International Free Agent Signings (2011)

[houston-nat]

Apparently we signed a guy named Deury Vazquez for $30k. It was tweeted about last week, no other details except he's a RHP.

[Tyler Durden]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

There have been a bunch of international signings in the past day or two.  The Rangers dropped almost $10 million on 2 16 year olds.

Where are the Nats on this?  Are they still working through their Smiley-gate issues?

[houston-nat]

I vote we start a new thread for a new year of free agents. This thread is all old hat.

[RD]

The Rangers are nuts paying that kind of cash for two 16 year olds.

If you're spending that kind of dough, at least do it through the draft. Better track record of success.

I can see doing it occasionally if you think that kid is the crap, but multiple kids per year?

Its good that they are aggressive but 5 years from now, it's most likely money down the drain. Too big of a gamble for 16 year olds from a poor country.

[HalfSmokes]

You only get so many chances to do it through the draft, the rangers are just acquiring talent where they can

[HalfSmokes]

If Purke isn't signing, hopefully that money goes into international signings

[RD]

You get a ton of chances in the draft. You can draft overslot guys in every round and offer up millions and get the kids signed.

You don't think of we offered up Tobias $2mill he'd sign?

I get the point of acquiring talent.

I'd take Purke and his questionable shoulder at $4mill than either of the 2 Dominican kids for similar money.

[PowerBoater69]

Seems likely that international signings will drop off now that Kasten is no longer making the rounds on Embassy Row.

[PowerBoater69]

The following was written in April 2007:

Since coming to the Nationals, Rizzo has made so many trips overseas that his passport ran out of pages; he’s been to Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Australia, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic. “I’m on call,” he says, “ready to fly out on a moment’s notice and sign that next prospect. That’s part of our goal of becoming the preeminent international team in baseball.”

http://www.washingtonian.com/print/articles/8/43/3841.html