Quick Recap on the International Signing Period Thus Far!

The Reinforcements Have Arrived

Photo Credit: MLB.com

One of the most exciting times of the year has come for baseball fans, the international signing period, has arrived! In addition to the MLB Draft, this is another vertical where all 30 ball clubs can go and try to sign talent from around the world to bolster their organization’s farm system.

Essentially all 30 teams are allotted a budget to go out and entice these talented players to come and sign with their organization. This year's budgets range from $4,652,200 to $7,114,800. Budgets are determined by various components, but I am not here to bore you with how a team arrives at a budget. Today my goal is to give a very quick recap on how all 30 ball clubs have fared since the International Signing Period opened up on Monday, January 15th.

See a great piece that goes more in-depth here by MLB’s Jesse Sanchez explaining the pool breakdown and how teams were awarded their signing pool budget.

That being said, let’s dive in!

American League East

Baltimore Orioles ($7.114M)

• Agree to terms with 19 players (2x C, 5x SS, 2x 3B, 6x OF, 4x P)

• Signed OF Stiven Martinez for $950K (No. 28 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed SS Emilio Sanchez for $1.3M (No. 30 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Quick Note: Signed 2x players are considered in the Top 50 internationally. Would have loved to see them sign a couple more pitchers barring the talent/fit made sense.

Boston Red Sox ($5.284M)

• Agree to terms with 40 players per Baseball America***

• Signed OF Vladimir Asencio for $1M (No. 33 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed 3B Carlos Carrasquel for $590K

• Quick Note: Could not confirm how many players have been signed via the international pool. Asencio is a 17-year-old who seems to possess exceptional athleticism that will end up in Centerfield. The Red Sox also added two other intriguing bats in 3B Carlos Carrasquel and OF Edwin Brito who both possess significant power. 

New York Yankees ($4.652M)

• Agree to terms with 22 players (7x OF, 6x C, 3x SS, 1x 3B, 5x P)

• Signed OF Francisco Vilorio for $1.7M (No. 15 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed 3B Richard Matic for $800K (16 yrs. old & Top 50 Prospect according to Fangraphs)

• Quick Note: The Yankees have done well in the international pool, keep an eye on their top guys as they might be an asset to your dynasty team sooner rather than later.

Tampa Bay Rays ($6.520M)

• Agree to terms with 24 players (5x OF, 7x SS, 8x P, 4x C)

• Signed OF Leonardo Pineda for $1.75M (No. 18 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed SS Angel Brachi for $800,000

• Quick Note: Of their 9 largest bonuses for this year, 5 were spent on the shortstop position. Planning for the inevitable outcome of the Wander Franco situation? All kidding aside this seems to be a very balanced class of talent and the Rays look like they are reloading. 

Toronto Blue Jays ($5.152M)

• Agree to terms with 17 players (3x OF, 6x P, 5x IF, 3x C)

• Signed C Franklin Rojas for $998K (No.27 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed SS Angel Guzman for $768K (No. 32 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed OF Andres Arias for $898K (No. 34 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Quick Note: Went with a spread-the-wealth approach by not going over the top and committing to one guy, but ended up signing 3x of the top 50 players available. Always a solid way to build depth in the farms.

American League Central

Chicago White Sox ($5.284M)

• Agree to terms with 8 players (2x 3B, 2x SS, 3x P, 1x C)

• Signed 3B Eduardo Herrera (No. 11 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Quick note: Eduardo Herrera played for the Venezuelan 18-and-under national team when he was just 15 years old. Traded $1M of bonus pool money to Dodgers for A-ball pitchers Aldrin Batista and Maximo Martinez back in August. Not too familiar with this trend, but it seems as if the White Sox's international strategy is a work in progress that needs to utilize funds more efficiently and productively. 

Cleveland Guardians ($7.114M)

• Agree to terms with 26 players (8x P, 9x IF, 7x OF, 2x C)

• Signed OF Roberto Arias (No. 13 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Quick Note: The Guardians had a little bit more money to spend and they did so by signing a class that includes 13x players from Venezuela, 9x from the Dominican Republic, and 3x from Cuba. They were able to go out and add multiple guys to the infield, outfield, and pitching. Trust the process with the Guardians, they are good at developing arms. 

