Right-handed relief pitcher Rafael Soriano is still a free agent. Just recently, Soriano fired his agent Scott Boras and hired Octagon to represent him to try to get him a contract for the rest of the season, with Boras never really stimulating a market for him.
Octagon announced on Twitter that Soriano would be holding a throwing session for teams on June 11 in the Dominican Republic. According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Cubs are three teams that are interesting in Soriano, calling the Cardinals a "surprise entry" into the mix. The Blue Jays have had previous reported interest in Soriano and want to see what his price tag is now that he's changed agents. Out of pure speculation, Heyman also mentions the Dodgers and Mariners as two teams that could be fits for Soriano, as he notes that it's unknown if either team has truly looked into him as an option for their respective bullpens. The Yankees are another team that has been connected to Soriano, considering they have needed a right-handed reliever. New York has five lefties out of the bullpen. Soriano, 35, has had a successful career as a closer over the past five seasons, and served in that role with the Nationals over the last two. He pitched well last year, going 4-1 with a 3.19 ERA and 32 saves, but in the second half of the season Soriano imploded, pitching to a 6.48 ERA en route to the loss of the closer's job. --Devan Fink
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With July 2--otherwise known as "international signing day"-- quickly approaching, prospects all around the world are perfecting their craft in hopes that they will get a minor league contract from a Major League club.
Cover Those Bases has learned of the agreements of 17 Venezuelan international prospects, per a source with knowledge of the situation.
Other Interesting Notes
--Devan Fink
With the June Draft less than a month away, it's time to start talking about who are sleepers in this draft. These are players who may not be picked in the first or second rounds, but could end up being stars nonetheless.
Joliet Catholic Academy (Joliet, IL) catcher Nick Dalesandro could be one of these players. Dalesandro is committed to Purdue and is expected to be selected in the Top 10 rounds of this draft, with a possibility of him going in the Top 5. The St. Louis Cardinals, Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Angels, and Pittsburgh Pirates are among the teams who have scouted Dalesandro, according to a source close to the situation. Dalesandro is one of the best dual-threats in the nation, both pitching and catching. Other clubs have scouted Dalesandro as a pitcher, though catching appears to be his best position. Defensively, Dalesandro may be one of the best catchers in the country. He has pop times of 1.80, which is considered to be extremely low. His defense is highly touted by PrepBaseballReport.com: Defensively...rocket for arm, impresses with easy carry to second base, extremely accurate, threw out runner from knees at third base with right-handed hitter in box (third strike and third out on the pitch)...Elite-level catch and throw prospect...Elite national prospect.
The evaluator at Prep Baseball Report compared Dalesandro's defense to that of Padres' catcher Austin Hedges.
What makes Dalesandro a possibility to be a real steal in this draft is his bat, which was a main question coming into the season. On March 20, when the evaluator at Prep Baseball Report scouted Dalesandro, he hit seven batting practice balls for homers, while showing improved plate discipline and better timing. Dalesandro's bat may be the most underrated part of his game and could make him a top prospect quickly. Dalesandro has also pitched and some evaluators believe that is where he will end up. He ranges from 90-91 mph on the hill and has hit 92 in the past. He has good breaking pitches and could project to be a Major League pitcher in the future. The combination of all these aspects of Dalesandro's game make him a draft prospect to keep an eye on as he continues to rise up the draft boards. --Devan Fink
Two top international prospects have committed to Major League teams, Cover Those Bases learned yesterday.
Venezuelan right-handed pitcher Alvaro Seijas has comitted to the St. Louis Cardinals, a league source said. His bonus is expected to be $750,000. Fellow Venezuelan and outfielder Daniel Montano has committed to the Colorado Rockies for a bonus of $2 million. Both deals will not become official until July 2, otherwise known as "international signing day." The 16-year-old Seijas is rated as the sixth-best international prospect, according to MLB.com. Seijas has a fastball that has reached 94 mph and a good makeup. Seijas trains at Carlos Guillen's academy, which should help his growth as a pro. As for Daniel Montano, 16, the outfielder is ranked as the seventh-best international prospect, also according to MLB.com. Montano has impressed scouts with his ability to hit balls into gaps. Scouts also believe that he will end up in center field due to his good defensive instincts. He's a good hitter and has shown some power. --Devan Fink The St. Louis Cardinals and right-handed starter Lance Lynn have agreed to a three-year deal, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. The deal is worth $22 million, reports Heyman, and will not buy out any of his free agent seasons with options, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Goold also reports that Lynn's deal with the Cardinals includes incentives, based on games started, that could bring it up to a total guarantee of $23.5 million. The three-year pact will buyout all three of Lynn's arbitration seasons, as he was going to be receiving his first arbitration payday this offseason. Now, he will earn a consistent $7.3 million AAV (Annual Average Value), without worrying about his salary being based on his performance. Lynn was projected to earn $5.5 million in arbitration, according to MLB Trade Rumors which would be a record for first-time arbitration-eligible players. It would be expected that Lynn would have fallen short of the $5.5 million mark, but he could still expect to make around $4.5 million. The 27-year-old Lynn pitched 203.2 innings last season, registering a 2.74 ERA and a 3.35 FIP. Over his 33 starts with St. Louis, Lynn posted a 1.262 WHIP, with a 8.0 K/9 ratio, 3.2 BB/9 ratio, and a 2.51 strikeout-per-walk ratio. Lynn was worth 3.7 rWAR last season, a career-high. Lynn has a career 3.46 ERA and a 3.34 FIP over four seasons in the big leagues, all with the Cardinals. He has thrown 616 innings, is a World Series champion, and looks to be an anchor in the Cardinals rotation for many seasons to come. As of right now, he will hit free agency following the 2017 season, when he is just 30-years-old. It appears to be a good contract for both sides. --Devan Fink |
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