Omaha commits $22,000,000 pre-tax to International Free Agents.(43.10)

[niles08]

“Here, take this $22 million and go play for the next 9 years in our minor league farm systems and if you wind up never reaching double-A, that is just fine! “

That basically is what we’re saying when we hand out international free agents boatloads of dollars and apparently that is okay. Omaha has a history of doing so, being both successful and unsuccessful in their trials.

Orlando Ordonez, who has progressed nicely and is still only 23 years old despite this being his 5th full season in the BBA, was an international free agent many seasons ago. The club spent just $7,400,000 for Ordonez to sign from Cuba in 2036.

Se-Tol Kim is an example of an IFA that didn’t work out so well for Omaha, and he had actually spent 2042 in the UMEBA, where even there he was extremely underwhelming. Kim cost the team a cool $17,500,000 in 2034, not including the penalty tax for going over the cap.

Well, Omaha wagered some money again this season, spending a total of $22,000,000 which is the most the team has ever committed to IFA’s in any given year. That 22 million is also before the tax penalty for going over the cap.

Just who did they wager on?

A couple of youngsters beginning with Juan Romano, who looks like he could develop into a solid BBA catcher. Of course, all of these guys look like they could develop when they are 16. Romano is now $16,000,000 richer, thanks to scouts assessment on him. He projects an 8 in contact on a 10 scale, a 9 in gap power, and an 8 in his ability to avoid striking out. He isn’t going to walk much nor his many home runs, but his ability when he does swing has the team excited.

Coming in at only $6,000,000 richer is Human Bin Nuri, who is marked down as a center fielder although it is debatable whether or not he stays there. He has many of the same breakout as Juan Romano, however, his contact and gap power potential are both 9’s while his ability to avoid striking out sits at a 10. He will hit even less home runs than Romero, but may walk every once in a while.

Once again, 16 year olds.