Rangers reportedly sign Latin American teenager Nomar Mazara for record $5 million bonus
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 2, 2011 10:14 AM CDT
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According to ESPN Deportes the Texas Rangers have signed outfielder Nomar Mazara to a $5 million bonus, a record for a July 2 international signee.
Today is, of course, the first day that the year's crop of 15 and 16 year olds from Latin America can be signed, and the announcements are coming fast and furious. The Mazara signing, though, seems to be the bombshell.
Yesterday, Ben Badler at Baseball America ranked the prospects expected to get the biggest signing bonuses, with Mazara checking in at 10th on the list. So either there are quite a few more really big deals coming, or Mazara's appeal was underrated coming into this year's signing period.
Mazara is a 16 year old, 6'5" lefthanded hitting and throwing outfielder from the Dominican Republic. BA's scouting report on Mazara says that he's been the source of the most "outrageous" bonus rumors, and that he has incredible raw power, an equally incredible propensity for strikeouts, and a hit tool that isn't very advanced. BA says that he's been "showcased judiciously," putting on impressive batting practice displays in workouts but not facing live pitching.
He sounds like a future left fielder who will advance as far as his bat carries him.
UPDATE -- Enrique Rojas says the Rangers are "close" to signing outfielder Ronald Guzman, #2 on BA's expected bonus list. BA says that Guzman is one of the two highest-profile international prospects this season (along with Eliar Hernandez, who has already signed a $3.05 million deal with the Royals today). Guzman has below-average speed and a below-average arm, meaning that, like Mazara, he's expected to be limited to left field. BA also says there are questions about Guzman's bat speed, but like Mazara, he's considered someone with impressive raw power potential. Guzman also, per BA, gets strong marks for makeup and instincts.
UPDATE II -- MLB Daily Dish has a post up about the signing, and has this comment:
Mazara, 16, is considered to be one of the best power-hitting prospects to come out of Latin America in years, with some noting that they haven't seen a better one since Miguel Cabrera or Wily Mo Pena.
That's a pretty wide range of potential outcomes, of course...Cabrera is one of the best hitters in baseball, and Pena was an all-world talent who couldn't convert his potential into actual game performance (although he was also hurt by the fact that he was signed to a major league deal, which meant that he was out of options and forced to stay on a major league roster well before he was major league ready, stunting his development).
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I mean, yay, this is cool
But it does scare me a little that we’ll go for one big fish instead of several midrange guys, and that’s been a nice deal for us.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
My mind just says throw ball throw hard and strike. - Marteen
I think they're not too
But if this does mark a departure from a strategy that’s been successful, that’s a little scary.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
My mind just says throw ball throw hard and strike. - Marteen
I have no doubt
that they’d sign some smaller fish if they have the opportunity. If you spend $25 million on Martin and July 2 guys, why would you balk at $10-50K type deals?
Some see a glass half empty, some a glass half full. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be. - George Carlin
And the Rangers didn't go overslot in the draft because....
"My parents actually loved to pimp me too." - LSJ
okay
no whining about not spending in the draft
Go Rice Owls!
Would be a Matt Harrison fan, but I only like superstars
by JBImaknee on Jul 2, 2011 10:17 AM CDT reply actions 3 recs
Somebody should compile a list for the number of times
JD and Crew have laid the wood on us Chicken Littles at LSB.
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jul 2, 2011 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions
Adam doesn't focus as much on the minor leagues, though...
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jul 2, 2011 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions
Agreed.
Shame he’s been lured away by the whispers of Arsene…
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jul 2, 2011 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions
Yay, GB is back!
I missed you.
Go Rice Owls!
Would be a Matt Harrison fan, but I only like superstars
sounds like what the Rangers are into
That one “special” tool, seemingly power in this case. I trust their judgement, and I am hugely stoked that they’re willing to spend on a kid they see as a special talent.
Agree.
It’s nice to be in a position where the front office has earned the benefit of the doubt, at least with regards to scouting and development.
how'd you come up with yours??
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
How'd you come up with yours?
Oh wait….
Josh Hamilton: "I just show up, look at the lineup and play where I’m told. If they want me to catch, I’ll catch."
