January 15, 2024 International Signing Period

[phillychuck]

How firm is a verbal agreement with a 12-year-old that won't be binding for 4 years?

[bigegypt0417]

I doubt it's binding and I would imagine the phillies have nothing to do with this...I hope?

[andyb]

If he is good enough to sign at age 12, did we just spend 99% of our pool money? Something does make me think this is a bit of a joke.

Note we do have a cousin in Aroon Escobar. Not a good season last year but I think he was hurt and is coming over for FCL this year.

[Matt_Winkelman]

Based on doing some light twitter digging, this is almost certainly legitimate. It is not legally binding, but it is likely the Phillies have a relationship with the trainer/agent (I may have seen an agree name for the same trainer in 2027) and breaking an agreement burns the bridge with that agent and their friends. The opposite is also true where if the player makes a separate deal that makes the representative unreliable for getting their future clients deals. In terms of actual consequences it is much lighter for the team that could theoretically have overcommitted or pivot and with hard set pools the player is often the one left without a signing bonus. This is why negotiating with 12 year olds is just extra levels of disgusting.

These deals are often well known in certain circles, the nature of the famousness of the player's family is why this one hit the mainstream.

[andyb]

Seeing stuff like this does make me think a draft is the only way to solve this. MLB just needs to figure out how to do it so agents and teams don't try to abuse it (i.e. hiding prospects that would sign later in the draft for a lower bonus).

[zambonir]

Arguably one of the problems with the Phillies international has been an unwillingness to do more of this sort of thing, or establish relations with the most unsavory agents, no?

[Matt_Winkelman]

Yes and no. They have been unwilling to play in the big money waters after Jhailyn Ortiz and that definitely has made them less attractive. That said, I am pretty sure Luis Encarnacion was attached to a package deal where a much lesser prospect with the same buscone got an unexpectedly large deal in a different signing period. I am also pretty sure the Caba deal was known about for at least 2 years. So they have definitely not been one of the biggest rule breakers, but they are certainly far from blameless.

[andyb]

Maybe if we're lucky we can scout him in Williamsport this summer.

[fish]

That's a lot to unpack. On one hand you hear that agreements with 12 and 13 year old kids is common, but you never actually hear about them. It's technically no different than an 8th grader committing to a university sports team, but It feels like something this high profile could blow up on them.

but, you have to be kidding me- he'd look like a great hitting prospect if he was 16. If you like watching 12 year olds hit homers, here you go -

alexsalazaracademy on Instagram: "Prospecto: Kenny Acuña - Inf 2027/28🔥 Home Run...

alexsalazaracademy on Instagram: "Prospecto: Kenny Acuña - Inf...

[zambonir]

It's technically no different than an 8th grader committing to a university sports team

I don't think anyone considers that a good thing either, though it never quite became as widespead or problematic as predicted. Of course the difference it's actually far easier to change your mind at any point in college sports (even after you enroll, finally, now) and you're only there for 4-5 years. If this sort of behind-the scenes thing is truly binding he has signed up to be property of the Phillies for 15 years.

[julio]

The Phillies signed RHP Ruben De La Cruz to a minor league contract.

De La Cruz has been assigned to the Dominican Summer League Phillies White Team. pic.twitter.com/wRkv0Q5JU9

— Phillies Tailgate ( @PhilsTailgate ) April 6, 2024

Upon further research, De La Cruz is not a 2024 international amateur signing. He spent two years in the Red Sox' system, was released on 3/29. The Phils signed him on 4/3.

[fish]

Kevin Acuna in 2028, and apparently
VZ outfielder Francisco Renteria is their big fish in 2026.

From BA:

“The big name on Venezuela’s team was outfielder Francisco Renteria (Phillies, 2026), who should get one of the top bonuses in his class. Renteria’s swing and hitting ability stood out from a very early stage in the process, but he’s grown to become a physical, power-hitting center fielder who could end up a corner outfielder.”

[VoteForKalas]

I like that profile

[andyb]

If we ever figure out who we are interested in this year for 2025 we're gonna need a new thread.

I guess it is good we are playing in the what looks to be the top 10 or so with these 2 long term prospects. But I did not mind last year with getting somebody in the top 20 and then spreading the rest of the money around.

[julio]

If we ever figure out who we are interested in this year for 2025 we're gonna need a new thread.

If/when you all start discussing 2025 targets, we'll have a new thread for that!

[julio]

Table in the top post is updated to reflect recent international signings.

[fish]

Info from BA’s international reviews-
Naval signed for $250k (and drooled over his tools, Polanco for $275k, Ruiz for $250k, Casanova for $225k, quinonez for $125k, and Arias and Reyes were slightly older pitchers signed for $10k that are touching 97mph.

[Austinfan]

The table says they have $1.5M left? Is that a mistake or they targeting someone in Asia?

[andyb]

That million plus in the last post is not in the table yet. Imagine they have a few hundred thousand left if that much.

[julio]

That million plus in the last plus is not in the table yet. Imagine they have a few hundred thousand left if that much.

The table in the top post has been updated with the information fish provided, and with all signings I've been able to identify from the mlb.com transactions pages. If the data are accurate (and no signing amounts over minimum thresholds are missing), they have about $365k remaining.