35 thoughts on “Phillies Sign Lino Martinez for $325,000”

1. Good to hear, a 16 year old that hits 88 is promising, especially one that’s left-handed. Santana must have some serious power. Imagine how many home runs he would have hit this year as a high school sophomore or junior.

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   1. felicitaciones tres pata para adelante mijo el próximo N:1 de la rotación de los phillies y actualmente es el numero 1 de la rotación de williansport

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2. These signing bonuses always make me wonder what I’m doing with my life. I mean, 16 year old kid just got $325,000. I’m 19 and steadily working my way into debt (thank you Rutgers). not that I have the talent, but jeez, he’s 16. still, glad to hear that they singed a good pitcher. hope for a few more like this.

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3. Good to hear.

   At 16 and already 6’0, that means he’s definitely got projection in his frame. Could end up being 6’4/6’5 and he’ll add more velo.

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4. PP that was my point to andy if he isn’t 16 then those projection go out the window if he is 19 or 20

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5. There was a point a few days ago on these players stating that so much testing is now done its really hard to get away with lying anymore.
   88 mph at 16. I would have blown my arm out trying to get over 70.

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6. The stereotypical “he’s older” stuff is just getting old, no pun intended. MLB is doing more work on this stuff now than ever, and these guys have a lot to lose by faking their age.

   I personally dont want any talk on this nonsense until there is a legit reason to question any of the players the team signs.

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7. The age situation being discussed is similar to Ibanez steriod blog. Sure its an issue that baseball deals with but there’s no need to talk about it until somethings proven. Lets focus on the possibility to this kids talent and the ideas of, are the Phils doing enough in their willingness to sign these players

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8. Can’t wait to see where he’s at in 5 years.

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9. I haven’t seen the guy (like all of you), so it’s hard to know how his body will mature. But most kids are finished or nearly finished growing by 16. Weight and muscle gain is another thing altogether – that is projectable in many cases.

   I will tell my 15 year old son (not finished growing) about this signing – it will freak him out. He’s still getting used to the idea that the guys who sign his baseballs at Lakewood are young enough to be his older brother.

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10. Most kids aren’t done growing at age 16, but it all depends on genetics.

    Keep signing these mid-level guys and I will be happy.

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11. I was 6’2″ at age 15. I didn’t grow another inch. Just something to consider…

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12. I wonder if these international signings will affect the kids left from the draft, that we haven’t signed, I was hoping we would get singelton and colvin signed at least. Don’t really care about hudson . from what I was read he is a big project,

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13. i was looking for a post to comment about Domingo Santana. it looks like he has some real pop in his bat. very impressive for his age to have the power tool already developed. even in the GCL he is playing against college kids and HS kids who are older. he is very far off, but looks promising

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14. International market note: New York Times reports LHP Arvoldis Chapman may be 26 years old in lieu of the previously stated 21 years old in prior report, according to sources from the World Baseball Classic. Report states Chapman wants a 4 year contract for as much as $60million. He would likely be seen as a candidate for the MLB in lieu of a minor league apprenticeship, I say. He will have to establish residence in Dominican or like country before signing.

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15. He might not gain much height from 16 to age 21 but he’ll definitely put on at least 30 lbs of muscle. From personal experience, I was 6’2″ 160-170ish for most of HS and but was then probably 205 lb by Age 21-22 without much fat (I was in the Army and worked out religiously). I didn’t gain any height but I definitely matured strength wise. My FB topped out at 81-83 though.

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16. Any signing at all is welcome news since the draft signings have ground to a halt. Both Martinez and Santana seem like interesting players to follow. That’s why I’m here.

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17. Ah, yes!

    Now those signings sure help to overcome the lack of a first round draft choice this year.

    Some might even say that not having to pay first round money to a draftee allows these kind of expenditures…as many hoped for and anticipated.