Jon Daniels on relationship with #Rangers Young: "I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." 2/19/11
and I would be a lot more stressed about it if it was my money, but...
I also believe this front office has shown that they are capable of working within whatever budget they have. I don’t think they’ll cripple the franchise financially
Have they made any other signings today?
by Robert L. Bishop on Jul 2, 2011 10:34 AM CDT reply actions
Funny you ask...
Because we could be signing the best international class ever.
(@Enrique_Rojas1)
7/2/11 10:32 AM
#July2Class #Rangers amarró a Mazara por $5 millones y ahora está cerca de fichar OF Ronald Guzmán y pitcher R. Payano.
Ever been in a boardroom, or a gang fight? Ever save a life? Ever won a court case against the odds? Ever held a dying buddy in your arms?.- jackanape on "perspective," 11/8/2010.
"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011, in response to me saying I would rather face the Thunder than the Grizzlies in the WCF.
by Aqua on Jul 2, 2011 10:37 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
BOOM
Enrique_Rojas1 Enrique Rojas / ESPN
# July2Class # Rangers tied to Mazara for $ 5 million and is now close to signing OF Ronald A. Guzman and pitcher Payano.
Well, Guzman is #2 on the list Adam linked to
And…that’s all I’ve got.
by Robert L. Bishop on Jul 2, 2011 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions
Anybody know Payano's first name? I'm having a hard time finding stuff about him.
I keep getting links about Victor Payano lol
Not on BA's top 40 expected bonuses
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/international-affairs/2011/2612028.html
though they obviously fanned on Mazara. Could very easily be related to Victor I’d think.
by Brett Perryman on Jul 2, 2011 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions
I like it!
they got who they wanted and are busy on J2. a day when so many other teams don’t do anything. This is great news.
Oh, my god
so much sex.
All that draft penny pinching? Forgiven. So forgiven.
"By MLB.TV, we can see J. Hamilton's homer, M. Young's clutch, and N. Feliz's explosive. All about Rangers things can be our interest" --South Korean Rangers fan
My Mitch Moreland TV Package, Which May or May Not Determine Whether I get a Fantastic Job
JD throws money at your face
and tell you to hush.
"By MLB.TV, we can see J. Hamilton's homer, M. Young's clutch, and N. Feliz's explosive. All about Rangers things can be our interest" --South Korean Rangers fan
My Mitch Moreland TV Package, Which May or May Not Determine Whether I get a Fantastic Job
I don't have the necessary photoshop skills
or it would already be done.
"By MLB.TV, we can see J. Hamilton's homer, M. Young's clutch, and N. Feliz's explosive. All about Rangers things can be our interest" --South Korean Rangers fan
My Mitch Moreland TV Package, Which May or May Not Determine Whether I get a Fantastic Job
I'll see what I can do tonight when I get home.
"beiacte like you hjave to read tha at ovie and then you read the eholwe thin g an d but ibecause you dont want to and then if when ifo u dont read te lyrics but inot becaise ists a song but its like the wordfs sand stuff wehat you do, but you read it, but when you dont whic that is the point of thwat i am saying you are so god fdam dammnit fucking , becauset now our ost yobecuasee ttyou havent read i , and then yo go iwht poprocrn!!!" - TagDon'tTweet, 06/23/11
90% ?
And of what signings?
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jul 2, 2011 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions
It was just a random number pulled to make a point.
I believe that amateur talent like this is the best way to acquire talent. Even if he is the next Ynoa and he fails(which is a good chance), you still keep signing the talent for the one that hits.
Yes,
Talent at that end of the Gaussian curve is more valuable than the linear WAR charts would have you believe.
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Jul 2, 2011 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions
Ynoa was a good move
in theory. He was spoken about as a generational talent.
If Mazara is in that same class, the Rangers have made a great investment. It’s very difficult to account for injuries. Obviously, this is not a sure thing. The kid’s 16. But I’d rather spend 5 million here than on, say John Buck (generic FA.)
"By MLB.TV, we can see J. Hamilton's homer, M. Young's clutch, and N. Feliz's explosive. All about Rangers things can be our interest" --South Korean Rangers fan
My Mitch Moreland TV Package, Which May or May Not Determine Whether I get a Fantastic Job
I definitely trust our scouting department
to the point that management wouldn’t spend this much money on a lower quality prospect
Rangers FTW
Is Ynoa done forever?
