Giants sign Michael Santos - Dominican IFA (pitcher) for $250K

by Fla-Giant on Jan 25, 2012 2:52 PM PST

Michael Santos: RHP, Dom. Rep. (6'4", ??) (DOB=??)
Santos has never shown up on any of my previoius prospect radar screens and I can't find any mention of him anywhere on the net beyond the description of him from the Dom. Prospect League website (see link below) where they give a recap of the recently-completed 6 team tournament that Santos's team won. Santos was named the outstanding pitcher of the tournament and threw 4 shutout innings, allowing 1 hit and striking out 4. BTW, the Giants also signed the outstanding pitcher of last year's tournament (Simon Mercedes for $400K), but Mercedes ended up being held out from making his pro debut in 2011 due to some old shenanigans concerning his use of a fake identity - so let's hope that Santos doesn't end up repeating the same pattern.

I don't know Santos's age or birthdate, so right now we can only say for sure that he turned 16 years old on or before August 31, 2011. If I had to guess, I would say that Santos recently turned 18 years old, give or take 6 months. I also don't have his physical measurements, but the DPL website does have a photo of him posted. From the photo, you can see that Santos is very tall and extremely skinny (not unlike Kendry Flores). I'm going to guess that he's at least 6'4", because in the photo he's standing next to Yairo Munoz (who I know for a fact is 6 feet tall) and appears to me to be at least 4 inches taller than Yairo.

Here's the link to the DPL story on the tournament and the Santos signing:
http://dplbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=304:louisville-slugger-tournament-series-recap&catid=1:latest-news

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You’ll notice that Oakland signed Yairo Munoz, another DPL prospect, after the tournament ended for $280K. Truth be told, I would have preferred that the Giants would have signed Munoz instead of Santos. Munoz is a speedy SS who plays stellar D and who just turned 17 years old 2 days ago. I’ve been suggesting that the Giants should snap him up for the past 4 months.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jan 25, 2012 2:58 PM PST reply actions

2 more prospects are still available

Here’s the updated list of the Dominican prospects that I wanted the Giants to target back in October.

Hersin Martinez (LF / 6’4", 200) (DOB=?/?/1995): + raw power, already a physical specimen at the age of 16, won the HR Derby at the DPL All-Star Game last spring. Martinez’s DPL scout page:
http://dplbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=99:scouts-corner-hersin-martinez-of&catid=38:featured-players&Itemid=54

Jose Luiz Mendez (RHP / 6’3", ?) (DOB=?/?/1995): strong arm, he’s tall with long limbs and room to grow into his frame, he’s already an imposing mound presence and should be very strong and physically impressive when he finally matures
Mendez’s DPL scout page:
http://dplbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=202:scouts-corner-jose-luis-mendez&catid=38:featured-players&Itemid=54

SIGNED BY OAKLAND ($280k – Jan. 24, 2012): Yairo Munoz (SS / 6’, 168) (1/23/95): Plus D, plus arm, 6.5 sec in 60, well proportioned frame with more room to grow. Munoz DPL scout page:
http://dplbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=102:scouts-corner-yairo-diaz-munoz-ss&catid=38:featured-players&Itemid=54

SIGNED BY TORONTO ($105k – Jan. 17, 2012): Ronniel Demorzi (SS / 5’11", 170) (DOB=7/19/95): Plus D, strong arm, played in the Under-Armour All-American game at Wrigley Field in August 2011. Demorzi DPL scout page: http://dplbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=141:scouts-corner-ronniel-demorizzi-ss&catid=38:featured-players&Itemid=54

SIGNED BY ANGELS ($225k – Dec. 15, 2011): Angel Yente, SS/3B, Santo Domingo, DomRep, (6’1", 170) (DOB=9/8/94):
He just turned 17 back at the start of September. Here’s how the DPL website describes him:

Lean, lanky frame with an athletic, strong body. Yente shows off solid average arm strength. His fielding skills play at SS now, although he may grow out of the position. Yente’s bat should be good enough to slide to 3B. He makes good contact gap to gap and shows raw power to his pull side. During the 2010-2011 DPL season Yente established himself as one of the best bats in the league. He has a good approach at the plate with a short stroke and good bat speed, but he can sometimes swing too aggressively. He generates power by loading his hands and using a leg lift. His body type is projectable and his present offensive abilities make him a good prospect.

