S2E12: An International Conundrum

A longtime weak point in the A's organization has been the signing and development of international talent; since the days of Miguel Tejada, the organization has not only had very few of its own international signees rise to prominence in Oakland, but also a relative dearth of strong organizational players from that origin.

This episode examines the past, present, and future of the A's efforts in this area. What are the challenges specific to success with international talent in general? How have the A's tried to address these challenges, and what might be behind the trouble they've had? What, if anything, are they doing differently to try to change course after all of their struggles? How are the organization's current group of international signees who have made it to full-season affiliates faring so far, and does their performance offer any hope for a more positive trajectory going forward on the international front? I analyze all of these dimensions of this very complex issue.