Here's where top int'l prospects are signing

July 4th, 2019

The wait is over.

July 2, the start of the international signing period, is here.

What happens between today and when the period ends June 15, 2020, can help change the trajectory of a franchise. All 30 teams know that today’s international teenage prospect has a chance to be tomorrow’s Major League star.

Need proof?

At one point last year, the top five slots on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list belonged to international players. Those players -- Ronald Acuña Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Eloy Jiménez, Victor Robles, and Fernando Tatis Jr. -- are all in the big leagues this year. Gleyber Torres, 22, was also on the Top 100 to make it six international players in the top seven spots. Juan Soto, 20, was ranked No. 15 when the Nats called him up in 2018.

This year, Wander Franco, who signed with the Rays two years ago today, at the onset of the 2017-18 international signing period, is the No. 1 prospect in baseball.

Outfielder Jasson Dominguez is the cream of the crop in this year’s class, and one of the best international prospects available in years. He signed with the Yankees. The 16-year-old Dominican is strong and athletic and has a mature body for his age. Think a teenage Mike Trout. He could be the first position player in the class to make it to the big leagues because he has all of the tools scouts love to see in young prospects now -- and he projects to get even better. What’s more, he's able to translate those skills into games.

Dominguez was born to be a Yankee. He was named after Jason Giambi and has dreamed of being in pinstripes since he was a child. He had plenty of options, he said, but there was only one real destination.

“I’ve always wanted to be a Yankee,” Dominguez said by phone from the Dominican Republic. “It’s a dream come true. I’m very happy to be taking this first step of my professional career. My goal is to be the best I can be and be an example for generations in the future.”

Below is a look at which players from MLB.com’s Top 30 International Prospects lists have agreed to terms with clubs, and for how much. Unless otherwise noted, clubs have not confirmed the deals.

The market is still to be determined for players like No. 7 Yidde Cappe. Left-hander Luis Gutierrez (No. 29) will not be eligible to sign until July 31 when he turns 16.

Follow @JesseSanchezMLB and @MLBPipeline for all of the details.

Top 30 Prospects:

Jasson Dominguez, OF, Dominican Republic -- Yankees ($5,100,000) # More »
Robert Puason, SS, Dominican Republic -- Athletics ($5,100,000) # More »
Bayron Lora, OF, Dominican Republic -- Rangers ($4,200,000) More »
Luis Rodriguez, OF, Venezuela -- Dodgers ($2,667,500) More »
Erick Pena, OF, Dominican Republic -- Royals ($3,800,000) # More »
Ronnier Quintero, C, Dominican Republic -- Cubs ($2,900,000) More »
Yiddi Cappe, SS, Cuba
Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF, Dominican Republic -- Twins ($2,500,000) More »
Arol Vera, SS, Venezuela -- Angels ($2,000,000) More »
Jose Salas, SS, Venezuela -- Marlins ($2,800,000) # More »
Kevin Made, SS, Dominican Republic -- Cubs ($1,500,000) More »
Adael Amador, SS, Dominican Republic -- Rockies ($1,500,000) More »
Luis Medina, OF, Venezuela -- Brewers ($1,300,000) More »
Dauri Lorenzo, SS, Dominican Republic -- Astros ($1,800,000) # More »
Ismael Mena, OF, Dominican Republic -- Padres ($2,200,000) # More »
Andry Lara, RHP, Venezuela -- Nationals ($1,250,000) More »
Maximo Acosta, SS, Venezuela -- Rangers ($1,650,000) More »
Jhon Diaz, OF, Dominican Republic -- Yankees ($1,200,000) More »
Brayan Medina, RHP, Venezuela -- Padres ($700,000) # More »
Cristopher Cruz, RHP, Dominican Republic -- Pirates ($850,000) More »
Kristian Cardozo, RHP, Venezuela -- Mariners ($595,000)
Reginald Preciado, SS, Panama -- Padres ($1,300,000) # More »
Esmerlin Vinicio, LHP, Dominican Republic -- Giants ($750,000) More »
Junior Sanchez, SS, Dominican Republic -- Marlins ($1,150,000) # More »
Jose Pastrano, SS, Venezuela -- Indians ($1,500,000) More »
Alexander Ramirez, OF, Dominican Republic -- Mets ($2,050,000) More »
Rikelvin de Castro, SS, Dominican Republic -- Blue Jays ($1,200,000) More »
Adrian Placencia, SS, Dominican Republic -- Angels ($1,100,000) More »
Luis Gutierrez, LHP, Venezuela -- Padres More »
Brayan Altuve, C, Venezuela -- Cubs ($1,000,000) More »
Scouting reports, video, tool grades »
# Indicates signing is official

Yiddi Cappe, who is ranked No. 7, is the only player from Cuba on the 2019-2020 list. However, it’s worth noting that Cuban infielders Roberto Campos, 15, who is expected to sign with the Tigers, and Michel Treina, 18, who is expected to sign with the Reds, narrowly missed the cut for players eligible to sign in July.

