Angels agree with prospects Maitan, Soto

December 5th, 2017

ANAHEIM -- The Angels officially agreed to terms on Saturday with 17-year-old Venezuelan shortstop Kevin Maitan, the top prospect the Braves forfeited for violating international signing rules. The agreement is worth $2.2 million, per MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez.
The Angels have also agreed to terms with shortstop Livan Soto, another former Braves prospect, who will receive an $850,000 bonus.

Maitan is the Angels' No. 2 prospect, according to MLBPipeline.com, behind Shohei Ohtani, who is the No. 1 overall prospect in the game.

Maitan originally signed with the Braves in 2016 for $4.25 million, a Venezuelan bonus record. The switch-hitter made his professional debut in the United States this past season and struggled across two Rookie-level leagues, batting .241 with a .290 on-base percentage and two home runs in 42 games.

Soto, 17, signed for $1 million out of Venezuela in 2016. He hit .225 with a .332 on-base percentage in 47 Rookie-level games this past season and impressed scouts with his defense.

Maitan and Soto were among the 13 Braves prospects who were declared free agents last month following Major League Baseball's investigation into infractions committed by the club on the international market. Tuesday marked the first day the prospects were eligible to sign with new teams, and the Angels wasted little time in scooping up the two young infielders.