The international signing period opens today and we'll keep track of the rumors and news right here:
- The Phillies signed Venezuelan shortstop Francisco Silva for about $200K and the Twins agreed to sign Reyson Zoquier, a Dominican lefty, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America.
- The Cubs agreed to sign Dominican shortstop Daniel Sanchez for a mid six-figure bonus, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America.
- ESPN.com’s Keith Law hears that the Blue Jays are expected to spend aggressively on international prospects this summer.
- The Blue Jays have been tied to Gabriel Cenas, a Venezuelan third baseman and Pedro Perez, a Colombian third baseman, according to Law.
- They are also in on Eskarlin Vazquez, a Dominican outfielder who has captured the Giants’ attention. Law predicts Vazquez will get one of the summer’s top bonuses.
- The Mariners are expected to sign Philips Castillo, another Dominican outfielder who should command a top bonus, according to Law. The Mariners have also been linked to Jose Torres, a Colombian right-hander.
- Law has heard that the Royals are in on Jeffrey Baez, a speedy Venezuelan outfielder.
The Blue Jays were surprisingly conservative with all their draft picks this year. I would hope they go bananas internationally.
Didn’t the Jays take the most high schoolers out of any team in the draft? That’s not really conservative at all
Not necessarily. Of their top four picks, they only picked two high school picks, one of whom was considered a signable over-draft. The reports going in were that they would spend with the elite, and they did not draft accordingly.
Yes, most of their draftees were high schoolers but some Jays fans are pissed because we took Deck Mcguire with that 11th overall pick since he’s a relatively safe pick with limited upside…. after him, a lot of the guys were player with high upside so overall it was a good draft.
I do hope they go nuts internationally but that cuban SS we signed hasn’t done so well in the minors but he’s still got potential.
“That Cuban” has a name. It’s Adeiny Hechavarria. He’s only 21, and I’m sure he was signed for his defensive ability. The single A numbers mean nothing.
If Eskarlin Vazquez makes it big, he has to be nicknamed “Skar.”
I really wish Puerto Rican players were not subject to the draft and could be signed as free-agents…that really killed it out there in PR