Prospect Insider - Peguero gets bonus cut

Peguero gets bonus cut

By Jason A. Churchill

By 01-21-2011

UPDATE: PI has learned from one club that the concerns on Peguero are likely health related, and that it's his elbow -- not his shoulder -- that has the Mariners worried, prompting the reduction in bonus money.

The Seattle Mariners have cut Esteilon Peguero's bonus from $2.9 million to $1.1 million, reports Ben Badler, a move that usually means the player has some sort of a health concern that was not apparent at the time of the original agreement, or that there is an age issue.

Badler writes that Peguero's age is still listed as November, 1993 and that other clubs indicated that Peguero had a shoulder problem. But a source close to Peguero told Badler that there is no issue with the shoulder, so we're right back at square one.

Reducing the bonus of an international prospect is not unheard of; Wagner Mateo (eye) and Jesus Montero (unknown) are two prime examples.

One international scout told Prospect Insider Friday morning that another reason a player could get his bonus changed is if he were to get into some sort of trouble, legal or otherwise.

This news alone won't change the 17-year-old's standing amongst the rest of his prospect brethren in the M's organization, but if there is further evidence of an injury or age concerns, we may be making last-second adjustments to the Top 30.

peguero-gets-bonus-cut

Comments
The following 14 comment(s) for this article are shown below:

1. By: maqman on 01-21-2011 13:40:19
That can be good news due to the money saved but bad in terms of development. He has a sweet looking swing and some promise of power. Lets hope it's a problem he can overcome, he's still young. He and Pimental were a couple I'm interested in following.

2. By: Jason A. Churchill on 01-21-2011 13:50:50
Hopefully he's healthy enough to participate in spring training, because his defensive position is key. Won't be a SS, but if he can play 2B, his bat may play there.

3. By: FWBrodie on 01-21-2011 21:33:49
Tony Reagins... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Thought for a moment the Angels were going to save up their money and put it to huge, division-altering use sometime soon. Guess not. Vernon Wells and $86 million over the next 4 years. Awesome.

4. By: StandinPat on 01-21-2011 21:56:13
So Torii Hunter moves to a COF spot because he's no longer an asset in CF...Solution? Bring in an even worse CF in Vernon Wells to watch fly balls fall into the gaps.

5. By: VikingArthur on 01-21-2011 22:06:33
What a terrible trade for LA! 4 years and 86 million AND giving up two useful starting caliber players for VERNON WELLS. Unbelievable. Is Bavasi back on the staff there? That is worse than any deal Billy Boy ever did (Ok..maybe not). Reprehensible move for LA...great for the Mariners.

6. By: rjfrik on 01-21-2011 23:16:58
Very strange trade. Absolutely horrible for the Angels. Honestly I don't understand it at all.

7. By: TheDudeAbides on 01-21-2011 23:34:09
I was told by someone within the Angels organization they received a pretty hefty chunk of change to go along with Wells. I'm guessing $20 million or more.

8. By: Jason A. Churchill on 01-22-2011 00:41:25
I haven't heard any specific numbers, but the word used to describe it has been "substantial."

And to make it even a decent deal for LAA, let alone a good one, wouldn't TBJ have to send $30-40 million?

Well is owed 86 over the next 4.

9. By: Lonnie on 01-22-2011 01:06:02
Jason,

Do you expect Peguero to be at spring training *this* year even if he might have a physical issue?

When are you heading down?

Lonnie

10. By: Madison Mariner on 01-22-2011 01:27:17
Well, as M's fans, we should all be happy that the Angels have tied their own hands by acquiring Vernon Wells. What a stunningly bad trade for them. Stunningly bad(and only made better if for some reason a late report about cash being sent by Toronto to LAA comes out, which doesn't seem to be the case yet.)

Angels fans at Halos Heaven are going nuts, and one fan made the following comment in the post discussing this trade(in an apparent attempt to make everyone feel better about the trade):

"Look at the bright side. At least the Angels will likely be better than the Mariners over the life of the Wells deal. So in summary, dumb trade and all – at least we are NOT the Mariners."

(I corrected some syntax/captalization errors with it, but those are the exact words.)

I can't really believe this to be true. Having Wells under contract for 4 years and $86 million will make it that more difficult for the Angels to extend some of their young talents like Jered Weaver and Kendry Morales, and beyond Mike Trout, there isn't a lot of premier talent in their minor league system, as Jason and the PI staff discussed in that article from a few weeks back. And after 2011, the M's will have much more financial flexibility, with Bradley, Jack Wilson, money owed to the Cubs for Carlos Silva, and money owed to the Royals/Brewers for Yuniesky Betancourt(not sure how that works out).

Any thoughts, guys?

11. By: Madison Mariner on 01-22-2011 01:30:55
To finish my thought in comment #10 above, what I should have said is:

"...the M's will have much more financial flexibility, with Bradley, Jack Wilson, money owed to the Cubs for Carlos Silva, and money owed to the Royals/Brewers for Yuniesky Betancourt(not sure how that works out) all coming off the books, leaving only a few major commitments(Ichiro, Felix, Chone Figgins, and perhaps Gutierrez) in 2012 and beyond.

Any thoughts, guys?"

I hit submit too quickly there, sorry. :)

12. By: Jason A. Churchill on 01-22-2011 02:41:16
Lonnie,

I would expect him to be there even if he's hurt.

Won't book ST trip until next month, but it's looking like the week of the 14th.

13. By: rjfrik on 01-22-2011 02:51:22
The question is how much would you pay Wells for in the next four years? 4/40? Personally no way in hell I sign him for that, but I could see the Angles rationalizing it that way if money is coming back. Like Jason said it would have to be 40 million at least for them to even think about it, one would think.

14. By: Darren_S on 01-22-2011 05:30:38
The Blue Jays GM confirmed that the Jays were NOT sending any money in the trade.

Can't for the life of me figure out what the Angels were thinking.

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