TODAY, 2:50pm: Lazarito and his agents are willing to consider offers that would involve waiting until the next signing period to sign, Sanchez tweets. Certainly, that would appear to open up his potential market to more teams and explain the involvement of so many organizations as he nears a decision.
1:10pm: There are nine total teams “heavily involved” in pursuit of Lazarito, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter). It’s still unclear precisely which teams are pursuing him beyond the Braves, though the clubs already in the max penalty are certainly a good place to start.
Of course, it’s also not yet entirely apparent what kind of cash outlay and signing timing those unnamed teams would be willing to offer. Paying a significant bonus and tax bill while taking on a two-year signing ban is a big ask at this stage of the year, with camp approaching and the next year’s July 2 prospect period already having developed quite a bit.
YESTERDAY: The Braves are among the teams expected to make a strong push for young Cuban prospect Lazaro Armenteros — better known as Lazarito — according to a report from MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez. He’ll be eligible to sign on February 10 after being declared a free agent by the league, and Atlanta will see him at a private workout on Saturday.
At just 16 years of age, Lazarito is subject to international signing restrictions. Though he is a raw talent, Sanchez says he’s expected to command a bonus in the range of $15MM to $20MM, if not more.
Clearly, anything close to that would push Atlanta (or any other team) well over its bonus allotment if the signing were to be completed in this July 2 period. Such a move would trigger a two-year ban on $300K+ international signings and a 100% tax on overages.
With the Braves reportedly lining up a massive spend on the signing season set to begin this summer — much-hyped Venezuelan Kevin Maitan is rumored to be the crown jewel — the club would have to do some maneuvering to get things done. Signing Lazarito now would mean punting on the opportunity to add multiple players in the July 2 session to come, though of course it could pursue other additions in this year’s period as numerous Cuban prospects filter into the free agent pool. Alternatively, Atlanta could attempt to convince the prospect and his representatives to hold off on officially striking a deal until the summer, thus rolling the signing into its future international class.
There are other teams involved, Sanchez suggests, though it isn’t clear who else is in pursuit. As he notes, the Dodgers, Giants, Cubs, and Royals stand to begin their own restricted stretches in a few months’ time. Having already triggered the maximum penalties, they could all strike without issue (beyond coughing up the bonus and tax). Only the Angels, Diamondbacks, Rays, Red Sox, and Yankees are frozen out of the market, by virtue of prior budget-busting outlays. The rest of the league would find itself in the same situation as Atlanta — able to spend, if they are willing to sit out the next two signing periods.
I honestly doubt the Braves sign this guy and blow past their bonus allotment in the middle of their massive rebuild. Then again they did just trade prospects for a 31 yr outfielder who had never played in MLB.
Lazarito is 16 any rebuilding team not scouting him is not doing its job
Sure, but if they sign him now, they would really miss their chance to take advantage of the amateur spending rules. Would be quite a waste to sign him now.
Peraza was Wren’s find, and Wood had a low-ceiling with long-reliever written all over him. Their scouting team obviously did not feel the same way about them that the previous front office did. In Peraza’s case, we already had Albies and if we kept Peraza, I’m not sure we’d have Dansby Swanson.
Peraza could have filled a Zoberist utility role. Having depth at SS is never a bad thing and even if Braves would have moved him to CF that would have worked out since they lack depth there. Can’t win all trades but the Olivera trade was terrible, the pick Braves got might be the best part of that trade on the Braves side of it.
I really don’t understand how so many can develop such a strong opinion of Olivera when he’s seen so little MLB time, unless that opinion has been influenced by off-the-field issues including health, Puerto Rico winter league play, etc.
I think his success or lack thereof will be determined by what’s between his ears. Nobody here likely knows that.
Well he’s never played more than 100 games in a season plus durability/health questions marks. Obviously Braves don’t think much of him at 3rd or 2nd. I’m thinking Braves stuck him LF to try keeping him healthy. Not to mention he’ll be 32 by the time Braves might be ready to compete again.
There’s only 90 regular season games in the Cuban National Series, so hitting 100 games in a season would be pretty tough.
-C
yes, I agree that we didn’t give up as much for Olivera as people think, but we should have gotten a better return. If you brake down the trade, Olivera was traded for Peraza, Johnson and Avilan for Rodriguez and Bird. So basically we included Wood to cover what the Dodgers overpaid for Olivera and a draft pick. Not a bad trade, but they probably could’ve gotten more for Wood by himself.
Just one prospect, and Olivera was 30 at the time. Point still stands, but I’m pretty sure they’re just doing their homework on Lazarito and/or hoping to convince him to wait until July 2nd to sign.
The only way I can see it happening is if they convince him to wait until after the deadline. Unless the “handshake agreement” with Maitan has fallen through, and they believe that Lazarito is more valuable than anything they can get after July 2nd.
*crown jewel…
Weird, thought I edited that before publishing. Maybe I put back the same typo.
I was picturing a league of ‘husky’ Venezuelans, which was slightly more entertaining, honestly.
You know what would be a nice feature, Jeff? Being able to edit your posts after you post. The way the system was before?
Oh please, he’s 16, he doesn’t deserve some special treatment nickname if he’s expecting to start his career in America. Come on….
That whinge was really forced.
Any chance mets get in on him?
$20mm to a 16 yo is a worse signing than greg toe nash.
Any chance mets get in on him? Might be worth it cuz when he is ready, they will be nearing the end of their pitching power house. Maybe can use this guy as a building block or future trade bait.
