Cubs sign Cuban pitcher Concepcion

[xCraCKz]

Source: Chicago Cubs sign Cuban pitcher Gerardo Concepcion | MLB.com: News

Free-agent pitcher Gerardo Concepcion has agreed to terms with Cubs, according to an industry source.

Last week, Concepcion worked out for the Rangers in front of a contingent that included owner Nolan Ryan at the team's complex in the Dominican Republic. The Rangers, Yankees, Cubs and White Sox had expressed the most interest in signing the left-hander.

The Marlins, Phillies, Giants, Blue Jays, Red Sox and Royals also showed interest.

"Everything is great. I really don't know how to describe it," Concepcion, 18, said by phone from the Dominican Republic last week. "All the training and exercise I have done is paying off. I've worked so hard to get here. I'm so happy. It's like a dream come true."

Concepcion, who was named Rookie of the Year in the Cuban Serie Nacional in 2010-11, after posting a 10-3 record and a 3.36 ERA in 21 games with Industriales de la Habana, defected from Cuba last June during the World Port Tournament in the Netherlands. He later established residency in Mexico, and was declared a free agent last week.

He has been working out in the Dominican Republic and starred in a showcase for Major League scouts on the island earlier in the month.

[Uman85]

Damn. Great signing for the Cubs.

[bleacherbum54]

7m is about 5m too much. But with the new cba where you cant spend in the draft like you could in the past. This is why he got that much imo.

http://www.bleachernation.com/2012/0...do-concepcion/

It is a MLB deal so he is going on the 40 man roster. Is he almost ready?? It wouldn't make sense for it to be one unless he is near major league ready. Wonder he gets waived off the 40 man.


I think we go after Soler next he and Conception can grow together in the minors.


I think Soler is gonna cost major $$$ after hearing about this.

[bleacherbum54]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...tory?track=rss

Wow he will be in big league camp this year?? That is amazing maybe he is a lot more polished than what I though. He has to be in the majors in 3 yrs or less if he got a major league deal.

[Jntg4]

^He's in big league camp because he's going to be on the 40-man, so he gets there automatically.

Goldstein puts him as our #6 prospect.

That means BA has:
1. CF Brett Jackson
2. SS Javier Baez
3. 1B Anthony Rizzo
4. CF Matt Szczur
5. SP Trey McNutt
6. SP Gerardo Concepcion
7. SP Dillon Maples
8. C Welington Castillo
9. RP Rafael Dolis
10. SS Junior Lake
11. 3B Josh Vitters
12. 1B Dan Vogelbach

[Chicagoboi8819]

great signing by the cubbies !!!!

[X-Factor]

Nice! didn't expect them to land him.

[Rice Cube]

Would be interesting to see how much the Cubs will bid on the other Cubans of note.

BleacherBum is correct that this is essentially Gerrit Cole money, but this is an 18-year-old kid putting up meh-numbers in a professional league as opposed to a 21-year-old Cole who honed his craft against college-level competition. I don't know how well Cuban stats translate, but if you assume that it'll take about 3-4 years for Concepcion to get even close to MLB-ready, as it might be the case with Cole, then I don't really think they overpaid.

The scouts with the Cubs are supposedly some of the best, if not the best, in the business now, so I guess we have to trust that they know WTF they're doing

[bleacherbum54]

Originally Posted by Rice Cube

Would be interesting to see how much the Cubs will bid on the other Cubans of note.

BleacherBum is correct that this is essentially Gerrit Cole money, but this is an 18-year-old kid putting up meh-numbers in a professional league as opposed to a 21-year-old Cole who honed his craft against college-level competition. I don't know how well Cuban stats translate, but if you assume that it'll take about 3-4 years for Concepcion to get even close to MLB-ready, as it might be the case with Cole, then I don't really think they overpaid.

The scouts with the Cubs are supposedly some of the best, if not the best, in the business now, so I guess we have to trust that they know WTF they're doing

He has to be in the bigs in 3 or we will have to put him on waviers I believe that is how it works.

They say Cuban ball is = to high A ball. So his stats aren't bad really He would probably be a top prospect if he duplicates his Cuban stats here in AA.

but the stuff he has doesn't sound very good. Said to have bad mechanics as well which hurts his curve ball. But it sounds like he knows how to pitch. Greg Maduxx didnt have good stuff when he was on his 2nd stint with the Cubs but he found a way to get people out. I guess that is what the scouts think this kid can do.

[Rice Cube]

I think they think that the kid is only 18 and skinny as a pole, so if they put some muscle on him and bring him up appropriately, he'll get that strikeout rate up. The walk rate suggests that he has some control. You also don't know from looking at the stats whether he induces weak contact, so that might work in his favor. I don't really know, and am trusting that the scouts know. The good news is that he's allegedly 18 and even if he were 20 or so in reality, still not a bad sign. Prospects for the most part crap out and you have to spend a bit of money here and there to find the ones who stick. I don't have a problem with this.

Now, if they had spent like $30MM, then I'd be having some words