IBC

Since there have already been a few guys signing with MLB teams who played last year in a foreign league, we will do a bidding on any players that fit this description AT THE END of all zips being released. So, save your zips dollars and the names of any guys you might want and we will do a catch-all of players at the end in one thread.

Can you list eligible players?

Like…who needs to be drafted? Who’ll be on this list?

I don't have a comprehensive list, but I think crowdsourcing links to players who sign in this thread would be fine. Players eligible for ZiPS bidding are those who played in an MLB-affiliated organization previously to playing in a foreign league. Foreign players who have never played in an MLB organization are draft eligible.

Here's Scott McGough:
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ ... 731344007/

Rangers signed INF/OF Joe McCarthy to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

McCarthy spent last season with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, slashing .225/.344/.343 with four homers across 212 plate appearances. The versatile 28-year-old outfielder got into four contests for the Giants during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, going hitless in 10 at-bats. He'll compete this spring for a spot on the Rangers' Opening Day roster.

https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/baseball/ ... e-mccarthy

Angels signed RHP Fernando Romero to a minor league contract.

It's unclear whether this minor league agreement with the Angels includes an invitation to the MLB side of spring training. Romero, who turns 28 years old on December 24, posted a rather underwhelming 4.49 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and 76/51 K/BB ratio across 118 1/3 innings (28 appearances) last season for the Yokohama BayStars in Japan. The right-hander holds a career 5.17 ERA in 69 2/3 major league frames.

https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/baseball/ ... ndo-romero

Pirates signed RHP Tyler Chatwood to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Chatwood spent the 2022 season in Japan, working to a shiny 2.59 ERA in 24 1/3 innings with the SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball. Granted, he also issued 21 walks across those 24-plus frames. The 33-year-old right-hander will presumably be vying for a long relief role with Pittsburgh in camp next spring.

https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/baseball/ ... r-chatwood

Royals signed RHP Brooks Kriske to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Kriske, a former Yankees prospect, had some success in Japan last season, posting a 2.57 ERA and a 36/13 K/BB ratio in 21 innings for Yokohama. He might have a chance of winning a spot in the Royals bullpen coming out of camp.

https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/baseball/ ... oks-kriske

Reds signed RHP Alan Busenitz to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Busenitz last appeared in the majors for the Twins back in 2018 and has spent the last four seasons pitching for the Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. The 32-year-old right-hander will compete this spring for a spot on the Reds' Opening Day roster and will likely settle in as extra organizational pitching depth at Triple-A Louisville.

https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/baseball/ ... n-busenitz

Padres signed RHP Wilmer Font to a minor league contract.

Font is back in MLB-affiliated ball for the 2023 campaign after two solid seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization. The 32-year-old right-hander registered a 2.69 ERA and 170/34 K/BB ratio across 184 innings (28 starts) with the SSG Landers of the KBO in 2022. He'll probably be ticketed for the Padres' Triple-A rotation out of camp this spring.

https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/baseball/ ... ilmer-font

Reds signed RHP Tayron Guerrero to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Guerrero last pitched in the majors for the Marlins during the 2019 campaign. The towering 6-foot-8 righty features triple-digit fastball velocity and spent last year with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, posting a 3.52 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 63/20 K/BB ratio across 46 innings (49 appearances). He'll compete this spring for a spot on Cincinnati's Opening Day roster.

https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/baseball/ ... n-guerrero

Reds signed OF Henry Ramos to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

The 30-year-old outfielder spent the 2022 season in the Korea Baseball Organization where he slashed .250/.304/.417 with three homers and 11 RBI in 80 plate appearances. He'll add outfield depth for the Reds.

https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/baseball/ ... enry-ramos

Brewers signed RHP Thyago Vieira to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Vieira spent the last three seasons in Japan, pitching to an overall 2.86 ERA and 150/61 K/BB ratio in 125 2/3 total innings for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball. He could be a candidate for one of the final spots in the Milwaukee bullpen this spring.

https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/baseball/ ... ago-vieira

Marlins signed RHP Enrique Burgos to a minor league contract.