Five paragraphs and doesn’t even spend a word on his position.
hes basically still in Little Leage haha he plays everywhere im guessing
One would assume that anyone interested would already know his position. He’s an outfielder, probably projects best for right.
“jacobyrush25” – what a smug comment. most MLB fans don’t keep up with 16-year-olds. The writer absolutely should have included the prospect’s position in this article.
You aren’t a true fan unless you know that and know that Lazarito’s 12 year-old brother already has a mean curveball and projects as the Cuban Felix Hernandez.. haha.kidding of course.
Boy that comment troll who’s been on the “Google Kevin Maitan” kick is gonna be really upset if this happens!
Baseball can sure be a strange market. Get the no.1 draft spot as a player and you make less than a 16 year old from Cuba. Ya, I get it. Ones and auction and one is not.
Just considering the risk of devoting $20 million to a teenage kid and hoping he understands the commitment he is making makes me shiver.
Braves will never sign DoughRito this year before July 2nd. Then they will not pay the kind of money talked about in this article. Just too big of a risk….unless he looks like Hank Aaron in his workout. Then all bets are off. Looking forward to drafting Hansen or Puk this summer. Either will jump into the midseason top 50.
I don’t think they’re in on Puk. Really hoping for Rutherford or another seasoned bat, unless Groome is available.
Also hoping for Rutherford, who’s another UCLA commit. Is Gavin Lux highly regarded as a prospect? Watched that kid take BP about a year ago and was pretty impressed.
Another UCLA commit other than Rutherford that comes to mind is Mickey Moniak
According to reports from scouts who have seen him, Lazarito isn’t anything special. But he is only 16. But he’s not Sano, who was practically a finished product at 16.
Sources? I’ve read feedback from his showcase earlier this year (140+ scouts) and there is a heap of positive comments coming out of it.
He’s been labelled the Bryce Harper of Cuba.
Any 16 year old is a gamble, but this kid has torn it up everywhere he’s been – hit .462/.611/.962 at an age group World Cup.
Scouts are always going to be divided, but ignoring the slew of positive reviews out there is a bit bias.
Everything I’ve seen has characterized the reviews as “mixed” and made clear he’s not a prospect at the level of, say, Moncada. Obviously there’s plenty of value here, but I think “Bryce Harper of Cuba” is probably an overstatement — though he does apparently have immense physical ability.
Absolutely – gotta take some of the labels with a grain of salt. In fact, gotta take most things with a grain of salt coming from down there.
At least he’s holding up his end of the narrative thus far – I hope his video game stat lines are actually an indicator of future talent.
The kid is in incredible shape physically – do I dare say “how is he 16?”.
Some love him, some don’t. Get enough people in the same room, and you can find a disagreement about the sky being blue.
What if you get enough people in that room but they were all meteorologists? These scouts discussing Lazar are specialists at what they do.
Right, and I have absolutely no opinion on the matter. But everything I’ve seen doesn’t put him in the same range of prospect – at his age – as guys like Harper or even Moncada. Doesn’t mean there isn’t something to dream on, or people who think he can reach a lofty ceiling, but that’s not the same thing as near-universal consensus about a guy.
I actually heard people compare him to a young Bo Jackson. That’s a crazy comp if true.
Anybody signing this kid for 15-20 MM should be committed.
No position, 16 years old, “raw talent as promoted by who?”
Crazy money for a unknown talent….
This would be the biggest waste of money since Moncado who may or may not be just another .265 hitter, minimal power, and a player without a real position. Let’s hope 2nd works!
Moncada had a phenomenal debut, though. He looks like the real deal.
Any chance the Mets blow through their international cap at some point? One happens when the other does.
Doubtful. Wilpon’s have been consistent in staying within the “spirit of the rules” dating back to suggested slotting of draft pick spending.
Additionally the Mets went overslot briefly last season with the signings of Guerrero and Gimenez, only to deal a prospect for additional space. With a thinner system then in recent seasons, I would expect them to continue the trend of grabbing multiple, well regarded (if not highly rated) prospects.
OH WOW THE BRAVES ARE GOING AFTER A 16-YEAR-OLD. How exciting. Guess we’ll see him in 5-7 years. Maybe the Braves will even be good by then.
then you’ll start cheering for them again?
Kevin Maitan is also 16 years old and has been well known for the past two years as possibly the next big thing. Do you remember the talk about Harper when he was 16 and got drafted. Of course these guys are 4-5 years away, but that’s the whole thing about building a farm system. If they only have guys who are 21-24 in their system then when they hit a point several years from now they have no one. The prospects become the major leaguers, then get arbitration, then they often become free agents, only some of them get a contract with the team they came up with. Maitan has drawn comparisons to Cabrera for the past two years. If that’s the case, I don’t want to miss out on him just because he’s 16! Do you think the Nationals were upset about drafting their 16 year old before he busted out last year. No of course not, because they had the chance to pick an elite talent and didn’t do something stupid like pick a 20 yr old college kid. There was a lot of talk about Harper and would he ever meet his potential/could he overcome his injury history etc. Well at 22 yrs old he did that and now it’s him and Trout at the top of baseball! The Braves can talk to Lazarito and if he wants to wait to sign with them fine, but they better not screw up their chances with Maitan.
15-20 mill for a 16 yr old? So he’s at least 3-4 yrs away. That’s insane! Hope Giants stay away.
They could probably put him in left tomorrow and get more production than they would out of Pagan.
Please wait and sign with the Cubs who also got the youth with the talent
I hope who ever signs him gives him a ST invite.