International Market: Atlanta Braves, Others Getting an MLB Chill

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Former Braves International signee Williams Perez. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Top 30 Propsects Could See Some Shuffled Suitors

MLB’s site recently revealed their choices for the Top 30 International players for the 2016 signing period, which begins July 2nd.

Mind you: most of these players already have ‘handshake’ agreements in place with a major league club (excepting the Cuban free agents – that’s a different situation, though many are still subject to the bonus pool signing restrictions).

Let’s see how that breaks down by team and player ranks:

BRAVES: connected to prospects #1, 17, 18, 21, 23, 25
PADRES: 3,5,9,15,27,28
NATIONALS: 7,14,19
REDS: 6
MARLINS: 8
CARDINALS: 10,12
RANGERS: 11
PHILLIES: 16,26
ATHLETICS: 20,22
MARINERS: 24
BREWERS: 29,30
CUBANS WITH NO CONNECTIONS: 2, 4, 13

If these pan out, then it appears no 2016-restricted teams are attempting to pull the stunt – at least that overtly – that the Red Sox did in 2015. But the idea of ‘bundling’ players still exists, and may be part of the way that some teams are able to get some of the signees they want.

Also, a few of the players outside of the Top 30 may be worthy of $300K+ bonuses, but we don’t have information on those players or the teams associated with them. With this new investigation, all teams are likely evaluating their own behavior and trying to determine if it might pass the scrutiny of a newly-watchful MLB.

Thus teams under restrictions might be inclined to back off certain players for fear of garnering the ire of investigators. We might see some jockeying about for these ‘lesser’ top prospects if that’s the case: for players of this level, restricted teams may be inclined to let a player go rather than face the chance of an investigation… or further penalties.

Regardless: it’s nice that MLB is finally trying to enforce the rule here. Teams are already taking full advantage of the biggest International spending loophole – that being once your overspend, you may as well REALLY overspend. $1 overspent carries the same penalty as $20 million overspent.

Next: To Trade Or Not To Trade?

The other take-away here? Atlanta is opening the pocketbook for this season… which will bring a big infusion of new talent in several years.

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