The Yankees have sent left-handed reliever Caleb Frare to the White Sox in exchange for $1.5MM in international bonus pool money, Jack Curry of the YES Network tweets.
This is the second time this weekend the Yankees have landed international money in a trade, as they acquired $1MM from the Cardinals in a three-player deal on Saturday. Expectations are that the Yankees, who entered this year’s international period with the standard bonus pool of $4,983,500, will spend some of their newfound cash on Cuban pitching prospect Osiel Rodriguez.
New York will now say goodbye to Frare, whom it selected in the 11th round of the 2012 draft. The 25-year-old did not rank among the Yankees’ top 30 prospects at MLB.com prior to the trade, though he did dominate at the Double-A level this season. Frare recently earned a promotion to Triple-A Scranton, where he only threw one inning, after opening 2018 with a .62 ERA/2.24 FIP and 11.75 K/9 against 3.09 BB/9 across 43 2/3 Double-A frames. Earlier this season, Frare’s manager at Trenton, Jay Bell, told Randy Miller of NJ.com that “he’s starting to figure it out,” thanks in part to a fastball that sits in the 93-94 mph range. Frare will report to Triple-A Charlotte with his new organization, the White Sox announced.
Brixton
Yanks out here clearing up 40 man roster space for next season
darkstar61
Caleb doesn’t appear to be on it, and the Yankees 40 man stands at 39 guys today.
This is merely selling more guys for slot allotment, nothing more
Brixton
he would need to be added this off season or be exposed on the rule 5
justinept
Had no idea the Yanks were on such a 40-man crunch til I started reading comments on these boards about it this week. Been kind of fun following the Yankee fan reaction to these moves.
darkstar61
Okay, being R5D eligible next year does make sense why they would be open to selling him before others
luclusciano
International spending spree…
Old User Name
Does any of the previous year’s money roll over? If I remember correctly, the Yankees had money left over from not signing Ohtani.
Mattimeo09
Doubt it. Then the $300,000 penalty wouldn’t be as bad
aff10
Nope. Pretty sure it’s “use it or lose it.”
martyvan90
Nope!
toomuchpie
I think they made a couple of signings with the extra money.
rivera42
Yes, they did… Raimfer Salinas and Antonio Cabello.
sheff86
And doing a great job.
Monkey’s Uncle
He’s probably worth somewhere around the value of the bonus pool selection, so I guess that this looks like a Frare trade.
Detroit_SP
Take an elevator ride, folks!
south suburb sox fan
Nice acquisition by the White Sox. Frare was excellent in relief at Trenton before being promoted to AAA.
Dkaner
Yanks rather have the International Signing Money than some 11th or 12th round selection from 4 or 5 years ago. It’s a smart move but last time I checked, he still hasn’t really made the big move to put them over the top this year. Yanks, record aside, are probably the 4th best team.
mikeyank55
Hey DK-what matters is the team that enters the post season—not a measurement at the beginning of August. The season is long and the key is how healthy players are as we head into September.
Free Clay Zavada
Who cares what round he was picked in and how long ago he was drafted? There’s 20th round picks who are dominating the minors and 1st rounders from 5 years ago who are essentially retired.
ShieldF123
It matters what year he was drafted because he’s Rule 5 eligible this offseason
bravesfan
Those r some legit #’s. Would have been a nice pick up for the braves although we don’t have international money to trade cause of coppy
schwing
That’s to much money for 25 year old fringe prospect. Not a good move by the cellar dwelling chi Sox.
kenster84
White Sox are in 4th. It’s “too”, and it’s not a lot of money.
ASapsFables
The White Sox weren’t going to spend all of their allotted international pool money anyway since they were capped out at $300k for any individual signing in the current period. Frare would have been a likely Rule 5 claim next December had he been exposed to the Draft so the White Sox are being proactive in securing him now. If they would have put a claim in for him at the Winter Meetings they would have been forced keep him on their 2019 25-man active roster or offer him back to the Yankees. Now they can simply add him to their own 40-man roster and not have any of those worries if he’s not quite ready for prime time next year. By adding him to their own reserve list prior to the Rule 5 Draft they will have assured themselves 3 additional option years in which to monitor his continuing development.
CluHaywood
White Sox weakness is the Bullpen. They will have a talented rotation and hitting, but the bullpen has been suspect. They can afford to do this move because they over spent last year on Luis Robert and incurred the penalty, which they will have next year as well. It’s essentially getting a player who is “figuring it out” for a high A depth international player. It’s a complete win for the Sox
Downbytheriver
Real nice buy for White Soxs.
Priggs89
I like it. Nice work by Hahn using his resources even while handcuffed.
ASapsFables
Caleb Frare appears to have decent potential as an MLB LOOGY based on his performance this season at AA with plenty of SO’s, not too many BB’s and allowing few hits per IP. The White Sox can’t spend more than $300k on any individual player in the current international signing period due to the Luis Robert mega-bonus dished out in May of 2017 so it makes even more sense for them to shed some of their still significant pool allotment in order to acquire more prospects for their already stacked system.
Like the situation the Yankees were facing, the White Sox will need to add Frare to their 40-man roster to keep him from from being exposed to the Rule 5 Draft next December. Much will be decided based on his performance at AAA Charlotte. If it is as outstanding as his numbers were at AA this season he just might be in line for an MLB promotion this September anyway.
soxx44
The acquisition of Frare and assignment to Triple A Charlotte may mean that a trade of Luis Avilan or Xavier Cedeno is coming. The Charlotte roster was at 25 as of yesterday. Frare would probably replace Aaron Bummer who would most likely be called up if Avilan or Cedeno are dealt.
bhambrave
The Braves seem to be intent on bringing back their 2012 bullpen. Maybe they’ll trade for Avilan.
