Cubs add several international free agent prospects

Photo courtesy: MLB Pipeline

by Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - Mon Jan 16 09:00:07 GMT-05:00 2023

While most teams have gone quiet regarding free agency, the Cubs continue to do most of their work quietly yet continue to make signings. With most of them coming as minor-league pickups, it was a pleasant surprise to see them land Trey Mancini, especially after getting Eric Hosmer a few weeks earlier.

Those two are expected to land on the major league roster and platoon at first base while also filling in at the DH. That said, the Cubs still need to finish adding to their roster as they are adding a trio of prospects to their minor league system.

January marks the start of the International Signing period, and the Cubs have had a ton of success on the International market. This year is no exception, as they are landing a top-10 prospect and several other excellent prospects. All are expected to land in the system this season, and could make an big impact down the road.

With a hard cap of just over 5.2 million to spend in the International process, you can see why the Cubs were able to add a few pieces, as they had plenty of funds to work with.

The big-name regarding who signed with the Cubs is Derniche Valdez.

The talented 16-year-old shortstop hails from the Dominican Republic and is expected to begin his professional career at the Dominican Complex League. Yes, you heard that right. Valdez is just 16 years old and is ranked as the 6th best International prospect among the free agents. That goes to show you how talented he is.

From a measurement side, Valdez is 6-1 and checks in at 167 pounds. He will fill out as he gets older, and most feel he can stick up the middle long term. Valdez has put on some weight in his lower half in the last two years, adding some raw power to his scouting projections.

Should he continue adding more weight, more power will come from that frame, which could be a good thing. He needs to work on his swing, as he has a very long swing. That could lead to a higher strikeout rate than you would like to see at the complex league, but look for the Cubs coaches to get that ironed out.

Next on the list of pickups for the Cubs is another SS in Ludwig Espinoza. Another young stud, Espinoza, hails from Venezuela and is just 17 years. He checks in at the #14 spot regarding International Free Agents and is expected to sign for around 1.5 million.

Unlike Valdez, there is much less information on Espinoza, so you have to wonder what the Cubs saw in him. What information we do have him draws comparisons to Aramis Ademan, who was also an international free agent pickup. Espinoza is undersized, but he has solid defensive instincts.

That bodes well for the SS position and could help him move around, as many scouts feel he can play anywhere on the diamond. Espinoza is not going to hit for a ton of power right now, but he does have a knack for making contact which could lead to high averages.

Sticking with the shortstop theme, the Cubs made it three for three, as all three of their international pickups were shortstops. This one checks in at No.19 on the big board and is expected to sign for one million. Angel Cepeda is his name, and he is an American-Born International product.

With the Cubs having two DSL summer teams, look for Valdez and Espinoza to see a fair amount of time at one or both teams. What would that mean for Cepeda, then? According to initial reports, his seven-figure signing is significant because the Cubs have already talked to him about changing positions. Third base is the move here, as that is the one position the Cubs need more overall depth within their system.

Unlike the previous two names mentioned, Cepeda is known for his bat, which has been on display since the U14 Showcase in the United States. Cepeda offers the most apparent offensive upside of the three players, as he already uses his lower half well in his swing, holding the ground and exploding off his back hip, the early foundations for creating power.