The Marlins announced Wednesday that they’ve acquired minor league right-hander Will Kempner from the Giants in exchange for international bonus pool space. He’s not on the 40-man roster, so a corresponding move isn’t necessary. San Francisco also acquired international bonus space when trading catcher/outfielder Blake Sabol to the Red Sox today. Since pool allotments must be traded in increments of $250K, they’ve added at least half a million dollars to their spending power on the international free agent market.
The Giants signed top international prospect Josuar de Jesus Gonzalez for a $3MM bonus earlier today — a sum that represents more than 58% of their entire bonus pool. San Francisco entered the 2025 signing period tied with the Dodgers for the lowest pool in MLB at $5.146MM, due largely to forfeiting $500K when signing both Matt Chapman and Blake Snell last winter after the pair rejected qualifying offers from their former teams.
Kempner, 23, was the Giants’ third-round pick back in 2022. He missed the entire 2024 season due to a broken foot but posted interesting results in 2023. The former Gonzaga starter moved to a relief role with the Giants and pitched to a combined 3.73 ERA and 28.1% strikeout rate across three levels (Class-A, High-A, Double-A). That includes a 2.91 ERA with a huge 32.6% strikeout rate and a 9% walk rate in 34 innings of relief in High-A that season.
Kempner works off a mid-90s sinker and a sweeper, both of which receive plus grades from Baseball America and FanGraphs. BA ranked him among the Giants’ top 30 prospects in both 2023 (No. 26) and 2024 (No. 29). Command is an issue for Kempner, who’s walked 11.2% of his opponents in pro ball and plunked another 3.7% of them.
Even with two plus pitched, allowing 15% of your opponents to reach base without having to put a ball in play isn’t a recipe for success. That said, he’s still barely had one full season of professional coaching, so it’s not exactly surprising that another club is taking an interest in that pair of impressive offerings and hoping to rein in the righty’s command. He’ll likely begin the 2025 season in Double-A, where he’s still only thrown 1 2/3 innings in a 2023 cameo.
Giants seem to be gathering bonus pool money…
I think after blowing 3+ on Josuar then they’re trying to find more for somebody else they may have their eye on!
Maybe more of the players that the Dodgers, Padres, and Blue Jays have delayed pulling the trigger on?
They will trade or they won’t?
They Will Kempner it, regardless.
it was worth it after spending much of their bonus pool money to get the #2 international prospect.
And the #1 prospect outside of Sasaki
Gmen making some moves today.
Could be that they’re looking to sign some of the Dodgers/Padres prospects that have had their deals canceled as those teams hoard money for Sasaki.
I like it. “Hyperactive” trade attempts getting them something.
If Roki fails, it could be a bigger handicap than just 1 player as the broken hand shake deals and other teams snatching up this yr’s Dodger/Padre/Blue Jay int’l amateur draft stock lottery tickets could include a winner.
All 3 of the players in the top 50 international free agent prospects that were connected to the Dodgers have already signed elsewhere.
That I know of, none of the prospects connected to the Padres or Blue Jays have signed yet.
You would think that LA , SD and Toronto would be doing more of this.
I imagine other teams would be demanding quite a bit from them.
@FanDan
you’re right but if other teams may need a bigger war chest to steal broken handshake deals.
That it a lot of hit batsmen. You don’t usually see it as a percentage even.
Giants give up Rick Vaughn for a lottery ticket with Lindor’s picture on the back.
See ya local kid! Good luck in Fla.