A new set of rules and restrictions for the international prospect market will take effect less than two weeks from now, on July 2. Each team will be working with an annual budget of $2.9MM for international players starting next month. Here are the latest rumblings regarding the international prospect market, via Ben Badler of Baseball America:
- The Blue Jays had seemed to be in the lead for Venezuelan right-hander Jose Mujica, but may not be as closely linked to him as expected, Badler writes. The Red Sox and Diamondbacks have also been linked to the 15-year-old Mujica, who's considered by many scouts to be the top pitching prospect available in Latin America.
- The Blue Jays are still favored to sign 16-year-old Venezuelan Franklin Barreto, according to Badler. Some teams consider Barreto the top available prospect, but he will likely move from shortstop to another position.
- The Red Sox, Padres and Royals have been mentioned as possible teams of interest on Venezuelan left-hander Jose Castillo, Badler writes. Some view the Dodgers and Orioles as sleepers for Castillo, who’s expected to obtain a generous bonus.
- The Twins are showing heavy interest in Dominican shortstop Amaurys Minier, according to Badler. The 16-year-old switch-hitter is expected to become one of the highest-paid Dominican prospects.
- Some believe the Pirates are in on Dominican third baseman Julio de la Cruz.
Sign everyone now!
What about Gustavo Cabrera from the isles of the Dominican Republic?
Anytime you have the chance to sign the president of Uruguay to a contract, you do it.
Hope the Jays are still in on Mujica. Also, love that they’re odds on favourite for Franklin Barreto.
Nice to actually see the Red Sox connected to some of the top international guys.
good
The rules governing amateur signings by MLB teams should restrict all teams from signing anyone under the age of 18, regardless of where they live. The practice of recruiting a 15 or 16-year olds into professional baseball, uprooting from their home environments, assigning them to places foreign to their life’s experience, just strikes me as a form of colonialism (slavery) that America and its professional sports franchises should not engage in. American high schoolers are not recruited into professional sports until their class has graduated. The same rules should apply to foreign talent.
Being taken away, paid millions to play your favorite pass time for a living, and made into a celebrity is pretty akin to slavery. You should join some civil rights protests to share your opinion.