In addition to prospects from traditional baseball hot spots like the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Venezuela, Panama and the Bahamas, the 5,000 prospects registered to sign are from places across the globe like Belarus, China, France, Israel, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.

What are the rules?

An international player is eligible to sign with a Major League team between July 2 and June 15 of the next year. He must turn 16 before he signs and be 17 before September 1 of the following year. In practical terms, that means players born between Sept. 1, 2002 and Aug. 31, 2003 will become eligible to sign in the upcoming signing period. Players have to be registered with Major League Baseball in advance in order to be eligible to sign.

• Complete bonus rules

How much money does each team have to spend?

Clubs that receive a Competitive Balance Pick in Round B of the Draft receive a pool of $6,481,200 for spending on international prospects, while clubs that receive a Competitive Balance Pick in Round A receive $5,939,800. The remaining teams get bonus pools of $5,398,300 each.

The Dodgers and Phillies lost $500,000 for signing free agents A.J. Pollock and Bryce Harper, respectively, and have bonus pools of $4,821,400. The Nationals have $4,321,400 to spend after signing free agent Patrick Corbin and exceeding the luxury tax last season. And the Braves do not have a bonus pool this year due to their violation of international signing guidelines.

$6,481,200: D-backs, Orioles, Indians, Rockies Royals, Pirates, Padres and Cardinals
$5,939,800: Reds, Marlins, Brewers, Twins, A's and Rays
$5,398,300: Red Sox, Cubs, White Sox, Tigers, Astros, Angels, Mets, Yankees, Giants, Mariners, Rangers and Blue Jays
$4,821,400: Dodgers and Phillies
$4,321,400: Nationals
$0: Braves

Teams are allowed to trade as much of their international pool money as they would like, but can only acquire 60 percent of a team's initial pool amount. Additionally, signing bonuses of $10,000 or less do not count toward a club's bonus pool, and foreign professional players who are at least 25 years of age and have played in a foreign league for at least six seasons are also exempt.

Under the previous system, teams were penalized for exceeding their bonus pools with consequences that ranged from taxes on their spending to the maximum penalty, which was being prohibited from signing any prospect for more than $300,000 during the next two signing periods. That’s no longer the case and there are no longer penalties. Teams can only spend their allotted bonus pools and the monies acquired via trade.

Which teams will be the most active?

Almost every team will sign players during the international signing period and place the new signees in their academies in the Dominican Republic. The only exception could be the Braves, who do not have any bonus pool money for violating international signing rules.

Specifically, the Yankees, A’s, Dodgers, Giants, Rangers, Royals, Pirates, Padres, Marlins, Rockies, Twins and Cubs continue their aggressive approach to international market. The Angels, Brewers, Indians, Blue Jays, Pirates and Rockies are also expected to be very active.

Here's a look at players outside the Top 30 who have agreed to deals for $300,000 or more:

Angels
Jose Bonilla, shortstop, Dominican Republic -- $600,000

Astros
Juan Santander, C, Venezuela -- $700,000
Fernando Caldera, C, Venezuela -- $350,000
Everett Cooper, OF, Bahamas -- $325,000
Richi Gonzalez, OF, Dominican Republic -- $310,000

Blue Jays
Estiven Machado, SS, Venezuela -- $775,000
Robert Robertis, OF, Venezuela -- $750,000
Peniel Brito, OF, Dominican Republic -- $600,000
Cesar Ayala, RHP, Venezuela -- $450,000
Endri Garcia, SS, Venezuela -- $350,000
Christian Feliz, OF, Venezuela -- $325,000
Victor Mesia, C, Venezuela -- $300,000

Brewers
Hedbert Perez, OF, Venezuela -- $700,000
Jheremy Vargas, SS, Venezuela -- $650,000
Alexander Perez, SS, Venezuela -- $600,000
Alberto Ciprian, INF, Dominican Republic -- $500,000
Beyker Pastran, SS, Venezuela -- $300,000

Cardinals
Jeremy Rivas, SS, Venezuela
Jose Davila, RHP, Venezuela

D-backs
Franyel Baez, OF, Dominican Republic -- $1,000,000
Darlin Sano, RHP, Dominican Republic -- $350,000
Jiter Heredia, INF, Dominican Republic -- $325,000
Juan Corniel, SS, Dominican Republic -- $325,000
Juan Aparicio, SS, Venezuela -- $305,000
Riquelmin Cabral, INF, Dominican Republic -- $300,000
Sheng-Ping Chen, SS, Taiwan -- $300,000

