THE INTERNATIONAL FREE AGENT

A LOOK AT THE HIGHEST PAID INTERNATIONAL FREE AGENTS

THE BIG PAYDAY 

Cincinnati, Ohio (McC.com) - Welcome to season 44 of the Robert E. McCabe world of professional baseball. Before we get started with the first installment of McCabe Magazine I would like to thank lido9613 owner of the Florida Marlins for doing a very interesting write-up on the Top International Free Agent signings from season 27 to season 33 and their impact on the Big Leagues. This time period gave lido9613 a better look at the Major League career of the top signers. In his evaluation of the IFA he looked at the signing bonus and performance and handed out a GRADE (A - F) base on his overall appraisal of those players. 

Also in this issue is our Stat of the Day which takes a look at the All-Time Career Leaders listed on the blog sidebars. Which active players broke into the Top 5 All-Time, and who dropped out the Top 5.

Note: click on the players name or player profile photo for detail information. 

INTERNATIONAL FREE AGENTS SIGNINGS 
by lido9613 Florida Marlins
MLB Insider

Season 27 – Jose Valdez $29.0 M Signing.

Primarily a 1B, but a good one he has picked up 3 MVP’s and 5 All Star appearances and is still playing at 38.  He won’t make 3,000 hits or much more than about 400 home runs.  What make him an easy A+ signing are all of the above along with his 728 SB’s and a career average of .297. A big price, but he sure has delivered cannot imagine him not making the Hall of Fame.

Yuudai Sakamoto signed for $19.0 M and is now retired. His Major League career, season 31-38 has to be seen as a disappointment.  No All Star appearances, 805 total hits, and just 94 HR’s.  He retired at 34, a grade F for that price.

Season 28 – Yovani Cedeno $24.3 M Signing.

Yovani Cedeno is now 34 years-old and hit .258 last year.  His career highlights are 2 GG’s and 3 all-star teams.  He sits at just under 2,000 career hits, 252 HR’s and a career batting average of .265.  By all accounts he gets a C as the top dollar signing of the season.

Leyson Beltre San Francisco Giants Age: 34 B/T: R/R Born: Moncion, DO Position(s): P (T2B) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Leyson Beltre signed for $24.1 M and has been a workhorse SP.  He has thrown an astounding 39 CG’s and thrown nearly 2,800 Innings.  He has a surprisingly low number of wins; his record is 167-132.  His career highlight is the Cy Young award in season 38. Grade A - B signing

Season 29 – Marino Martin $27.0 M Signing

Marino is a workhorse much like Beltre from the season before.  He has thrown 3,000 innings and has nearly 2,500 K’s.  While his wins are at just 188 he has to be considered a very solid signing.  5 All-Star teams and what will likely be a HOF induction down the line.  He is an A signing.

Junior Meng Florida Marlins Age: 33 B/T: R/R Born: Kobe, JP Position(s): 1B/COF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Junior Meng $22.4 M is having a great career.  He has won MVP’s, ROY, All stars, Home Run Derbies,   Silver Sluggers.  He is still just 32 with 440 HR’s and counting.  The HOF is easily waiting for Junior.  Grade A+ signing.

Season 30 – Harry Iglesias $19.7 Signing

Harry is a solid pitcher and at 32 turned in a fine season last year with 13 wins, 200 innings and a solid low 3’s ERA.  He looks to be able to keep his pitching level high.  Likely not a HOF candidate but a solid player.  A - B signing, but one anyone owner would be happy to have.

Edwar Piedra Montreal Expos Age: 31 B/T: S/R Born: Cambiaso, DO Position(s): P (SP2) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Season 31 – Edwar Piedra $15.0 M Signing

Edwar is a 3 time 20 game winner, with a Cy Young, 4 All-Star appearances and a World Series ring.  152 wins, and 1,609 SO’s at the age of 31 means he was a bargain signing at the $15 M price.  How his team got him to play for $6.3 M a year in season 43 means Chicago not only made a great trade but has signed him for a great price, an A signing and an A player.

Season 32 – Juan Beltre $23.5 M Signing

A surprisingly high price to pay for a catcher, easily the most underappreciated position in WIS.  Beltre has been fantastic with great power numbers.  While playing for Colorado in S43, his Philly numbers were great as well.  Sitting at 433 HR’s at the age of 31, along with his solid catching, he will be in fake HOF clothes when he hangs it up, An A plus signing.

Victor Diaz - $20.1 M signing, 29, career ERA of 2.88 make Diaz a legend in Seattle, an absolute great A+ signing.

Alex Javier Chicago Cubs Age: 29 B/T: R/R Born: Mao, DO Position(s): 2B/CIF/OF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Season 33 – Alex Javier $23.5 M Signing

An orgasmical great signing, this guy is the gold standard of international signings.  2 MVP’s, All Stars, a .309 career BA.  Over 9 years in the bigs, with a partial DL stint early in his career he averages 32 HR’s and 94 RBI’s makes him the favorite. Grade A+.

STAT OF THE DAY 

ALL-TIME CAREER LEADERS

Career Batting Average

The Major League Career Batting Average top five (5) remained the same with Hall of Famer Placido Ortiz holding on the top spot with a career BA of 335 in 15 major league seasons.

Career Home Runs

Louie Rosa San Diego Padres Age: 35 B/T: R/R Born: Ancon, PA Position(s): 1B/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

On the All-Time Home Run list we saw two active players break into the Top 5.  Louie Rosa, longtime St. Louis Cardinal busted into the Top 5 with 708 dingers, putting him 2^nd on the list and only 30 away from the All-Time record of 737 held by HOF Alexei DaSilva. The 35 year-old Rosa was traded to San Diego this off-season, a pitchers ballpark, which will make it difficult for him to make a serious run at the All-Time record.  The other newcomer is Colorado Rockies LF Ignacio Valentin who moved into the fifth spot on the list with 686.

Career Runs Batted In

Louie Rosa is now fourth on this list and only 20 RBIs away from breaking the All-Time RBI record of 1,960 held by Alexei DaSilva.

Charley Reynolds Milwaukee Brewers Age: 41 B/T: R/R Born: Lamar, MO Position(s): DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Career Hits

Forty-one (41) year-old Charley Reynolds is the HIT KING with a Major League record of 3,214 hits. The season 21 number one overall draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds where he played 14 seasons is presently assigned to the Carolina Mudcats (High A) a Milwaukee Brewers minor league affiliate. He signed a Free-Agent contract with the Brewers in season 42 and played in 59 major games collecting 41 hits. Last year he  had 11 hits in 22 games and was demoted to San Antonio Missions the AAA affiliate. Reynolds a fan favorite in Carolina is often seen at the Cherokee Casino and Resort in Cherokee, North Carolina selling autographs and memorabilia from his days in Cincinnati, Texas and Milwaukee.  

Career Wins

 No changes in the career win totals with Hall of Famer Vince Garcia holding the top spot with 377 wins.

Career Earn Run Average

Pedro Manuel a season 37 Hall of Fame inductee set the All-Time career ERA record of 2.50 when he retired in season 35.  A mark we here at McCabe Magazine feel will never be broken. HOF Vince Garcia is a distance second on the list with a career 2.66 ERA.

Career Strike Outs

Luther Abercrombie holds the career record of 4,449 strike outs, another unbreakable record. Kid Richard fell 558 Ks short when he retired after season 41 is second on the list.

Career Saves

No changes in the Top 5 on this list with Pedro Manuel holding the topmost spot with 693 saves.