Adam6710
I have seen some say this is a good deal for the Sox. May be, but I’ve rarely seen Cashman deal a minor leaguer who ever became anything more than a serviceable major leaguer, beyond a couple of guys like Melancon or Clippard, who had a handful of legit All-Star seasons between them.
More often then not it’s Brandon Claussen or Jesus Montero, guys with solid to excellent AAA numbers that he moves, who immediately become nothing at all.
Frankly if I’m another team’s GM I would be very nervous when Cashman says “yeah, sure you can have this minor leaguer.”
On the other hand that’s really just the nature of minor leaguers. For every hundred that look put up good numbers in AAA, there’s maybe a dozen that become real assets to a major league team.
pplama
The Sox have done OK with Yankee farm arms in the past. Quintana and Kahnle are 2 that come to mind. Guess they’re hoping they can get lightening to strike a 3rd time.
ASapsFables
The White Sox also included Tommy Kahnle in blockbuster trade last summer that netted them a top-100 prospect in OF Blake Rutherford who has been outstanding this season at A+ Winston-Salem. Rutherford was the Yankees #1 overall pick as one of the top high school players in the 2016 June Draft and his left-handed OF bat looks to have him as a key component in the White Sox road back to AL respectability come 2020 or 2021.
Rutherford has been compared by scouts to a more athletic version of former All-Star RF David Justice. He may not put up the power numbers that Justice produced but he has the look of a plus hitter with 20/20 HR/SB potential who should also provide decent defense for the White Sox in either CF or RF depending on where Luis Robert winds up. A future OF alignment of Eloy Jimenez in LF along with Rutherford and Robert has the potential to be something special on the South Side of Chicago well into the next decade.
Konerko 4 Prez
I don’t think they’re necessarily expecting Frare to be a star. As a lefty reliever, a “serviceable major leaguer” can be very valuable for a long time. The Sox didn’t give up much for him anyway because they’re not going to be very active in the international market this year. This trade adds depth to the system in an area where they were a little thin.
jdgoat
You can say that for every team
Overbrook
I guess it’s a good move for the White Sox given that they aren’t going to spend their international money. But their lackadaisical approach to the international market is a reason they are in this mess. I realize they are in penalty, but they can still spend the money, just in lower increments.
pplama
They’ve spent $1.35mil on 5 players so far this signing period.
Konerko 4 Prez
Was Luis Robert’s signing lackadaisical?
ASapsFables
A “lackadaisical approach” to the international market that nonetheless saw the White Sox add a top-30 MLB prospect in Luis Robert when they outbid all of the competition in the previous signing period. They not only coughed up $26MM in bonus money but also had to pay an equal amount for exceeding their allotment.
A “lackadaisical approach” to the international market that also saw the White Sox outbid the competition for the service of Jose Abreu back in October of 2013.
A “lackadaisical approach” to the international market that still saw the White Sox trading ace pitcher Chris Sale for a package that included another mega bonus talent in Yoan Moncada from the Red Sox, to say nothing of another highly regarded international talent in Luis Alexander Basabe who recently shined at the most recent SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.
A “lackadaisical approach” to the international market that also saw the White Sox net yet another top international player in Eloy Jimenez from from the Cubs in the Jose Quintana blockbuster trade last summer.
A “lackadaisical approach” to the international market that also saw the White Sox sign the #2 rated prospect in the 2013/2014 signing period in 16-year old Micker Adolfo who just completed his best pro season at A+ Winston-Salem despite being restricted to DH duties because of a spring training TJ injury that he just had repaired. He has plus power and a cannon for an arm which would make him a nice RF candidate on the South Side along with two other top-100 OF prospects in Luis Robert and Blake Rutherford.
A “lackadaisical approach” to the international market that also saw the White Sox sign top-30 prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. in the 2015/2016 signing period. Since their ill-advised deal sending him to San Diego for James Shields, Tatis Jr. has become the overall #2 prospect in MLB.
No doubt the White Sox took a beating in the international market due to their bonus-skimming scandal back in 2008 which cost them dearly for the five subsequent years until they landed Adolfo. But since that time the front office and Rick Hahn in particular have made the international market a priority through signings and/or trades. Depending on how the White Sox handle the expiring contract situations of both Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia following the 2019 season, they still look to have a significant portion of their future core comprised of international players in the next 5-10 years.
rocky7
Wow, relax a little man!
ASapsFables
Too much information for you to process on a Sunday?
Btw-I was plenty relaxed and enjoying yet another Carlos Rodon gem while posting on my favorite site, at least until the White Sox bullpen blew it in the 9th inning. lol
jimmertee
In Cashman we trust.
chicago5434
The NYY have agreed to contracts with the #9, 10, and 11 international FAs,plus are favored to sign #29 & a few others, so seeing as how they have $4.9 mil to spend, they need more & got $2.5 mil the last couple of days.
The Sox can only spend $300k per player because they signed Luis Robert last year. Instead of signing organizational depth, they’re going for a shut down LH RP. Some International FAs sign for $100k & become Ronald Acuna, but 99% of them do not.
dust44
Yah at age 25 he shut down some 20-22 year olds in AA. Let’s c him shut down grown me
dust44
Men
ASapsFables
The following article offers more insight and an updated scouting report on Caleb Frare: chicagonow.com/future-sox/2018/07/white-sox-acquir…
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