The Los Angeles Dodgers have been major players in the international market over the past few years, signing Yasiel Puig, Alex Guerrero, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Kenta Maeda, among several others.
Los Angeles has already blown past their allotted bonus money during the current international signing period that began last July. Thus, they’re expected by many to be involved in 16-year-old Cuban prospect Lazarito Armenteros.
Armenteros was declared a free agent by Major League Baseball on Jan. 8, and he’ll be eligible to sign with a club beginning Feb. 10.
It’s believed as many as nine teams interested in Armenteros. However, there’s some thought the outfielder may not join a club until the next signing period begins, which would impact the Dodgers’ chances of signing the young talent.
As a result of their lavish spending, the Dodgers will pay a 100 percent tax penalty on contracts doled out during the current signing period, and won’t be able to sign any international free agents for bonuses over $300,000 in each next two international signing periods, beginning July 2016.
While Armenteros mulls over his options, he and Yasiel Puig were among those in attendance at a Caribbean Series game in the Dominican Replubic on Friday night. According to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com, Armenteros was honored to speak with Puig:
“It was a real honor to have a conversation with a Major Leaguer,” Armenteros said in Spanish. “It’s my first time to see a famous player like him and more than that, a Cuban like me. He just told me to work hard and it’s up to me.”
Puig also appeared on the ESPN Deportes broadcast at the Caribbean Series, and discussed former manager Don Mattingly, among other topics.
As for Armenteros,it’s believed he will command a signing bonus between $15 and $20 million, but it of course could grow if a bidding war breaks out. He’s subject to international signing restrictions.