Here’s a vid clip of Yente practicing hitting and fielding from back in April when he was only 16 years old:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jinYQuiVy8Y

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jan 25, 2012 3:27 PM PST up reply actions

Santos is on the far right

Very skinny

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jan 25, 2012 6:59 PM PST reply actions

needs a sandwich

Choppin' broccoli

by SimpleJaquez on Jan 25, 2012 7:34 PM PST up reply actions

Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this son of Cabrera.

by Lyle on Jan 26, 2012 7:53 AM PST up reply actions

Looks a bit like Alfonso Soriano. Thanks for the news.

by shankbone on Jan 25, 2012 10:41 PM PST up reply actions

That kid is gonna fill out something fierce.

"I see these guys walking around with rings on, and I want one. That's what it's all about." -Ryan Vogelsong

by Solidarity on Jan 26, 2012 3:46 PM PST up reply actions

Kendry Flores finally appears to be adding some weight and muscle. He was about 6’2", 165 pounds when he turned 18.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jan 26, 2012 7:10 PM PST up reply actions

He looks like one valve layer away from having mitral valve prolapse.

by bradleybear on Jan 25, 2012 8:39 PM PST reply actions

What do you call Michael Santos with a sesame seed on his head?
a Quarter Pounder.

by vinbob on Jan 26, 2012 2:22 PM PST up reply actions

shadow of Merkin

Marvin Barrios, come on I'll show you your bedroom. Don't stay on the phone too long to Panama, please.

by foothillsfan on Jan 25, 2012 10:10 PM PST reply actions

Not ot mention your guy, Barrios.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jan 26, 2012 9:26 AM PST up reply actions

I must admit that I’m a bit confused with what’s been happening in the IFA market the last 45 days. I don’t understand why there wasn’t a flurry of IFA signings by all of the teams in December 2011. That’s because, according to the rules of the new CBA, each team now has a yearly hard salary cap (in 2012 it’s $2.9M) for all of their IFA signings, but, as far as I could glean from the various reports that I’ve read, the new cap didn’t kick in until after the end of 2011. Maybe I’m mistaken and the new cap doesn’t kick in until later in the 2012 calendar year (possibly all the way up to July 1st)?

FYI, just like the new cap for the June amateur draft, the new IFA cap imit rules are very punitive. Not only will a team have to pay a luxury tax if they go over the cap, but they’ll end up having their next year’s cap number severely decreased (to the point where it’s possible for a team to be precluded from signing even 1 IFA contract in a given year). I’m also not sure how signing somebody like Yu Darvish affects the cap. Clearly, Darvish was signed as an IFA, and clearly the amount of money that the Rangers spent on Dervish will put them way over the cap for 2012. Does that mean that the Rangers will not be able to sign any IFAs in 2013, or were they able to get around the cap limit by not paying him an official signing bonus? Hopefully, they’ll be an official clarification of the rules in the near future.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jan 26, 2012 9:45 AM PST reply actions

I believe that the IFA cap doesn’t kick in until July 2nd (or the beginning of this year’s signing period). As for Darvish, I’ve been asking this question for awhile connected to the notion of an international draft. I can only assume that the Japanese league FA, and probably the Korean and maybe Cuban players as well, exist outside the IFA signing bonus cap because those players aren’t amateurs and the CBA cap rules are specific to acquisition of amateur players.

by Roger on Jan 26, 2012 9:54 AM PST up reply actions

That all sounds logical to me, except for the part that Cubans not being amateurs. Cubans are indeed considered amateurs by MLB. That’s why they take great care to gain residency outside the USA and its territories once they defect from Cuba. Of course, the Cubans which much rather prefer to defect to America, but if they did they would be eligible for the Rule 4 Amateur draft. For example, here’s a recent BA post on the Cuban pitcher Onelkis Garcia. He made the mistake of defecting to Puerto Rico in 2011 and now he’ll go into the 2012 June draft pool – even though he’s been playing in professional Puerto Rican leagues for the past 9 months:
http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/2012/01/cuban-lefty-onelkis-garcia-will-be-in-2012-draft/

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jan 26, 2012 12:03 PM PST up reply actions

Simon Mercedes.

I want to get clarification of the case of Simon Mercedes last year signed a contract with the Giants he do not signed with the false identity, the seemingly had a double identity which was not used to sign a contract, apparently someone had the intention to do so and this was not possible after signing with the Giants for a total of 400.000 dollars has the courage MLB , Jeffry Tapia not sign with this name but with the Mercedes Simon is his real name and age, such holds until March 12 and is again a free agent, also was learned that the giants and have no interest in him for budget issues

by yuyun.santos on Jan 27, 2012 1:37 PM PST reply actions

I sense there is information here

But I have no idea how to get at it.