    Is Santana 17…? Lots of time to go but the early start–with initial impressions–could/should give quietus to those preciously labeling this franchise “cheap” which differentiates it from the present.

    Santana bears close watching. Visions of a giant in size and talent…??

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18. Its worth repeating something MT said on the radio this week
    about his size befoe turning pro . He said he had a man’s body but not a man’s strength .The same might fit in reference to Santana.

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19. Most males are done growing at 16. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Human_Growth.png

    I hope he fills out and lifts his velocity a few notches. It is so hard to tell at that age. I am a RHP and threw in the mid 80s at that age but I developed elbow problems. 😦 I miss it.

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    1. tay listo mijo

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20. I was 5′ 8″ when i was 16, three years ago. I’m 6′ 0″ now. He probably has some room left to grow.

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21. I have made the comment that circulation is the key to ultimate personal strength. I believe early power is keyed by coordination then as the batter nears 25 he approaches
    max and then technic etc propels him to his ceiling.
    At that said Santana is scary. I cant even imagine him sitting
    at a desk in school. lol

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22. I am reading about the kid Sano they say he is a megaprospect, what interest me is, why is this mega prospect only being persude by pitts and balt. It seems strange that the boston and yankees aren’t in on it,

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23. Santana turns 17 next month.

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24. Sorry to put this here; feel free to delete it after you get it.

    Altherr signed. 7/1

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25. They will finish checking out Sano, age wise, next week sometime, it is said. Other teams may get in on it then. Twins have made offer, already, and Pittsburgh and Baltimore seem willing to spend the 4 million or so it might take. That’s what I gleaned from MLBTR.

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26. Marfis did you read the part about the yankees checking chapman age, and then it says they may never find out the truth, hard to believe

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27. The Red Sox sign Cuban SS, Jose Iglesias, 19, for $ 8 million.
    Defensive Whiz, they say.

    Peter Gammons blog, which can be linked to on MLBTR, has alot of Latin American information. Pete says, as a result of the ongoing MLB investigation into Latin American Identity Fraud, some 70-100 current stateside Latin American minor leaguers may be deported.

    Other good Latin American info, Buscones may take talented players into training camps at age 8, or so, remove them from school, and train them till draft time. There is a market for false birth certificates and hospital records on the island. Other stuff.

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28. yes marfis but we are just supposed to just bury our head in the sand and trust that everyone is being truthful about their age now despite the millions of dollars @ stake for the players and their camps.

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29. On a follow-up to above, Baseball America now says that Aroldis Chapman is indeed 21. The New York Times writer in the story says he did not write that Chapman was 26, but that that part was inserted by an Editor. The Editor based this on some World Baseball Classic articles , the source for which says he got the quotes from Baseball America’s John Manuel. John Manuel says he did not say Chapman was 26, and if was taken as such, it was a misunderstanding. Baseball America says it has documentation on Chapman , going back to his participation in numerous International Tournaments, going back to an earlyage. BA also says Cuba has no interest in making their players appear younger, as they wish to keep them in the country.

    Pirates have signed 9 international players so far.

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30. I think the Pirates are now up to 12, with their signing of the Lithuanian, yesterday. Also a couple of Australians yesterday, They have also signed players from Taiwan, Honduras, Mexico. in addition to Dominican and Venezuela this offseason. They can add them to the South African, and 2 East Indians they bagged last offseason.

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31. 09/17/1991 is his birthdate that’s listed now. So was he older than the Phillies thought? Last July just at the start of the 16 year old signing period we signed him and he was 16 years old. Now he’s pitching in the GCL and he’s actually listed as 18 and about to turn 19 in September.

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32. Lino te felicito y me siento muy orgullosa de ti, sigue adelante y has realidad todos tus
    suenos, aprovecha esta gran oportunidad que Dios te ha puesto en tus manos.
    Eres un orgullo de nuestro pueblo(San Ignacio del Loyola).
    GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS…….

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33. To Meche:

    translation?

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