The Astros are out of the penalty box this year after being restricted to giving out bonuses no bigger than $300,000 the last two years. This is the second in Baseball America's series of IFAs to watch but I'm not including the first article since there weren't any kids linked to the Astros. This one does, however! SS Dauris Lorenzo is a switch-hitter and is getting attention for his feel for hitting. He's managed to demonstrate that ability in games as well. He's expected to sign for $1.5 million.
Astros favorited to sign SS Dauri Lorenzo, MLB.com’s #14 prospect for this July 2. Looks like a good one, will probably immediately be one of the top 15 prospects in the org if they get him.
Pretty excited to see who the astros are able to come away with during the international signing period. Thank you to @tellitlikeitis @prospecthugger and anyone else who keeps us updated. Y’all are appreciated!
Adds "outfielder Richi Gonzalez and shortstop Luis Encarnacion from the Dominican Republic." Presumably not the same Luis Encarnacion they released earlier this year.
Elvis sighting! BA reporting Elvis Garcia, rhp, Venezuela signs with Astros along with Dauris Lorenzo, ss, Dominican Republic and Juan Santander, c, Venezuela https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2019-mlb-international-signings-tracker/#Astros
The tracker now has Venezuelan C Fernando Caldera on the list. SS Dauris Lorenzo (DR) - $2 million C Juan Santander (VZ) RHP Elvis Garcia (VZ) OF Richi Gonzalez (DR) C Fernando Caldera (VZ) SS Luis Encarnación (DR) OF Christopher Morales (DR) - $275,000
@tellitlikeitis @prospecthugger Had a question around international signing. How does it work with teams recruiting players internationally? I saw the Dodgers and Yankees were able to sign some highly ranked prospects. Are there rules on recruiting? I don't know a lot about international signing.
It's complicated. Some of these kids have apparently had tacit agreements for at least a couple of years. Today just makes those agreements official.
I think the Dodgers and Yankees probably spend the most when it comes to having a scouting presence in Latin America, so they're probably better able to identify these sorts of players earlier and get them to agree to deals. Sometimes the deals can be ageed to 3 years in advance, before there's much certainty about who is going to be the best. I believe there are rules about when teams can actually host the players in their facilities, and technically it is against the rules to have an agreement prior to July 2nd, but the MLB doesn't even try to enforce that.
Thanks fellas. I was just curious. They seem to have the inside advantage when it comes to international signings. Scouting internationally is huge and it seems like Luhnow is putting resources into this.
If the MLB does not strictly police the International signings, I would not be surprised if the top players get side deals that are off the books.