Cubs sign top international free agent Eloy Jimenez

In Minor Leagues, News And Rumors, Transactions by dmick8938 Comments

The Cubs added to their big day by signing the top ranked international free agent Eloy Jimenez. The dollar figures aren’t known, but it was reported earlier yesterday that he would sign for about $2.7 million. The Cubs also signed Jefferson Mejia yesterday for $850,000.

Top international prospect Eloy Jimenez has decided to turn down more money from another club to sign with the Cubs, according to MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez (on Twitter). Jimenez, a 16-year-old outfielder from the Dominican Republic, is regarded as the top international prospect in this year’s July 2 class by both Baseball America and MLB.com. According to Sanchez, an announcement should come within the next few days.

At just 16 years of age, Jimenez is 6’4″ and 200 pounds, and Baseball America’s Ben Badler says that his average raw power and flat swing produce line drives — a combination that could lead to above-average home run power in the future. MLB.com raved about Jimenez in their Top 30:

“Considered the crown jewel of the Class of 2013, Jimenez has one of the best baseball bodies available this year and is considered to be the total package. The teenager has impressed scouts with his intelligence, plus-speed, and gap-to-gap power that is expected to improve as he grows into his body.”

Earlier in the day the Cubs signed Gleybar Torres for $1.7 million and Erling Moreno for $800,000. The Cubs landed a lot of talent in international free agency. It will be a long time before we see these guys at the big league level, though. It will be 2 to 3 years before we see them in the US.

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  1. EnricoPallazzo

    so jimenez signed with the cubs because he idolized sosa? anyone else think this is odd? sosa was already on a serious decline when this kid was only 6 years old….

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  2. JonKneeV

    EnricoPallazzo wrote:

    so jimenez signed with the cubs because he idolized sosa? anyone else think this is odd? sosa was already on a serious decline when this kid was only 6 years old….

    Must’ve seen his Pinterest

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  3. sitrick2

    EnricoPallazzo wrote:

    so jimenez signed with the cubs because he idolized sosa? anyone else think this is odd? sosa was already on a serious decline when this kid was only 6 years old….

    I don’t mean to irresponsibly imply anything, and I like to think the organization’s going about things in an aboveboard way, but is there any chance what’s really going on is the Cubs paid the trainer more under the table than the other team offered? I know there’s a ton of corruption involved in the process, but I’m clueless on if it would manifest itself in something like this.

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  4. GBTS

    WaLi wrote:

    Awesome stuff. 6’4″ 200 lbs and he is 16? Wow.

    EnricoPallazzo wrote:

    so jimenez signed with the cubs because he idolized sosa? anyone else think this is odd? sosa was already on a serious decline when this kid was only 6 years old….

    He’s “16.”

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  5. Aisle424

    You know, we bitch a lot about the Chicago media, but holy hell, I can’t even imagine dealing with the New York Post on a daily basis:

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  6. Author
    dmick89

    I don’t think it’s that strange. A kid from the Dominican idolizing one of the best players from the country? Is it any stranger than some kids idolizing players who aren’t even that good?

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  7. JonKneeV

    I just relapsed and shot up some optimism in my veins so apologies in advance…

    …let’s say something crazy happens next year and we sign one of Ellsbury/Choo and Alcantara makes the team out of ST and Barney is shipped out this offseason. Then on 7/1 we are slightly over .500 and Baez is doing well in AA. Is it me or does this line-up look pretty decent if the rooks held their own?

    C Castillo
    1B Rizzo
    2B Alcantara
    SS Castro
    3B Baez/Valbuena
    LF Soriano
    CF Dejesus/Sweeney/BJax/Lake
    RF Choo/Ellsbury

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  8. JonKneeV

    josh wrote:

    @ JonKneeV:
    Pitching next year is the big question mark for me.

    I just don’t see Theo trading Garza so a low level prospect. I would think he’d want pitching in AA or AAA. Or of course we sign him to a 3-4 year extension.

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  9. Ryno

    JonKneeV wrote:

    Ryno wrote:
    Here’s what I think is funny/annoying about Alvin:
    The top story on Lonestar Ball is an update on international signings. It’s the most news-worthy item in the baseball world at the moment, and it’s reflected on the site.
    The top story on bleedfagetblue is Alvin’s editorial about the Cubs new regime ruining Starlin Castro. Alvin hilariously uses the qualifier he’s “no hitting coach” and one example to say how clear it is to him (several times) that Theo Epstein personally needs to stop trying to change Starlin Castro.

    I feel bad that all this trade action is distracting from @bleedcubbieblue’s post about how it is clear we’re ruining Starlin Castro.— Not Tom Ricketts (@NotTomRicketts) July 2, 2013

    Ryno, are you NotTomRicketts?

    I’m not.

