Since the Guggenheim group purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise from Frank McCourt, a focus was placed on bolstering their farm system while fielding a competitive team.
Upon getting hired in October 2014 as Dodgers president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman and his front office have further carried out that vision. In effort to stockpile talent in the Minors, Friedman has utilized trades to acquire draft picks, the annual Major League Draft, and international signing market.
Since the current international signing period began last July, the Dodgers, who have the largest payroll in the Majors, have added a plethora of talent in the form of Yadier Alvarez, Yusniel Diaz, Starling Heredia and Yaisel Sierra, among others.
In exceeding their bonus pool limit during the current period, the Dodgers will face restrictions over the next two years when attempting to ink pool-eligible prospects.
Perhaps looking to add another player or two to their haul, the Dodgers reportedly scouted Cuban outfielder Lazaro (Lazarito) Armenteros and Cuban second baseman Jose Miguel Fernandez, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America:
Heard the Dodgers had a big crew at the Cuban showcase in the DR today where 2B Jose Miguel Fernandez and OF Lazaro Armenteros played.
— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) May 24, 2016
The Dodgers were previously linked to Armenteros, who at one point was thought to be nearing a signing decision. He met Yasiel Puig by happenstance at a Caribbean Series game in February.
If the Dodgers hope to land Armenteros, they would need to sign him during the current window as his bonus will exceed the cap that’s available once July 2 rolls around. Fernandez has spent seven years playing for the Cocodrilos de Matanzas, where he only hit below .300 twice.
Fernandez is not subject to the aforementioned spending limitations as he’s exempt from bonus pools. Armenteros hit .462 with nine home runs, five triples, three doubles and eight RBIs in nine games for Cuba at the U15 Baseball World Cup in Mexico where he was named to the All-Tournament team.