People keep talking about him in the past tense.
Some see a glass half empty, some a glass half full. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be. - George Carlin
It's kind of like when
they shoot the villain once and start celebrating without making sure he’s dead. His accruing service time is the one big problem for them. They’re going to have to put him on their 40 soon and start burning options.
by Brett Perryman on Jul 2, 2011 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions
my dream is that he pans out
after the A’s lose him.
Some see a glass half empty, some a glass half full. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be. - George Carlin
I don't think Adam thinks it's a bad signing
and I know he doesn’t believe we shouldn’t acquire talent. He probably questions the amount and it’s his job to ask questions like this to drive discussion, especially when it’s a legitimate question. I like the signing, mainly because I’m confident that this front office won’t cripple the team financially, but I would never be upset with someone who questioned the signing as long as they’re not talking in absolutes.
I guess it's worth being aware that prospects might flame out
But it’s pretty lazy to respond to someone getting excited about the signing by saying “oh, well he might get injured, so temper the expectations.”
That’s a given in baseball
I didn't say that
I’m saying, we have no way of knowing if this was the right decision or not. And if he ends up being a bust, while Josh Bell turns into the next Mark Teixeira, there will be much railing about how stupid Daniels was not using the money on Bell instead.
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 2, 2011 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions
I feel like the only option we have on these J2 guys
Is to realize that JD had to have been stoked about this kid to spend $5M on him and he’s now a Ranger.
All but one.
Ever been in a boardroom, or a gang fight? Ever save a life? Ever won a court case against the odds? Ever held a dying buddy in your arms?.- jackanape on "perspective," 11/8/2010.
"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011, in response to me saying I would rather face the Thunder than the Grizzlies in the WCF.
by Aqua on Jul 2, 2011 11:19 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
i'm curious to know
how these guys were ranked by the rangers…Bell, matthews, cone, and mazara.
may be a good newburg night question.
You can't write him off completely
but he’s going to be 20 this September and has 9 professional IP under his belt. I don’t know what the story is with him now, but he’s not exactly a success story of spending big on 1 player.
Cuban Julio is not better than tiny Cliff
-venturafearsnolan
The big thing is
it puts Oakland in a bad situation in terms of options. But aside from potentially having to be stashed prematurely in a major league pen there’s no reason that he can’t still be awesome eventually.
by Brett Perryman on Jul 2, 2011 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions
I completely agree.
And since these guys won’t have major-league service time accumulating (right?), even if there was an injury from which they could bounce back and be awesome eventually, it still wouldn’t quite make them, “the next Ynoa,” right?
I mean, isn’t it too soon to decide what the present Ynoa is, or will be?
Dark Luck Dragon of the Sith
.
Evan_P_Grant Evan Grant
Report: Rangers pay record bonus for DR teen OF Nomar Mazara. Jon Daniels doesn’t confirm; but hints big things to come: bit.ly/jKWxpe
JD is such a tease!
"Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor."-Capote
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning."-JD
.
“It’s fair to say we planned to be active in the international amateur market this year, consistent with our goal of adding the best talent possible in all arenas. Our scouts have put in a lot of work to put us in position to do just that, and ownership continues to support us. Can’t say enough about both groups’ commitment to seeing us win.”
That's what I did.
"Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor."-Capote
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning."-JD
Why was everything in the other thread deleted?
by brettgardner on Jul 2, 2011 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions
Guess it was just flexing nuts.
I’ll give your best to Chase Irwin, everyone.
by brettgardner on Jul 2, 2011 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions
You're just really desperate for a confrontation this weekend, aren't you?
by Adam J. Morris on Jul 2, 2011 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Flex those nuts, Adam!
No need to worry about my confrontational nature anymore. I’m pulling an Ed Coffin.
by brettgardner on Jul 2, 2011 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions 5 recs
Okay...
but do you really have to ban someone if they say they’re already leaving?
