Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
International signing period begins this weekend.
Marlins expect to be aggressive in signing period
MIAMI — As the MLB draft came and went, the Miami Marlins’ top picks signed and introduced, Albert Gonzalez and his staff of scouts remained scattered about the Caribbean and South America preparing for their own version of a farm system feeder: the international signing period.
Gonzalez, the Marlins’ director of international operations, said the club expects to be “aggressive, and aggressive early” come Sunday, when major league teams are allowed to sign international amateurs.
“Our plans are to get out of the gate fast this year. What happens once that happens, it’s hard to predict,” Gonzalez said. “This year, I know we’re going to be aggressive early. And we’ve done that in the past. Perhaps it wasn’t seen that way or worked out that way, but that’s just the way this arena is.”
The international signing period and the draft are similar in that they are how teams bring new talent into the organization, and they require year-round groundwork for what boils down to a few very busy weeks.
But instead of a draft, the international market is an open one, so the relationships scouts and teams develop with players and their representatives in the months or years prior are significant. And instead of centering around high schoolers in their late teens and college kids in their early 20s, the top international players usually sign at 16 or 17 years old.
It is through this process that the Marlins initially signed Luis Castillo (1992), Miguel Cabrera (1999) and Marcell Ozuna (2008).
The Marlins will be allowed to spend $5.25 million on international amateurs until the end of the international signing period next June. That includes a $4.75 million base all teams start with, plus an extra $500,000 based on the same revenue/win percentage formula that gave the Marlins an extra early draft a few weeks ago.
Under the new collective bargaining agreement, teams have a hard cap on their bonus pools, which further levels the playing field and aids small-market teams like the Marlins.
In the past, some organizations would be willing to blow through their bonus allotment and deal with the consequences. No more.
“Teams used to be able to go over and be penalized and taxed,” Gonzalez said. “That no longer is in play, which I really like.”
The Marlins are considered the favorite to land Ynmanol Marinez, a 6-foot, 170-pound Dominican shortstop who turned 16 in April. Signing him will likely require a seven-figure signing bonus, which the Marlins have not awarded to an international amateur since 1999, when they snagged a Venezuelan shortstop, Cabrera, for $1.8 million.
“The teenager has displayed soft hands, good body control and solid range to both sides. He has also shown good arm and impressive actions on defense,” MLB Pipeline wrote in its scouting report of Marinez, ranking him as the No. 12 international player.
“He’s still developing as a hitter but has already shown good bat speed and power potential. He destroys fastballs, and like most prospects his age, he’s working on hitting secondary pitches. A line-drive hitter with some natural loft to his swing, Marinez can spray the ball to all fields.”
The Marlins in recent years haven’t spent big on players ranked highest by outfits like Baseball America and MLB Pipeline, but Gonzalez said that shouldn’t be confused with a lack of commitment.
“We’ve done it for less,” Gonzalez said. “Does that mean there hasn’t been a commitment? There’s been a commitment. We’re not going to overpay for talent.”
Gonzalez, who declined to talk about financial investments in specific players in accordance with industry standards, pointed to Miami’s eight international signees who have made it to the majors since he took over the department in 2006. That puts the Marlins in the middle of the pack.
Among those major leaguers are three on Miami’s active roster: Ozuna, starter Jose Urena (2008) and reliever Jarlin Garcia (2010). They all signed for less than $100,000.
In particular, Ozuna, in line to be an All-Star for the second year in a row, represents a win for Gonzalez and his department. As the Marlins watch a new crop of amateurs, finding the next Ozuna is a best-case scenario.