Dodgers
Yeiner Fernandez, C, Dodgers -- $717,500

Giants
Aeverson Arteaga, SS, Venezuela -- $1,000,000
Antony Rodriguez, SS, Venezuela -- $800,000
Yeison Lemos, SS, Dominican Republic -- $600,000
Adrian Sugastey, C, Panama -- $525,000
Manuel Mercedes, RHP, Dominican Republic -- $400,000
Elian Rayo, INF, Nicaragua -- $350,000

Indians
Luis Durango, OF, Panama -- $500,000
Jose Devers, SS, Dominican Republic -- $450,000
Simon Rodriguez, OF, Venezuela -- $300,000

Mariners
George Feliz, OF, Dominican Republic -- $900,000
Jose Corniell, RHP, Dominican Republic -- $630,000
Andres Mesa, SS, Dominican Republic -- $500,000
Carlos Jimenez, OF, Dominican Republic -- $480,000
Edryn Rodriguez, SS, Dominican Republic - $430,000
Luis Suisbel, INF, Venezuela -- $350,000

Marlins
Ian Lewis, SS, Bahamas -- $950,000

Mets
Eric Santana, OF, Dominican Republic -- $350,000

Nationals
Pablo Aldonis, LHP, Dominican Republic -- $1,000,000
Roismar Quintana, OF, Venezuela -- $820,000
Dawry Martinez, IF, Dominican Republic -- $600,000
Juan Garcia, SS, Dominican Republic -- $300,000

Orioles
Luis Gonzalez, OF, Dominican Republic -- $475,000
Luis Ortiz, LHP, Dominican Republic -- $400,000
Leonel Sanchez, INF, Dominican Republic -- $400,000

Padres
Jose Cordero, OF, Dominican Republic -- $625,000
Oswaldo Linares, C, Venezuela -- $550,000
Carlos Rodriguez, C, Venezuela -- $550,000

Philllies
Randy Vazquez, SS, Dominican Republic -- $350,000
Jean Hernandez, RHP, Dominican Republic -- $300,000

Pirates
Enmanuel Terrero, OF, Dominican Republic -- $600,000
Yojiery Osoria, LHP, Dominican Republic -- $600,000
Gilberto Alcala, RHP, Venezuela -- $450,000
Tsung Chen, SS, Taiwan -- $380,000
Roelmy Garcia, RHP, Dominican Republic $350,000

Rangers
Zion Bannister, OF, Bahamas -- $836,000

Rays
Jose Pena, OF, Dominican Republic -- $750,000
Wilmer De La Cruz, Dominican Republic -- $675,000
Odalys Peguero, SS, Dominican Republic -- $400,000
Angel Guaiquirian, RHP, Venezuela -- $375,000
Roylems Rangel, C, Venezuela -- $340,000
Christian Cerda, C, Dominican Republic -- $325,000

Reds
Michel Triana, SS, Cuba -- $1,300,000
Deivid Alcantara, OF, Dominican Republic -- $550,000
Andrew Salcedo, C, Colombia -- $300,000

Red Sox
Juan Chacon, OF, Venezuela -- $900,000
Lyonell James, INF, Dominican Republic -- $440,000
Rivaldo Avila, C, Venezuela -- $405,000
Jhostynxon Garcia, OF, Venezuela -- $350,000

Rockies
Victor Juarez, RHP, Mexico -- $500,000
Albert Pacheco, LHP, Dominican Republic -- $400,000
Oscar Aude, OF, Dominican Republic -- $400,000
Esneider Gomez, INF, Venezuela -- $400,000
Angel Jimenez, RHP, Venezuela -- $325,000
Jose Barcenas, RHP, Venezuela -- $300,000

Royals
Mario Melendez, C, Venezuela -- $522,500
Luis Echenique, OF, Venezuela -- $497, 500

Tigers
Roberto Campos, OF, Cuba -- $2,850,000
Abelado Lopez, OF, Dominican Republic -- $700,000
Manuel Sequeda, SS, Venezuela – $750,000

Twins
Malfrin Sosa, OF, Dominican Republic -- $900,000
Yonardy Soto, INF, Dominican Republic -- $550,000
Joseph Yabbour, RHP, Venezuela -- $530,000
Argenis Jimenz, OF, Venezuela -- $450,000
Breillin Ramirez, INF, Dominican Republic -- $400,000

White Sox
Yolbert Sanchez, SS, Cuba -- $2,500,000
Elijah Tatis, SS, Dominican Republic -- $400,000