Sixteen-year-old Cuban phenom Lazaro Armenteros — more commonly referred to simply as “Lazarito” — has been declared a free agent by Major League Baseball, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter link). Armenteros will be eligible to sign beginning on Feb. 10. Because he is just 16 years of age, Armenteros will be subject to international spending limitations. Any club that has already exceeded its budget — or any club that exceeds its budget to sign the infielder/outfielder — will be required to a pay a 100 percent luxury tax on the amount by which the pool has been exceeded.
Armenteros hosted a open showcase for interested clubs at the Padres’ facility in the Dominican Republic last Friday, as Ben Badler of Baseball America wrote a week ago (Badler’s piece also includes video footage of Armenteros, and Badler further noted on Twitter that the location of his showcase was not an indicator of a team having the inside track on signing him). In a subscription-only scouting report from November, Badler called Armenteros one of the most promising players in Cuba, noting that he has “good bat speed, a strong frame and a chance to hit for big power.” Armenteros is “much more well-rounded” than Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who signed with Toronto for a $3.9MM bonus last summer, per Badler.
Both MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez and USA Today’s Bob Nightengale have profiled Armenteros relatively recently as well. One AL scouting director told Sanchez that Armenteros is a “front-line guy” that possesses “lots of tools, size, strength and potential.” Sanchez interviewed Armenteros himself about his decision to pursue a Major League opportunity and leave his native country behind. As he explained to Sanchez, Armenteros was sanctioned by the Cuban government and not allowed to return to his 15U team in Cuba at the beginning of last season, which helped him to make the decision. Armenteros rejected the notion that he was sanctioned due to anti-government sentiments by others in his family, telling Sanchez that he doesn’t know why he was sanctioned, as the government would not give his father a good answer.
Within Nightengale’s profile, he gives an idea of how well-regarded Armenteros is not just among MLB clubs but worldwide. Per Nightengale, a Japanese team has shown a willingness to pay Armenteros upwards of $15MM to play in Nippon Professional Baseball, although the specific term and details were not included alongside the base sum of the reported offer. Nightengale chronicles Armenteros’ journey to Haiti and eventually establishing residency in the Dominican Republic, where he now resides and works out six days a week.
Because he’s eligible to sign this winter, Armenteros will be available to clubs that have already exceeded their international bonus pool during the 2015-16 signing period. That includes the Dodgers, Cubs, Royals and Giants, each of whom has already been subjected to luxury tax penalties on international prospects (particularly the Dodgers). Teams that exceeded their 2014-15 pools and are limited this offseason, however, will not be able to sign Armenteros, as they’re prohibited from exceeding $300K on a single signing bonus for an international prospect. That restriction rules out the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, Angels and Diamondbacks from making a run at the raw but highly touted Armenteros.
Cant wait to see it come down to the Dodgers or Cubs.
Andale andale Lazarito to the “Drillers”.
If the Jays are eligible to grab him. I think he might be coming to Toronto. Hope so!
Seriously? We’re gonna have a bidding war for a 16 year old?
There are dozens of them every July 2.
And this is surprising why?
Are you new to mlb? This isn’t abnormal at all.
If the dodgers win again i will be furious
You know they are going to get him. Totally a move they make all day, and will until someone stops them (aka next offseason).
What makes you think someone will stop them next offseason? I really really hope you’re right. It’s getting ridiculous.
There will be a new CBA next offseason and international signings will most likely be a topic of discussion.
Dodgers won’t be able to sign an international prospect for more than 300k next signing period. This is what Just Another Fan is referring to; however, they are free to spend on anything else with their billions
They cant sign anyone over 300k
Me two so tired of Dodgers getting first on Cuba’ s best
Get ready to be pissed! Welcome to LA kid.
Ah was hoping he’d be delayed so the Red Sox could make a run at him… hope White Sox make a play at him then
Yes. They can send Jose Abreu on a recruiting mission sporting a Minnie Minoso jersey. perhaps with Yoenis Cespedes and Alexei Ramirez tagging along for good measure!
Btw-Former Cuban pitcher and key 2005 World Championship starter Jose Contreras will be making an appearance at SoxFest2016 the last week of January in Chicago along with fellow countryman Abreu and ???
It wouldn’t matter for the Red Sox, Yankees, Rays, Angels or DBacks if it was this year or next year,. All of these teams have two year bans and can’t sign any big international prospects until the 2017-2018 period.
Yes and I love the Cubs first then the White Sox
Giants might as well take a shot at this guy. I know they seem to have something against outfielders who aren’t at least 30 years old but maybe it’s time to buck that trend.
So….he’s going to the Dodgers then, huh?
Im 16 and play baseball what just because im not cuban means i cant get signed wtf i have to wait for the draft
Keep waiting Billy!
MLB has ruled that 16 year old players from Cuba are the equivalent to 18 year old ones in the USA. So you can either bide your time or buck the trend and flee America for Havanna, apply for citizenship, make the Cuban National team, accompany the club to a friendly country, quit the team, seek political asylum, and once granted apply to MLB as an international FA. Anyone can circumvent the system and I’ll take a mere 4% commission if you are interested., signed, El Soxcess1 (lol)
And by that time, he’ll be 18 lol
Ill be 18 by then and already drafted
I was just thinking about it
Philly is going to run the international FA market in 2016-17. Thry hsve next to no competition with CHC SF LAD LAA BOS and NYY among others ineligible and they have the highest bonus pool.
Braves are probably gonna be right up there.
I bet he would love to come up with Jiminez ,Martinez and now Armenteros now that’s a Mytle beach dream team oh those are Cubs minor league guys
Philly should feel very confident with the upside from Lazarito. He’s worth every penny at 16. He’s the best Intl Prospect in the market for a 16 yr old. I expect strong competition for his signature though.