Detroit Tigers ($6.52M)

• Agree to terms with 15 players (4x P, 7x IF, 2x C, 2x OF) ***

• Signed 3B Nestor Miranda for $1.5M (No. 45 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed OF Jesus Pinto for $900K (No. 41 Prospect according to Baseball America)

• Quick Note: Nestor Miranda is ranked by Baseball America as the #25 overall international prospect, a solid chance he ends up playing 1B. Couldn’t find much on the Tiger's confirmed signings outside this article by Evan Petzold from the Detroit Free Press on coverage. More to come, stay tuned!

Kansas City Royals ($7.114M)

• Agree to terms with 9x players (5x SS, 1x 3B, 1x C, 1x P, 1x OF)

• Signed IF Yandel Ricardo (No. 16 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Quick Note: I am going to assume that some of these short-stops convert to outfielders and the Royals are fully intending for that to happen.  Otherwise, I am a little perplexed as to why they wouldn’t spend some of their money on more arms and outfielders as opposed to infielders. The Royals need OF help pronto and if Maikol Garcia pans out the left side of the infield is covered for years between Garcia and Witt Jr. 

Minnesota Twins ($6.520M)

• Agree to terms with 18 players 

• Signed OF Eduardo Beltre for $1.5M (No. 39 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed SS Daiber De Los Santos for $1.9M (No. 8 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Quick Note: De Los Santos is a very athletic 17-year-old and possesses some of the best tools in the class. Signing two of the top 50 players is never a bad thing!

American League West

Houston Astros ($5.284M)

• Agree to terms with 11 players ( 4x OF, 2x SS, 3x P, 1x C, 1x IF)

• Signed OF Cesar Yanquiel Hernandez for $1.7M

• Signed INF Franchely Silverio for $672.5K

• Signed OF Anderson Paula (No.49 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Quick Note: It is not quantity with the group, it is quality. That being said I think the Astros were able to identify several young outfielders here between Hernandez, Paula, and Luis Rives who may be able to contribute in the big leagues at some point down the road.

Los Angeles Angels ($5.152M)

• Agree to terms with 15 players (3x OF, 7x P, 3x C, 2x SS)

• Signed SS Joswa Lugo for $2.3M (No. 37 MLB Pipeline International Prospect) | 8th ranked prospect by Baseball America

• Quick Note: Bolstered the system with 7 new RHP. All seem to be of decent size they are all 6’1 and taller. Are the Angels going to start producing some big arms???

Oakland Athletics ($6.520M)

• Agree to terms with 14 players (3x SS, 2x OF, 7x P, 2x C)

• Signed SS Edgar Montero  for $1.2M (No. 43 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed OF Jose Ramos for $1.2M (No. 47 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Quick Note: Really like what they did here. Going out and paying 2x Top 50 hitters and followed that up by addressing the pitching by adding 7x new arms to their system with the rest of their bonus pool.

Seattle Mariners ($6.520M)

• Agree to terms with 10 players (4x SS, 2x C, 3x P, 1x OF)

• Signed SS Dawel Joseph for $3.3M (No. 7 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed SS Leandro Romero for $1M (No. 48 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed INF Zeus Nunez for $550K 

• Quick Note: Love what Dipoto and the staff did for this class. The Mariners need to build a core around the crown jewel, Julio Rodriguez. With prospects like Cole Young- SS/2B, Harry Ford-C , Gabriel Gonzalez-OF, Colt Emerson-SS & Felnin Celesten-SS all already in the system, they went and found rock-solid insurance policies for these guys with Joseph, Romero, and Nunez for the long-term to continue this influx of talent in an already solid farm system.

Texas Rangers ($4.652M)

• Agree to terms with 19 players (8x SS, 6x OF, 2x C, 3x P)

• Signed OF Paulino Santana for $1.3M (No. 2 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed SS Curley Martha for $798K (No. 29 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed SS Yolfran Castillo for $648K (No. 46 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Quick Note: Wow! Somehow with a small bonus pool, this organization managed to go out and get the #2 overall international prospect in Paulino Santana. On top of that, they added two more Top 50 players in Martha & Castillo. Coming off a World Series, this team continues to aggressively add talent to their organization. Well done Texas, well done.

National League East

Atlanta Braves ($5.284M)

• Agree to terms with 12 players (2x SS, 3x OF, 7x P)

• Signed SS Jose Perdomo for $5M (No.3 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed OF Juan Espinal for $440K

• Quick Note: Perdomo is one of the best-hitting prospects in the class, will he be worth the reported $5M? Time will tell. Something of note outside signing a Top 5 player is the Braves went with 7 pitchers out of the 12 players that have signed. Curious to see what arms emerge from this class to the bigs someday.

