Signings reveal a shift in focus
The Blue Jays have forever been aggressive in international signings, making an impressive run through the past four years.
On Wednesday, the Jays made it official, signing No. 4-rated international prospect, shortstop Orelvis Martinez for a reported $3.5 million (U.S.), 70 per cent of the Jays’ total pool of just under $5 million. Martinez was born three months after the Twin Towers were brought down.
hat amount is more than the Jays signing bonus to Texas high-school shortstop Jordan Groshans, their firstround pick in June 2018 — 11th overall. The Groshans bonus was reported by Baseball America as $3.4 million.
Martinez, a native of the Dominican Republic, had already verbally agreed, but the Jays were waiting for an actual signature on contract before confirming the announcement. The Jays have been one of the most active teams in international scouting, going back to the early ’80s with Dominican superscout Epy Guerrero.
In 2015, the prize was Dominican third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. In 2016, it was Cuban shortstop Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and in 2017, shortstop Miguel Hiraldo, another Dominican, believed by many to be the best hitter available.
The MLB pool of international free agents is comprised of players not covered by the June draft. (The only countries covered by the draft are the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico). Players must be at least 16 and turn 17 during the first year of the first contract.
If you have noticed that many of the Jays signings are listed as shortstops, there is a method to that strategy. Even the trade that sent outfielder Steve Pearce to the Red Sox brought back a minor-league shortstop, 23-year-old Santiago Espinal, who reported to Class-A Dunedin, where another Jays Top 30 prospect, Kevin Smith, was already patrolling the position. Never too many shortstops.
“The easiest answer is we’re always looking to acquire the best talent available,” Jays GM Ross Atkins said. “Part of that is athleticism and versatility. With middle of the diamond players, what comes from that is it’s easier to move off of that position to a corner than to move to the middle.
“There’s a lot of converted shortstops that are playing other positions, especially when they’re 16, 17 years old. It’s not that we have a philosophy to sign multiple shortstops and stock up on shortstops, it’s more that we have a philosophy to acquire the best possible talent.”
Atkins would not go so far as to say the Jays are deadline sellers, readying to rebuild a franchise that seemed to get visibly old together after ALCS berths in 2015 and ’16.
But he more subtly insinuated that this is an organization definitely looking beyond 2018.
“Our needle has started to point more toward the future than the present,” Atkins admitted.
“Is there some advantage to moving (players) sooner? I think the only advantage to moving sooner is that there is some premium paid (by other teams) for the return, the number of days he is going to be on the roster. Strategically, understanding where the markets are and knowing what the interest is, that’s when you can then determine if a bird in the hand is better than anxiety.”
If the Jays are anxiously looking toward the future, toward getting younger, does that necessarily mean that prospects like the 19-year-old Guerrero Jr., currently ranked the No. 1 prospect in MLB, will be called up as soon as he is healthy again?
The Jays are still seen as conservative when it comes to advancing youngsters through the system. While players like Ronald Acuna Jr. (Braves), Juan Soto (Nats), Gleyber Torres (Yankees) and Rafael Devers (Red Sox) are making an impact with contenders, the Jays slow play their studs.
“I think in general the industry has shifted a bit towards the players that are faster and players that have supreme athleticism,” Atkins admitted. “Often times those players are under 30 years old. It’s a much bigger discussion on exactly how that happens and I don’t know the philosophy of 29 other teams.
“It’s a balance and in an ideal world, you don’t want the offensive production and performance, or the defensive production and performance to override (the need for learning) in another aspect of someone’s game.
“Ideally you don’t want that to happen at the major-league level. There will be development at the major-league level, but you would like to exhaust all the development that could have been done in the minor leagues.
“Really, it’s usually a relatively simple equation. It’s what’s best for the player, what’s best for the team and the organization and what opportunity do you have for them. It’s not as much about level to level. It’s about what’s best for the play- er, what’s best for the organization.”
So Vlad will complete his Jays development, the advancement of his entire game in the minors, whether fans or the player himself agree with it.
Meanwhile, many other Jays veterans are already out there, available to teams for the right price. That list is led by the healthy left arm of starter J.A. Happ and platoon outfielder Curtis Granderson.
If Josh Donaldson regains his health before the end of July, there is a chance he might be available for prospects, but if it gets into August the chances of Donaldson being moved to a contender likely disappear, at which point he will reach his free agency and receive a qualifying offer from the Jays.
Starting pitching is one area that is developing quickly within the system led by lefthander Ryan Borucki and the more surprising emergence of Sam Gaviglio. The Jays’ plan was always to start the season with a rotation of known commodities, backed by Joe Biagini and then await the first-half development of others.
“Pitching has been a highlight for us this year,” Atkins admitted proudly. “Sean Reid-Foley, T.J. Zeuch, (Canadian Jordan Romano). There are others. (The injured) Nate Pearson will get back to pitching. Yennsy Diaz has been pretty good.”
Needless to say, Jays fans will have a chance to see several more of the organization’s top prospects likely sooner rather than later.