Article: Twins Acquire Two Prospects For International Bonus Money

[Cody Christie]

Minnesota missed out on the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes but there might be some good news on the horizon. There are multiple teams still in the race for Ohtani and they need international slot money to spend on the two-way Japanese star.

 

On Wednesday night, the Twins struck two deals to send money to teams still in the race for Ohtani. What prospects did the Twins receive? How did Minnesota have this money? Who will get some of their international slot money?Marte Money

Jelfry Marte had been signed by the Twins to a $3 million deal this summer. However, an issue found on his physical exam meant the deal was voided. With Marte’s money back in their international pool, Minnesota had $3.245 million to try and lure Ohtani to the Midwest. Last weekend, he informed the Twins that he wouldn’t be signing with them. This allowed the club to trade away some of their pool money to eager Ohtani suitors.

 

Mariners Trade

Catcher David Banuelos, a 21-year old Ontario, CA native, was drafted this year by Seattle in the fifth round out of Long Beach State. He spent all of this season in the Northwest League (Short-A) where he hit .236/.331/.394 with four home runs and eight doubles in 36 games. He made 26 starts behind the plate with a .982 fielding percentage. He threw out 18 potential runners and allowed 30 stolen bases.

 

With his college experience, he is considered a strong defender. He shows the ability to get on base and he has some power from the right-side of the plate. He could develop into a big league catcher in the years to come.

 

Angels Trade

Outfielder Jacob Pearson, a 19-year old, was drafted this year by the Angels in the third round. Los Angeles had to go overslot and offer him a $1 million to lure him away from his LSU commitment. He spent all of last season in the Arizona League (Rookie) where he hit .226/.302/.284 with seven doubles and a triple in 40 games. He played center field and left field during his professional debut but 31 of his 40 starts came in left.

 

His defensive skills are a weak spot at this point in his career but he’s still a teenager. The Twins hope he can continue to develop the right kind of speed and power combination to make him a legitimate threat at the plate.

 

So how did the Twins do? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

 

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[Kirbek]

Nice move.  This is a great prospect that is 19 instead of 16.  Avoid spending the $1m and the Angels already spent $1m on the signing bonus.  Those moves add up.

[sdangus]

So maybe these added prospects give the Twins added flexibility to expend some prospects to acquire pitching through the trade avenue. Since they couldn't acquire Shohei Ohtani, maybe they can use the resources to help acquire another valuable asset.

[mudcat14]

MLB had Pearson rated #6 on the Angels prospect board and Banuelos #10 for the Mariners.  Though both are still years away, it seems like a hell of a haul, which came at essentially no cost to the Twins.  If I understand correctly, the Twins merely gave up the rights to spend $2mil, not the actual money right?  We end up getting two players who received a combined $1.3mil in bonuses just 6 months ago for nada.  If someone offered me the opportunity to either buy a $2mil home or have a $1.3mil abode for free, I think I know which option I'd choose.  

[jsteve96]

I like the Pearson pick up but people are definitely over reacting. No way Pearson is in the Twins top 15 prospects. Love that they did something, though. Interested to watch Pearson play next summer.

[tvagle]

Keeping with the HomeTown prospects purchased with remaining International Money Rights

 

$1Mil to A's for Logan Shore

 

And just cause we might as well go crazy maybe...

 

$1Mil to A's for AJ Puk
or
$1.2Mil to Padres to put them over the top in exchange for Mackenzie Gore

[Tommygun921]

Seems like a good deal to me. Basically got 2 extra 2017 picks with another team paying the bonus'. And they could still end up signing Marte for the remainder of their international bonus money.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I feel... underwhelmed

[Dman]

I like the Pearson pick up but people are definitely over reacting. No way Pearson is in the Twins top 15 prospects. Love that they did something, though. Interested to watch Pearson play next summer.

I agree it will be tough for him to crack the top 20 IMO. He is still a pretty cool get though. Really like the potential. Speed, power combo is tough to come by.

 

Not a s excited about the catcher but I understand we need the depth. Not sure where he would slot. Somewhere after Rorvedt I guess.

[Old Twins Cap]

Like the Brass of Twins FO.  They got right to work once Otani jumped.

 

Find a problem in Jelfrey's vision, void $3M contract, get on the Otani runway, don't get selected for the swimsuit portion, but have what Mike Sciosia in lingerie needs:  International cash.

 

Every team on the coast is showing us their cards.

 

"Who knows what Otani really wants?

 

Fffft. 

 

Never go to a fist-fight with flowers and pixie-dust. 

 

The Friars should jam a lot more in that long dark robe.  They ain't got a prayer. 

 

The Giants hoping to win with a pocket full of Posey.  Maybe Otani has eyes for Buster?

 

No one knows what Otani wants, but Twins know what teams pursuing Otani want.

[Tom Froemming]

Free baseball players ... what's not to like?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Free baseball players ... what's not to like?

you get what you pay for?

