More Sano talk
He is considered a very talented, young Dominican shortstop. Soon, Miguel Angel Sano will sign a multi-million dollar deal with some Major League team.
The Orioles have definite interest.
They recently put the 16-year-old Sano through his paces during a private, three-day workout at the O's Dominican complex in Boca Chica. It was the second time they put Sano through a workout.
"We were very, very impressed and happy with everything we saw," said O's Director of Player Development, David Stockstill.
Sano is a 6'3", 190 pound right-handed hitter. The O's had him take part in several drills, a simulated game, had him hit off left and right-handed pitchers and had him bat vs. pitchers throwing in the low 90's.
He passed every test with flying colors. In fact, Stockstill, who has signed many Dominican players over many years, says Sano is the best Dominican prospect he has ever seen.
"Yes, he is (the best). He has the ability to do things smoother, quicker and with ease. He has outstanding natural power with the bat and just his athletic ability. I came out of the workouts every bit as impressed as I hoped I'd be. But I had pretty high hopes (going in).
"His tools would rank above Major League average for several of his tools. You have to remember, as a 16-year-old kid we're talking raw tools. His defense and offense are both very impressive."
As with most signings, it will come down to the money, but Stockstill felt Sano had solid interest in the O's.
"He is very interested in the Orioles and would like very much for something to happen with the Orioles. He worked out five days for five different teams the week before. He had two workouts after the three days with us.
"He was willing to come and work with us one day two weeks ago and then three days in a row. That shows he has interest, he was not doing that with other clubs."
While clubs can talk money now with Sano, he can not sign any agreement before July 2nd. Are the O's negotiating with Sano now?
"I don't think we are to that point yet. There's still some investigating to do, as with any player you would give a lot of money to. You have to look into their health, their family history, there are a lot of things to investigate.
"But I don't think we would have gone down there if we had no intention of considering the kid."
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Categories (click for archive)Orioles News | Steve Melewski |
If he looks that good - show him the $! Whatever the amount is - we can save that by not re-signing Mora and have plenty left over. Any # of ways to come up with it, including putting fans back in the stands in a year or 3 when he is ready!
if this kid is as good as stockhill says he is, we better make a strong offer to get him. everyone is "interested" in signing with a team when they know that team could end up bucking up over $6 million dollars. as we have no middle infield depth, it may be worth the risk and sign him, even if he ends up being 20 instead of 16, the O's need the publicity. We are at a point in time where the O's should say..."why not?". Lets make some positive waves and sign this kid and develop the next superstar!
Is Sano consider Pujols-like? Tejada-like? A-rod like? or Ruben Sierra like?
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I don't know that he is like any of those. Not sure what a fair comparison would be.
Steve
I am trying not to get to excited about the possibility of him signing with the Os, but this is very good news.
steve--great reporting on this subject....question
what is your feeling here? Do you think they spend more money than other teams on this guy? I think just for PR sake it's a great move, not to mention this kid seems like a better defensive hanley ramirez. If he works out...GREAT...if he doesn't? Well, we showed we are doing things the way other teams are these days...your thoughts?
thanks
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I am a little more convinced today, after my interview with David Stockstill, that there is a better chance of this happening than I thought earlier. I'm still a little skeptical the O's would give a 16-year-old several million, but it sounds like they are surely thinking about it.
Would be a coup for us if we get him and he is as good as advertised.
On a side question. Do you think it would be smart to put the Dominican and Venuzela into the draft? Much like PR years ago?
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I don't think there is much chance of that happening in the draft anytime soon.
Steve
I read recently that MLB was investigating to see if he is really 16. The article said that he would receive a one year suspension if he is not really 16. Do you know if the O's are concerned about this? If he is really 19 he would arrive as an overpaid, average 20 year old.
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David did not want to comment on that, but surely the O's and every team are looking at that closely. - Steve
Hopefully watching Hanley Ramirez walk all over us the last several days gave this club some ideas.
Obviously, you have to be cautious with any foreign prospects, especially if they are 16. But this kid sounds like the real deal. It would be a huge step forward for this team if we signed him.
If the head of the O'd player development considers this kid the best prospect from the D.R that he has "ever seen" and we don't sign him..I think it speaks volumes, for both the o's comittment to winning and how much they value Stockhil!
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No it doesn't. I credit Stockstill for being so honest. I'm sure other clubs are high on the player too. Every team will put a value on this kid and won't just keep bidding forever. He'll get a lot of money from some team, but all teams will have a point in the process where they drop out of the bidding. - Steve
But Steve, if he's the best they've seen, shouldn't they do what it takes to sign him? From the info I've seen, Pittsburg is likely to out bid us..a small market team, know for being tight with the purse strings...I also understand his price isn't going to be record setting or like Michael Inoa's when Oakland signed him last yr...if thats true, how can it not be construed as the O's lack of commitment to really spend to improve? How can you allow small market Pittsburg sign the best prospect from the D.R that they've ever seen out from under them?? I'm a huge O's fan, and I support them win/lose..It's just I'm really excited about all the positives of late..but passing on Crow and some of the higher touted arms in the draft, and now possibly letting this kid slip through thier fingers reminds me of the past practices..although I do think Hobgood has big time talent..and I love his make-up, so thay may turn out right on him..but I think you know what I mean.
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Only one team is going to get this guy. Are all the losing teams not committed to winning. I hope they get him too, that would be exciting, and they must be pretty serious about this guy.
As for Pittsburgh. They don't spend money on their Major League team, but will give this kid millions. That's nuts if you ask me and backward. - Steve
Steve, I agree with you about Pittsburg's backward thinking, as to your 1st point I would say, not all the teams are claiming they think he's the greatest prospect they've ever seen from the D.R. I respect you, and your opinion, I just feel if they really believe that, you have to sign the guy..4 million dollar is the rumored number, a ton of cash to be sure, but in MLB, it's "chump change" 100 million for the right to sign Dice-K, would be my example.
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I don't disagree with you. I just don't agree with the fans who are putting everything on this one player. The club has proven to me they want to win by re upping Markakis and Roberts, the bonuses to Wieters and Matusz, the better Dominican academy, signing Koji and so many other things.
Sano would be a great addtion, I hope they get him. But all is not lost if they don't and if they don't it doesn't wash away all the good that has happened on the farm this year. That's all I'm saying. - Steve
As for Pittsburgh. They don't spend money on their Major League team, but will give this kid millions. That's nuts if you ask me and backward. - Steve
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The new front office for the Pirates has invested millions of dollars in the Dominican area.Yeah it's ass backwards what they have done.But they need to build up the minor leagues since the former GM left the shelves empty.From what I have read.They are saying this kid is a "can't miss"