It actually makes me sad knowing that you don't hate Boston or NY.  

 

You do hate the Packers, though, right?

 

No, not it's not.  If your life is truly altered by something the Red Sox/Yankees/Tigers/Packers/Badgers do, you need to seek professional help.  True, honest hatred has no place in sports whatsoever.  I'll cheer any day of the week against the Badgers playing well, but that doesn't mean I ever cheer for any player on their team to be injured or actually hate the team.  I'm encouraged at the same time that you're saddened to hear that there's a poster who can separate his dislike of seeing another team beat his own team to appreciation for the process that team employs to achieve their victories.

[biggentleben]

There is a downside, as I understand it, to what Boston did (and a few other big market teams).  They are not allowed to sign any high end international talent next year since they went so far over their pool this year.  So a few big names won't be grabbed by them.

 

I would wager strongly that there's an international draft in the next couple of years, so it likely won't hurt them as bad as one would think.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

This isn't going to sit well with the Strasburg and Harper types. I'd think this will come up in the next CBA. I wonder if this means all Cubans get lumped into the June draft.

 

I think a foreign draft during the winter meetings would make more sense, myself. 

 

Or how about this... lump all foreign-born (non-June draft) players together and all the Rule 5 players (loosen up the stay in the majors restriction) into a 10-round draft. Assign bonuses per pick (like the June draft), obviously Rule 5 players don't get the bonus, and limit the teams to spending $20,000 per player on guys that aren't drafted. The benefit to taking a Rule 5 guy is you have more money to spend on foreign guys cause you keep that pick value.

 

I don't know... just an idea, maybe a real bad one.

[maxisagod]

What should the owners do with the money, birdwatcher?

 

Pay their minor league players at least minimal wage, go in with other teams to build better academies in DR, Ven, Cuba, agree to put 50 million towards brain injury research, more towards urban and rural baseball programs in their cities/states, and a scholarship funds for women, maybe it can go to women softball players who don't get a true professional outlet after college. At least one of these.

 

Wait.... No change my mind. Free soft serve days and one physically gifted baseball playing teen.