Seth Rosin can hit the side of a barn with a baseball. From space.
Giants baseball: We're stupid enough to WIN that (TM)

by quincy0191 on Jan 27, 2012 4:27 PM PST up reply actions

Now you’re funny again!

by shankbone on Jan 27, 2012 9:12 PM PST up reply actions

I previously reported last summer that Mercedes had signed with his real name when the Giants inked him to the contract last January/February, because he had already been playing with his real name and age while in the DPL. We also already knew that the MLB put his pro debut on hold until they could fully investigate the whole Jeffry Tapia incident. This is the first that I’ve heard that the Giants revoked the contract. What is your source for that news?

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jan 28, 2012 1:17 AM PST up reply actions

Im the source.... I am the source , take a look of this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtzLW-58Xf8

by yuyun.santos on Jan 27, 2012 8:10 PM PST reply actions

Thanks.

You hear about any other potential Giants signings?

If it’s easier for you, I thin you can just write in Spanish. I’m guessing most here can understand it.

Wilber Bucardo: Missing?

by gianator on Jan 27, 2012 10:33 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

Si puedo escribir en español si lo desean

Aunque , como el blog es en ingles trato de ser lo mas especifico utilizando el idoma a pesar de ser Dominicano tambien.

by yuyun.santos on Jan 28, 2012 4:09 AM PST reply actions

Gracias!

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jan 28, 2012 8:26 AM PST up reply actions

Deseas saber algo en especifico acerca de Mercedes , aprovecha la oportunidad soy un buen amigo de el.

La intensión de nosotros comentar en este blog era que se aclarara que Mercedes no firmo con una identidad falsa , si no que fue suspendido digamos injustamente y quienes salieron perjudicado con esta situacion fueron los gigantes porque a mi entender perdieron no solo un prospecto , sino un futuro abridor a nivel de liga grande digamos un 1 -2 o un estelar en el rol que desempeñe , este muchacho que vez en el video no es ni sombra de lo que muestra el video lamentablemente no tengo videos de el enfrentando a lo mejor de mejor en la republica dominicana porque se enfrento a los mejores bateadores del pais y los numeros son impresionantes , su curva la mejor que he visto en años sobre average , su recta es sobre average el cambio es average , es decir no estamos hablando de un jugador del monton o una firma mas y lo mejor de todo esa firma salio super economica donde se rompio un record para un jugador con 19 años de edad 400.000 dollares donde su precio se ha duplicado y cuidado si mas en estos momentos espero que cualquier pregunta sea aclarada.

by yuyun.santos on Jan 28, 2012 1:58 PM PST up reply actions

Gracias

That clears some things up. I have some questions for you.

1. When did the Giants tell Simon that they were voiding his contract?
2. Did the Giants give Simon any explanation on why they voided his contract?
3. Did the Giants ask Simon, or did he offer, to sign a new contract for less than $400,000?
4. When did the MLB officials inform Simon that he was being suspended?
5. Does Simon have any teams that are scouting him now?
6. Will Simon try to play in the DPL again if he doesn’t sign with a major league team before March?
7. Can you tell us anything about Jose Morel or Michael Santos? Have you ever seen them pitch?

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Jan 28, 2012 4:42 PM PST up reply actions

Good Questions.

I hope this answers can satisfies your questions
1-2 They never , never talk about the void of the contract , when MLB suspend a player automatically the contract is voided , if you want you can negotiate again when your suspension finally for the Mercedes case until march when he is free agent again
in April they inform he is suspended and ask to Mercedes family clear on the books
the name of Jeffrey Tapia given to the family 21 days for all the process obviously that time is not enough for that process they cannot do and for that reasons they give the suspension.
according some inside sources the giants spend the budget for this sign so they even don t have the initial agreement 400.000 USD .

He cannot participate in any tryout official for MLB teams until the suspension is accomplished , but in practice sometimes you see people on the field watching

He wont play anymore in the DPL , he will sign before march i can guarantee that for much money than he receive with the Giants

About Jose Morel i have to check my reports ,

About Michael Santos he throw strikes the fastball with good movement and the price of him first was 300.000 and he sign for 250,000 good job for the scouting department in DR.

by yuyun.santos on Jan 28, 2012 6:45 PM PST reply actions