Miami Marlins ($6.520M)

• Agree to terms with 21 players (3x OF, 14x P, 2x C, 1x SS, 1x 1B/OF)

• Signed RHP Jose Paulino for $350K

• Signed OF Luis Cova for $1.4M (No. 21 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed Jose Castro for $450K

• Quick Note: Marlins what are we doing? You currently have a great rotation. All signs point to you having additional talented arms already in the farms. You need bats. Then sign 21 international prospects and 14 of them are arms? I could be eating my words down the road, just don’t understand why so many.

New York Mets ($5.284M)

• Agree to terms with 21 players (6x OF, 2x C, 3x IF/OF, 4x P, 6x INF)

• Signed C Yovanny Rodriguez for $2.85M (No. 6 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed SS Edward Lantigua for $950K (No.41 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed SS Yensi Rivas for $500K (No.31 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed SS Leandy Mella for $550K & OF Bohan Adderly for $350K

• Quick Note: The Mets signed a bunch of intriguing prospects to continue the push to build a thriving farm system that owner Steve Cohen has been making a priority.  Very much a spread-the-wealth approach and this is highlighted by adding another high-profile catcher in Yovanny Rodriguez!

Philadelphia Phillies ($4.652M)

• Agree to terms with 18 players (8x OF, 4x C,  4x P,  2x SS)

• Signed OF Jalvin Arias for $1.45M  (No. 19 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed C Anderson Navas

• Signed C Cesar Mujica for $700K

• Signed IF Jose Familia for $600K 

• Signed Nathanael Cijntje for $337.5K

• Quick Note: Sometimes the proof is in the pudding. The Phillies are starting their search for the inevitable replacement of JT Realmuto behind the dish by adding 4 new catchers to the system. This is a smart way to spend some money, can never have too many good catchers!

Washington Nationals ($5.284M)

• Agree to terms with 20 players (11x P, 1x SS, 3x OF, 1x 3B, 2x C, 2x INF)

• Signed OF Victor Hurtado for $2.7M  (No. 20 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed 3B Angel Feliz for $1.8M (No. 23 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Sign 3B Eddy Marmolejos for $300K

• Quick Note: Again the Nationals who are in rebuild mode are continuing to add arms to get the rotation back to playoff-worthy. 11 new arms with two Top 25 infielders? If I was a Nationals fan, I would be super happy with the way Washington approached this year’s class.

National League Central 

Chicago Cubs ($5.152M)

• Agree to terms with 13 players (6x SS, 3x OF, 3x P, 1x C)

• Signed SS Fernando Cruz for $4M (No. 4  MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed RHP Yander Maria

• Signed OF Robin Ortiz for $400K

• Quick Note: Cruz looks like a legit player and it makes sense the Cubs went out and spent $4M to lock down his services. Has the ability to hit the ball to all fields and owns home run power in the profile. I will be watching this guy as he matures and ultimately plays a role in the Cubs infield.

Cincinnati Reds ($6.520M)

• Agree to terms with 18 players (4x OF, 5x SS,  1x C, 6x P, 2x INF)

• Signed OF Adolfo Sanchez for $2.7M  (No.5 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed SS Naibel Mariano for $1.65M  (No.42 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed C  Jirvin Morillo for $420K, 3B Juan D. Brown for $300K & SS Diorland Zambrano for $300K

• Quick Note: A well-balanced class. The Reds have so much young talent on the roster right now between their pitching and hitting this seems like the most appropriate way to attack the international market. Sanchez is an exciting player considering his hit tool and can hopefully be an everyday player for the Reds in a few years as he is only 17 years old.

Milwaukee Brewers ($6.520M)

• Agree to terms with 35 players (11x SS, 7x OF, 14x P, 3x C)

• Signed SS Jorge Quintana for $1.7M (No.12 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)& SS Jesus Made for $950K (No.22 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Other notable signings were SS Luis Pena for $800K, SS Joandrew Pena for $500K, OF Handelfry Encarnacion for $400K, and SS Frederi Montero for $300K.