That just seems like you’re doing the whole ‘you can quit because I’m firing you’ routine.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
you're next.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
ROFL
"The Angels are like the villain in the movie that isn't dead until he's been stabbed 150 times in the bath tub, yet he still might come back up one more time." - Eric Nadel
And no offense, I love ya BG.
:(
"The Angels are like the villain in the movie that isn't dead until he's been stabbed 150 times in the bath tub, yet he still might come back up one more time." - Eric Nadel
Plz don't ban me for this comment.
heh
"The Angels are like the villain in the movie that isn't dead until he's been stabbed 150 times in the bath tub, yet he still might come back up one more time." - Eric Nadel
That was my bad.
I apologize.
Ever been in a boardroom, or a gang fight? Ever save a life? Ever won a court case against the odds? Ever held a dying buddy in your arms?.- jackanape on "perspective," 11/8/2010.
"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011, in response to me saying I would rather face the Thunder than the Grizzlies in the WCF.
by Aqua on Jul 2, 2011 11:20 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Guzman
and Mazara is 3rd from right i believe, from the guys who are standing
yeah, i think they’ll both need to bulk up some.
Guzman the Crime Dog!
Ever been in a boardroom, or a gang fight? Ever save a life? Ever won a court case against the odds? Ever held a dying buddy in your arms?.- jackanape on "perspective," 11/8/2010.
"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011, in response to me saying I would rather face the Thunder than the Grizzlies in the WCF.
by Aqua on Jul 2, 2011 11:29 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Just think
he was probably 15 when that video was made. I don’t envy the scouts whose evaluations determine whether to give 15 year olds millions.
by Brett Perryman on Jul 2, 2011 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions
So...where did Texas' 2011 amateur draft rank?
Where did they grade out on that?
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
It's so hard to grade drafts until
late August, but I doubt if the publications who didn’t rank any of their high pick highly would rate it terribly well before guys start playing games. If Zach Cone, who I ragged on mercilessly on draft night, keeps hitting .350, BA will be more kind when they give their draft grades.
by Brett Perryman on Jul 2, 2011 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions
It is impossible to know.
Some guys haven’t even signed, much less played and developed.
Ever been in a boardroom, or a gang fight? Ever save a life? Ever won a court case against the odds? Ever held a dying buddy in your arms?.- jackanape on "perspective," 11/8/2010.
"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011, in response to me saying I would rather face the Thunder than the Grizzlies in the WCF.
by Aqua on Jul 2, 2011 11:45 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
It's pretty obvious what JD's philosophy has become
Shoot for the moon on every amatuer signing, and if 5% of them become stars then I can fill out the pieces around them.
by Sherman McCoy on Jul 2, 2011 11:49 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
I don't think this is accurate
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
My mind just says throw ball throw hard and strike. - Marteen
The burden of proof is on the accused.
Not the accuser.
/Bird Law.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
My mind just says throw ball throw hard and strike. - Marteen
Unless you are in the military
They have some strange situations, especially with computer law, where it is on the accused to prove they didn’t know any better.
Maybe not completely accurate
but it goes with what we’ve seen from JD’s philosophy on talent acquisition. In this case, they’ve picked the guys with some great power to build around. Other times, its been going hard after guys with elite speed. For pitchers, they’ve concentrated a lot on getting the guys with the big fastball.
Cuban Julio is not better than tiny Cliff
-venturafearsnolan
Yup, exactly
look for the players that could become stars and pay the money early so you aren’t paying it in FA
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." The JeDi
Are all Payanos belong to us?
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
My mind just says throw ball throw hard and strike. - Marteen
I don't dance
Some see a glass half empty, some a glass half full. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be. - George Carlin
Well you're no friend of mine.
"Nolan's about to make me shit my pants." by LiamP on Jun 21, 2011 11:10 PM CDT
everyone look at your pants
Some see a glass half empty, some a glass half full. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be. - George Carlin
Apparently, rangers have signed a 16 year old player from Latin America. This is a real gamble and I bet that they are all waiting for the gamble to pay off.
