Billy Beane gives out $4.25mil to 16 year old

seems like a lot of cash for a kid that young, especially for the A's.

5 months ago Safe@First Comment 18 comments 0 recs |

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I'm sure Mr. Beane could explain it to me and help me understand

But this doesn’t seem like typical A’s strategy. I know they don’t follow the college-only early round draft philosophy anymore (nor should they), but it seems like spending $4.25M on a very talented, but inherently questionable 16-year-old sounds like about the riskiest way you can spend that amount of money. Would you likely get more bang for your buck by signing eight $500K Latin American players? I like the odds of that strategy giving rise to one good MLB player than Bean’s strategy.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jun 30, 2008 11:54 PM EDT 0 recs

one time splurge or a new trend?

I’m wondering if it’s a one time thing or if Beane has the green light to start spending more. Does the new stadium and and an increase in revenue = more money for him to spend? If so, it’ll be interesting to see how he spends it.

"I've seen the future and it's much like the present only longer." - Dan Quisenberry

by Safe@First on Jul 1, 2008 12:18 AM EDT up 0 recs

The issue isn't so much the amount spent as how he spent it

If Beane was given the go ahead to spend more money, I still find it odd that he’d invest so much in one 16-year-old. That kind of prospect has a very high failure rate.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jul 1, 2008 12:43 AM EDT up 0 recs

New market inefficiency I guess

Who knows.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jul 1, 2008 10:10 AM EDT up 0 recs

"That kind of prospect has a very high failure rate."

Maybe not as high as it’s generally portrayed to be.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on Jul 1, 2008 10:59 AM EDT up 0 recs

I don't know what the failure rate is

But the two largest bonuses before Inoa were Wily Mo Pena and Joel Guzman. Not exactly encouraging precedents.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jul 1, 2008 11:13 AM EDT up 0 recs

wily mo pena hasnt exactly been a complete failure...

there have been many worse failures drafted at 22 years old in the first round for similar money and guzman is still young and could turn out the same way

TPJ...you're dead to me

by billybeingbilly on Jul 1, 2008 11:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

Neither are total busts

But neither did much for the organization that shelled out that bonus for them.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jul 2, 2008 9:29 AM EDT up 0 recs

Probably higher than it is generally portrayed to be

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jul 1, 2008 1:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

Highly doubt that

Look how many international players dominate the game now. Not all those players were just signed for peanuts. King Felix signed for $700+ and had much higher offers, Miggy Cabrera was signed for $2 mill. It’d be great to find a list of the largest latin bonuses ever handed out.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on Jul 2, 2008 10:33 AM EDT up 0 recs

Just browsing, here are some figures

Yankees – OF Wily Mo Pena $2.44 million (1999)
Dodgers – 3B Joel Guzman $2.25 million (2001)
Yankees – P Anderson Amador $800k (2003)
Red Sox – P Luis Soto $500k (2004)
Mets – OF Fernando Martinez $1.4 million (2005)
Mets – P Deolis Guerra $650k (2005)
Rangers – SS Johan Yan $250k (2005)
Rangers – P Fabio Castillo $250k (2005)
Giants – 3B Angel Villalona $2.1 million (2006)
Mariners – SS Carlos Triunfel $1.3 million (2006)
Red Sox – SS Engel Beltre $600k (2006)
Nationals – OF Esmailyn Gonzalez $1.4 million (2006)
Yankees – C Jesus Montero $1.6 million (2006)
Angels – P Young Il Yung $1 million (2006)
Red Sox – 3B Michael Alamanzar $1.5 mllion (2007)
Yankees – OF Kelvin DeLeon $1.1 million (2007)
Mariners – SS Jharmidy DeJesus $1 million (2007)

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jul 2, 2008 10:45 AM EDT up 0 recs

And look at how many international signings never made it to the majors at all

...or was never even average in the majors. Most of the best Latin American players signed for peanuts (relatively speaking).

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jul 2, 2008 12:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

And look how many MLB draft picks never made the majors

Baseball scouting is an inexact science, whether you’re dealing with domestic or international players.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on Jul 2, 2008 12:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

And I think there is good reason to believe that there is a higher failure rate for 16-17 year old Latin American signees than 18-22 year old draftees

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jul 2, 2008 1:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

Not just the age

But I would guess the culture shock probably weeds out more than a few guys too.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jul 2, 2008 2:08 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ah, yes,

but it’s pretty clear, I think, that scouting in general is a bit more advanced when it comes to domestic players simply because the people are older and thus easier to project.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Jul 2, 2008 1:43 PM EDT up 0 recs