Sources: Giants sign two top international prospects
Sources: Giants sign two top international prospects
The Giants signed the 16-year-old outfielder Cabrera to a $1.3 million deal, and also inked third baseman Nathanael Javier (No. 11) to a $500,000 deal, according to sources. The Giants have not confirmed the signings.
From Santo Domingo Norte, Dominican Republic, Cabrera's bat speed, raw power and overall athleticism in the field has brought comparisons to Arizona's Justin Upton. In 2011, Cabrera was named the RBI World Series MVP in Minnesota, and also participated in a showcase in Orlando, Fla. He played in Spring Training exhibition games this year as part of the Dominican Prospect League's All-Star travel squad.
Also from Santo Domingo, the 16-year-old Javier projects as a solid future option at third base. Possessing discipline at the plate, a large body frame and a high baseball IQ, Javier could bypass Chris Dominguez, Conor Gillaspie (Triple-A Fresno) and Adam Duvall (Class A San Jose) as the team's future at third base.
The new Collective Bargaining Agreement states that the international system now operates with money pools and penalties for teams that exceed its pools. For this year's signing period, teams are allowed to spend $2.9 million without being penalized. This means that the Giants have around $1.1 million available after the Cabrera and Javier signings. Starting in 2013-14, the pools will be based on each team's winning percentage in the prior season, with pools ranging from approximately $1.7 million to $4.8 million.