Halloween World
by joycerenabevels on Jul 3, 2011 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions
signings
Aren’t there any young, potentially great pitchers out there? They probably could have signed one for what they paid to get Arthur Rhodes. Some players just don’t know when to give it up! Arthur is past his prime and I’m sure he realizes this.
by shirley_gaultney@yahoo.com on Jul 2, 2011 12:33 PM CDT reply actions
Is this a sign that the team thinks an international draft amy be a part of the next CBA
so the time is now to exploit the contacts the Rangers have in international scouting be fore a more restrictive system comes into place.
Another thing is that with the age of the J2 prospects, it is more likely that none of these guys will be in Arlington in 5+ years, This just spreads out the talent a little bit. If they drafted more HS/College talent it would fill the A+,A, and A- leagues to the breaking point. Diverting some of that to the DSL or extended will slowly disperse the talent overflow.
I am not implying that the Rangers tanked the draft, and the Fischer pick alone shows otherwise, but I am saying that they reduced their budget in the draft to supplement it with J2 signings.
Not a bad approach due to the elite level of talent in the high $$ J2 guys and where we picked in the draft. If Texas picked in the 8-10 region in both the 1st and 2nd round, we would have probably seen a more conservative J2 and aggressive draft. Instead we ended up with a somewhat more conservative draft approach, until the Fish fell so far they couldn’t resist, and going big money in J2.
JD’s like, "you want some f*&#ing pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, b*#&hes!"- RCCook
LSB: "Oh s#*t, JD. You crazy!"
The logistics of a worldwide draft are outrageous.
It’s not happening.
Ever been in a boardroom, or a gang fight? Ever save a life? Ever won a court case against the odds? Ever held a dying buddy in your arms?.- jackanape on "perspective," 11/8/2010.
"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011, in response to me saying I would rather face the Thunder than the Grizzlies in the WCF.
by Aqua on Jul 2, 2011 1:29 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
that seems the be the direction the MLB wants...
I think it sucks and the logistics would be a nightmare, but it would not surprise me in the least… Bud gets what he wants.
JD’s like, "you want some f*&#ing pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, b*#&hes!"- RCCook
LSB: "Oh s#*t, JD. You crazy!"
I don't think you'll see a full international draft any time soon
but you could see them trying to do something to regulate the LA signings more and it would likely balance the playing field a decent amount.
Cuban Julio is not better than tiny Cliff
-venturafearsnolan
Would they slot pay international draft picks?
If so, they may be pushing for this to save themselves money
I think thier version of an international draft
would be Europe/LA and the pacific rim areas that do not already have some form of deal worked out with the MLB..
Personally I don’t like it and think it will hurt the minors overall unless they add another lower level league for the underage talent.
If teams can draft 16 year old internationals, they will instead of taking flyers on kids that will not sign. While not a big deal short term, long term there will just not be enough space without expanding the complex leagues.
JD’s like, "you want some f*&#ing pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, b*#&hes!"- RCCook
LSB: "Oh s#*t, JD. You crazy!"
So what happened
between bighead AdMo and Brett Gardner?
I honestly don't know...
but I hope Josey does the same.
"beiacte like you hjave to read tha at ovie and then you read the eholwe thin g an d but ibecause you dont want to and then if when ifo u dont read te lyrics but inot becaise ists a song but its like the wordfs sand stuff wehat you do, but you read it, but when you dont whic that is the point of thwat i am saying you are so god fdam dammnit fucking , becauset now our ost yobecuasee ttyou havent read i , and then yo go iwht poprocrn!!!" - TagDon'tTweet, 06/23/11
by vfn on Jul 2, 2011 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
nah
Josey is the guy who comes into your house, sits in the middle of your couch and makes obnoxious comments about the commercials on TV. BG is the guy who comes into your house and tells you that you have your cups in the wrong pantry and complains about the shoddy construction work of the back door.
Go Rice Owls!
Would be a Matt Harrison fan, but I only like superstars
I'm just saying Adam will never ban him
Josey isn’t ever downright hostile and insulting to him. It is one thing to come to a party and treat other guests badly. It is another thing to be obnoxious to the host.
Go Rice Owls!
Would be a Matt Harrison fan, but I only like superstars
Okay...
but I would think that it would be more insulting towards me as the host for someone to constantly shit on, instigate petty fights about the same crap over and over again, and insult all my guests, rather than just being obnoxious to me.
But maybe that’s just me.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
It was in 2009
now it’s just fun
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