• Quick Note: It is no secret that the Brewers aren’t big spenders when it comes to signing players to massive contracts. That being said they rely heavily upon the international talent pool to construct a serviceable roster. We are all getting ready for the highly anticipated debuts of OF Jackson Chourio (Venezuela) and C  Jeferson Quero (Venezuela) who have both come from the international market. The Brew Crew managed to sign 2x shortstops who are both Top 25 players! Did I mention they added a fleet of new arms into the system?

Pittsburgh Pirates ($7.114M)

• Agree to terms with 19 players (4x OF, 3x SS, 1x 3B, 2x C, 9x P)

• Signed OF Brailyn Brazoban for $2M ((No.38 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed SS Adbiel Feliz for $1.2M (No.50 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Other notable signings INF Kendrick Herrera for $450K, RHP Irwin Ramirez for $450K, OF Edward Florentino for $395K, and OF Iverson Allen for $300K

• Quick Note: Pirates need arms in the bigs and I love seeing them sign almost 50/50 split bats to arms. Brazoban is an intriguing prospect from a fantasy standpoint with both his hit tool and speed which are progressing as he matures.

St. Louis Cardinals ($5.152M)

• Agree to terms with 13 players***

• Signed RHP Brennenli Franco for $800K (No.25 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Other notable signings are SS Yairo Padilla for $760K, OF Edward Guribe for $700K, and RHP Earle Zulueta for $400K.

• Quick Note: Spending the most money on a pitcher is not shocking. The Cardinals need arms in the bigs and they need to start developing them yesterday. Franco is only 16 and can touch 93 MPH with his fastball. I know he is young but he sure does look the part standing at 6’3” and weighing in at 185lbs.

National League West

Arizona Diamondbacks ($7.114M)

• Agree to terms with 23 players (6x OF, 4x SS, 4x C, 9x P)

• Signed OF Adriel Radney for $1.85M (No.10 MLB Pipeline International Prospect) and OF Belfi Rivera for $1.8M (No.25 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Other notable signings were SS Alfredo Benzan for $550K, SS Erick De La Cruz for $455K, and OF  Raily Liriano for $4ooK

• Quick Note: I like what Arizona did here. They went out and spent big money on bats and then invested in a plethora of arms. “There is no such thing as a pitching prospect”.

San Francisco Giants ($.284M)

• Agree to terms with 21 players (3x C, 5x SS, 7x OF, 4x P, 1x 3B, 1x C/2B)

• Signed C Yohendry Sanchez for $1.4M (No.36 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)& SS Jhonny Level for $998K (No.44 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Quick Note: Interesting class for sure. Sign two of the Top 50 players at the shortstop and catching positions. Probably should have gone after another pitcher or two but all in all, this is a well-diversified pool of talent the Giants signed.

Los Angeles Dodgers ($5.284M)

• Agree to terms with 19 players (5x SS, 3x OF, 7x P, 4x C)

• Signed SS Emil Morales for $1.9M (No.14 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Quick Note: The Dodgers had a smaller bonus pool but made the most of it by grabbing Morales. The 17-year-old could turn into a power bat at the shortstop position with his 6’3”, 180-pound frame.

San Diego Padres ($4.652M)

• Agree to terms with 29 players (9x SS, 11x P, 4x OF, 4x C, 1x 2B)

• Signed SS Leodalis De Vries for $4.2M (No.1  MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Signed RHP Humberto Cruz

• Quick Note: The Padres have managed to secure the signature of the #1 International Prospect for a second year in a row. Crazy how they lured in Ethan Salas last year, had the turmoil they had this year, and came right back by signing De Vries who looks like a stud.

Colorado Rockies ($7.114M)

• Agree to terms with 22 players (5x SS, 2x OF, 13x P, 1x C, 1x 3B)

• Signed SS Ashly Andujar for $1.7M (No.17 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)& RHP Oscar Pujols for $600K (No.35 MLB Pipeline International Prospect)

• Other notable signings were INF Roldy Brito for $420K and OF Cristian Arguelles

• Quick Note: Forget the 2x Top 50 players (which I love for Colorado), I am just stoked about the pitching. 13 new arms is fantastic news as Colorado needs pitching desperately. They are not able to attract top talent as no one wants to pitch in that elevation, so they must develop it in-house!

Note: The International Signing Period has numerous moving parts and player signings. Numbers are expected to change. This is the best I could scrape from multiple sources on the internet at the time of publishing.***