Burgos last appeared in the majors with the Diamondbacks during the 2016 campaign. The 32-year-old righty reliever has spent the last five seasons pitching in the independent Mexican League. He'll get a change in affiliated ball this season with the Marlins. It's absolutely an interesting gamble by Miami's front office.

https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/baseball/ ... que-burgos

Padres signed RHP Angel Sánchez to a minor league contract.

Sánchez, who last appeared in the majors back in 2017 when he made eight relief appearances for the Pirates, spent his last two seasons with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He also spent several years in the Korea Baseball Organization. The 33-year-old righty didn't pitch professionally last year, but did make a few appearances this offseason in the Dominican Winter League. He'll augment the Padres' organizational relief depth.

https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/baseball/ ... el-sanchez

Red Sox signed LHP Matt Dermody to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

The 32-year-old southpaw has made just two appearances in the big leagues since the 2017 season. He finished the 2022 season in Korea where he registered a 4.54 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a 37/13 K/BB ratio over 39 2/3 innings with the NC Dinos of the Korea Baseball Organization. He'll compete for a spot in the Red Sox' Opening Day bullpen.

https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/baseball/ ... tt-dermody

Brewers signed RHP Pedro Fernandez to a minor league contract.

Fernandez hasn't pitched in affiliated back since the 2018 campaign back when he was still with the Royals. The 28-year-old righty spent last season in the independent Mexican League and also posted some strong numbers this offseason in the Dominican Winter League. He's an interesting low-risk gamble for Milwaukee and will open the 2023 season at Triple-A Nashville.

https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/baseball/ ... -fernandez

(not sure if Suero technically falls in this category or nor but he last pitched in Mexico I am including for now ...)

Dodgers signed RHP Wander Suero to a minor league contract.

Suero split last season between the Angels' Triple-A affiliate and the independent Mexican League. The 31-year-old righty has a big-time arm and was a reliable middle relief option for the Nationals, posting a serviceable 4.61 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 200/66 K/BB ratio across 185 1/3 innings (185 appearances) from 2018 to 2021. It's possible the Dodgers will be able to revive his career once they get to work with him this season. He's an intriguing reclamation project for Los Angeles.

https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/baseball/ ... nder-suero

Diamondbacks signed LHP Jesse Biddle to a minor league contract.

Biddle spent the previous two seasons pitching overseas with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. The 31-year-old southpaw holds a career 5.07 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 105/62 K/BB ratio across 103 innings (99 appearances) in the majors since 2018. He'll bolster Arizona's left-handed relief depth.

https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/baseball/ ... sse-biddle

Padres signed INF Jantzen Witte to a minor league contract.

After a terrific season at Triple-A Tacoma in 2021, Witte took his talents to Japan for the 2022 season where he slashed a troublesome .221/.249/.335 with just six homers and 30 RBI in 289 plate appearances for the Seibu Lions. The 33-year-old slugger will function as minor league depth for the Padres.

https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/baseball/ ... tzen-witte

Brewers signed RHP Robert Stock to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Stock spent last season with the Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization, finishing with a solid 3.60 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 138/83 K/BB ratio across 165 innings (29 starts). The hard-throwing 33-year-old righty has made 55 appearances in the majors between the Padres, Red Sox, Cubs and Mets dating back to 2018. He'll compete this spring in the Cactus League for a spot on the Brewers' season-opening roster and could wind up making it as a multi-inning reliever.

https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/baseball/ ... bert-stock

Cardinals signed LHP Andrew Suárez to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Suárez spent the last two seasons overseas between the LG Twins of the Korea Baseball Organization and Yakult Swallows of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. The 30-year-old southpaw made 56 appearances (31 starts) for the Giants between 2018 and 2020, finishing with a serviceable 4.66 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 160/65 K/BB ratio across 202 2/3 innings. He'll provide the Cardinals with some extra organizational pitching depth this season.

https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/baseball/ ... rew-suarez

Since all ZiPS have been released, we are going to open up bidding for all the international players on Monday since a lot of people are busy on the weekends. I will repost the opening of bids Monday morning.

Brewers signed RHP Colin Rea to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Rea will give it another try in the majors after going 8-7 with a 3.41 ERA in 29 starts for the SoftBank Hawks of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball over the last two years. His stuff remains fringy, but he's very nice pitching depth for the price of a minor league deal.

https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/baseball/ ... /colin-rea