MLB throws money at international free agent prospects
For all the talk about big-money contracts for majorleaguers, the New York Yankees spent nearly $18.1 million on international amateurs during the last signing period.
“All of our top guys really felt that this crop of young kids was the best they’ve seen in years and years, so we went out and we grabbed seven of the top 10 or 11 guys,” owner Hal Steinbrenner said. “For that kind of money, I guess if one or two of them works out, you made the right decision.”
And it’s not just the Yankees. Boston spent more than $38 million, Arizona topped $10 million and the Los Angeles Angels were just below $9.7 million. And they all incurred hefty tax bills for their global splurging.
In all, the 30 clubs committed $160 million to 801 international amateurs from July 2 last year through June 15, up from $95 million in the 2013-14 signing season, according to Major League Baseball. And just this month, the Los Angeles Dodgers gave a $16 million signing bonus to 19-year-old Cuban right-hander Yadier Alvarez.
Teams hope they will follow the path of players already in the higher levels of the minor leagues. Among the international prospects at Sunday’s All-Star Futures Game were Texas outfielder Nomar Mazara ($4.95 million signing bonus), New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez ($3 million) and Kansas City infielders Raul Mondesi ($2 million) and Chelsor Cuthbert ($1.35 million).
“They are looking all over for those guys, especially in Cuba,” said World team manager Tony Perez, who left Cuba at age 17 to sign with Cincinnati, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000. “For the agents, they know it’s going to be big money.”
Teams can sign international free agents starting July 2 the year they turn 17 by Sept. 1. Beginning with the 2012-13 signing period, teams were penalized for exceeding their signing bonus pools. Thirteen teams went over their pools for 2014-15, resulting in $71.5 million in tax.
Five teams owe most of that: the Red Sox ($36.1 million), Yankees ($15.9 million), Diamondbacks ($7.9 million), Angels ($7.3 million) and Rays ($3.4 million). They also lost the right to sign any international player to a bonus of more than $300,000 for 2015-16 and 2016-17.
Management may again propose an international draft in bargaining for the labour contract that replaces the current deal, which expires in December 2016.