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  10. Ryno

    If Nolasco is that available, I’m sure the Cubs are scrambling to acquire Matt Cain to set up a potential flip.

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  11. Author
    dmick89

    @ JonKneeV:
    Depends. What Castro takes the field next season? His projections are not all that good at this point (90 wRC+). Soriano’s is 95. Castillo’s is 86. Valbuena 88. Clay Davenport has Alcantara’s eqa well below average (.233). Rizzo’s is 120. Choo’s is 127. Davenport has Baez right around average.

    That’s a below average offense with some potential (Castro, Baez, Rizzo, Alcantara).

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  12. Suburban kid

    The Cubs added to their big day by signing the top ranked international free agent Eloy Jimenez. The dollar figures aren’t known, but it was reported earlier yesterday that he would sign for about $2.7 million. The Cubs also signed Jefferson Mejia yesterday for $850,000.

    Al’s no hitting coach, but Castro went just 1-5 again last night.

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  13. SVB

    The Cubs should set up one of those shadow companies like Loria did in Miami if they haven’t already. Then that company should buy a Korean team. The Korean team should compete against mlb teams for IFAs without the spending limits. Then when players get good the cubs buy them for whatever posting fees are needed to keep the operation running. Players the Cubs don’t want could be posted to other teams.

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  14. EnricoPallazzo

    dmick89 wrote:

    I don’t think it’s that strange. A kid from the Dominican idolizing one of the best players from the country? Is it any stranger than some kids idolizing players who aren’t even that good?

    fair enough, it just seems a little odd that you would pick a guy whose best years occurred before you were old enough to remember as opposed to say robinson cano or albert pujols. or felix pie.
    sitrick2 wrote:

    I don’t mean to irresponsibly imply anything, and I like to think the organization’s going about things in an aboveboard way, but is there any chance what’s really going on is the Cubs paid the trainer more under the table than the other team offered? I know there’s a ton of corruption involved in the process, but I’m clueless on if it would manifest itself in something like this.

    yeah that was kind of my point…just wondering if there was some other payment involved here. don’t get me wrong – i definitely don’t give a shit either way. just curious.

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  15. GW

    @ EnricoPallazzo:

    i dunno. his dad and his trainers have probably been in his ear for years about how great Sosa was, and he’s the next Sosa.

    I also think the Cubs have probably been building a relationship with him for months recruiting, showing off the new facility. If the team that offered more money was the Rangers, they may have been hiding their intentions to some extent because of their pool situation.

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  16. Author
    dmick89

    EnricoPallazzo wrote:

    fair enough, it just seems a little odd that you would pick a guy whose best years occurred before you were old enough to remember as opposed to say robinson cano or albert pujols. or felix pie.

    There are actually people who still idolize Babe Ruth. I know there were when I was a kid. I see what you’re saying, but maybe Jimenez met Sosa.

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  17. josh

    @ EnricoPallazzo:
    Assuming his age is correct. Sammy was only on the decline in retrospect. I’m sure the kid grew up hearing the legend of Sammy Sosa. Age 6 is prime time to start learning and falling in love with baseball. I idolized Andre Dawson and his best year was when I was 5, but the legend lived on long past his best years.

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  18. GW

    here’s one I missed yesterday

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  19. josh

    @ josh:
    I take it back, I was 8 or 9 (with the Cubs, that is). Still, given what Sammy did, I’m sure his family talked about him and told the kid to model himself after him.

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  20. Berselius

    @ josh:

    When you’re a kid, you don’t have as much of a concept of decline anyway. And you’re probably not paying nearly as close attention as we do to the team. I’m sure that as far as most 6 year olds in Chicago know, Starlin Castro is an All-Star this year.

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  21. Suburban kid

    Berselius wrote:

    When you’re a kid, you don’t have as much of a concept of decline anyway.

    Yep. Nap Ernie was my favorite when I was six or seven because he was the great Ernie Banks I always heard about. I didn’t know he was on his last legs and a shadow of his former self. I was shocked when he retired since he was the best player they had as far as I always assumed.

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  22. Author
    dmick89

    @ Berselius:
    I don’t think you really even understand what a good player is when you’re a kid. I loved Shawon Dunston and I was 10 when he reached the big leagues. Oddibe McDowell was one of my favorite players after seeing him in the Olympics. I don’t know that I ever saw him play after that. Oil Can Boyd was another favorite. I wish I could say it was because he was good. It was probably the name. I also was a huge fan of George Brett, but he was really good at baseball. My 14 year old nephew is a Pirates fan and his favorite players are Andrew McCutchen (good choice) and every one in the Pirates bullpen (not a good choice). I don’t have the heart to tell him that relievers aren’t very good pitchers. He’s a kid.

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  23. Aisle424

    Lynn McGlothen was my favorite Cub pitcher for a long time because he pitched in my first game at Wrigley.

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