[tvagle]

From last summer's trip through the Texas League (one week before Hurricane Harvey) a few more worth the $1.2Mil Monopoly marker

 

Padres OF Franchy Cordero

 

Rangers LHP Yohander Mendez ChangeUp reminiscent of the other Johan

[beckmt]

These are top 10 prospects from weaker systems. Do not have an issue with acquiring lottery tickets.

[bird]

 

I like the Pearson pick up but people are definitely over reacting. No way Pearson is in the Twins top 15 prospects. Love that they did something, though. Interested to watch Pearson play next summer.

 

 

Are you sure about this? One of the contributors elsewhere mentioned that MLB.com is saying he ranks behind only Kiriloff in the Twins system, and ahead of both Wade and Pooker. So who knows, really, but that sounds like a decent return to me. Another source said he was lured away from LSU and might have been a late first round pick otherwise. In a cursory look, it appears that a dozen or so other catchers were mentioned before Banuelos in discussions about promising catchers in the draft class, so his 5th round selection might be an accurate reflection of his talent. Which certainly makes Garver's 9th round selection look nice.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Are you sure about this? One of the contributors elsewhere mentioned that MLB.com is saying he ranks behind only Kiriloff in the Twins system, and ahead of both Wade and Pooker. So who knows, really, but that sounds like a decent return to me. Another source said he was lured away from LSU and might have been a late first round pick otherwise. In a cursory look, it appears that a dozen or so other catchers were mentioned before Banuelos in discussions about promising catchers in the draft class, so his 5th round selection might be an accurate reflection of his talent. Which certainly makes Garver's 9th round selection look nice.

See I would have them flipped. Catcher guy interests me but I'm not interested in an outfielder with zero power and can't field. Can't possibly be ahead of Rooker. Rooker was mashing.

[AZTwin]

MLB.com ranks Pearson 22 in the Twins system. The mariners prospect is not listed in our top 30

[Old Twins Cap]

Warming up the headline edit:

 

Twins Acquire Two  Three Prospects For International Bonus Cash

 

Won't be long now.

[kab21]

One part of me says that this is the Twins being cheap. They traded away the ability to spend money on prospects for alright but not very good prospects (just outside the top 20).

Another part of me says that at least they were able to get something from the Marte signing fiasco. It was possible that they couldn't even use this money.

Both prospects add some decent depth to the system but aren't particularly great. Not exciting but alright moves.

[nater79a]

As far as catchers go, yeah...I'm a little confused as to who is the better prospect in the Twins system, Rortvedt or Banuelos.  

[Shaitan]

The Otani insanity begins. Strike while the iron is hot.

[Penthang]

More prospects = more opportunities for someone to be really good. I like this move. While they may not be top 10 prospects in the Twins system right now who knows how they will develop this next season and where they could be this time next year?

[sploorp]

How about the Padres?  Don't they have a reliever or two the Twins could maybe trade the rest of their international money for?

[gunnarthor]

I'm not opposed to this move but it's not something to get too excited about yet. Both are probably outside our top 20 prospects but are probably better bets than 16 year old kids so I'm good with it.

[gunnarthor]

[JustinCB]

This was the type of stuff that got Cleveland and Texas so good and that the twins never have done well (that is, for example, taking advantage of the Ohtani situation to void Marte -and don't tell me they didnt- and leverage the money to sign a couple more-advanced C+/B- Prospects.) This probably isn't going to move the needle much on its own, but here and there these types of things will payoff. Sounds better than the pet projects Terry Ryan couldn't give up on after half a decade or more

Edited December 7, 2017 by JustinCB

[Jacksson]

Why all the kindness for the Angels and the Mariners. We got them between the rock and the hard place. They BOTH need international bonus money in the hope of signing Ohtani and the Twins, now out of that contention, have international money to burn. Why didn't we go for the throat and put the squeeze on both of them for a better return? Seems like we could have done much better. I would like to see the ppitch package prepared by the Twins for Ohtani - Could it have been better? Can we sue him for Scandahoovian Discrimination against the Twins?

[TL]

Using the money (at no actual expense) versus not using it is the obviously right decision. Had to look it up to confirm but the money does not roll over so it would have been lost. The only question I have is whether they used it to acquire the right player(s).

 

The Angels just signed Kevin Maitan for $2.2MM of international bonus money after his contract with the Braves was voided due to the international signing scandal. He was a top 50 prospect in all of baseball. Who knows if we could have signed him if we threw more $ at him or if we tried, but that would appear on its face to be a better usage of that money than the two we got. Time will tell though and Falvine’s moves thus far in acquiring young talent have been impressive (e.g., 2017 Draft + 2017 Trades).

 

 

[T_J]

It's kind of nice to see how the Twins system stacks up with a couple other, seemingly, random teams. 

[drjim]

 

Neither system is great either. Doubt either prospect is top 30 for Twins. Still makes sense.