Cards Sign Another Dominican Prospect
Posted on February 10th, 2011 by Jeff in DSL Cardinals, tags: Jorge AraujoThe Cardinals signed pitcher Fernando Gonzalez yesterday and today they have signed another per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. This signing is left-handed outfielder Jorge Araujo. Per Goold:
He throws and hits lefthanded, and vice president of player procurement Jeff Luhnow described him as “toolsy.”
And in his tweet, Derrick Goold hints that there “could be more coming”.
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We got a 6-2 16 year old SS also who is said to be our most significant signing in LA since Carlos Martinez.
Since we have signed very few Latin prospects since MArtinez and zero high profile ones saying he is the most significant since Martinez bascically says nothing (other than we aren’t major players in the Latin market these days).
Andrew, where did you get the info on the SS? Dominican?
Never mind. See the link below.
I like that we are getting more involved in the International Markets.
Andrew – Where are you hearing about this SS? Link?
Here is a link to an article about Leobaldo Piña. He is the SS Andrew is referring to. It is a subscription article at theCardinalNation.com site though written by Brian Walton. As mentioned by Andrew he is spoken very highly of by the Cardinals Director of International Operations Moises Rodriguez.
http://stlcardinals.scout.com/2/1047232.html
Pina? Didn’t we sign a Pina a couple of years ago? Was that Roberto de la Cruz’s other name?
I have to admit that it is tough to keep track.
I’m pretty sure you’re correct.
I’d have to be at home to make sure, but I’m pretty sure de la Cruz = Pina.
Really Carioca? I think we are much larger players than in the past.
Yes, but we started from a low level. There are many teams signing many more big name players than we are. We have only signed 2 players for over $500K that I am aware (3 if you count Mateos);De La CRuz and Martinez. That is in a 4 year period. Probably ranks in the bottom half of all of baseball. We talk a lot about how whe are ramping up our Latin organization but in terms of high profile signings the talk doesn’t meet the reality.
I’m not saying that signing high $$ LAtin guys is all there is to the game but if we were signing a below average number of American top draft picks I don’t think people would be giving us many kudos.
I’ll agree. I think we are probably about “league average” in Latin America with presence and signings. We are not to the level of the Yankees or Red Sox or other teams that have huge presence down there and we may not ever be.
But, I like that we are hearing more and more about the signings, whether it is from the front office or from national outlets. That’s a good sign of progress.
If you are suggesting spreading around the limited resources allocated to LA acquisitions rather gambling on 16 year old, then I’m with you Jeff. Especially when it comes to position players it so hard to project a 16 year old taking into consideration the type of competition they play against. With pitchers, maybe it easier to project but skill with the bat for these kids, it seems like guess work.
I always wonder if guys like Jose Reyes or Carlos Gonzalez were unknown guys that came out of nowhere or if they just went to the highest bidder. Im guessing things were different even 10 years ago and someone found them and the team that found them signed them pretty quick.
Yea, I think the situation is changing pretty rapidly down there and is miles different than even 5 years ago.
I mean there were cases of teams finding potential stars and locking them in their compound so no other teams could see them or other sordid tales like that.
I don’t get as much of a “wild wild west” vibe from the Dominican any more. It’s still wild, but not as much as it used to be.