While the offseason itself has been frankly boring when it comes to the Atlanta Braves, things are going to start heating up pretty quickly. No one really believes that Alex Anthopoulos is just going to do nothing besides cut payroll this offseason and spring training gets started in a month, so time is a-ticking. However, another important part of the offseason is coming up fast with the start of international free agency.
Despite attempts to institute an international draft during the last CBA negotiations, the existing international free agency system remains in place. That means understanding an arcane system that is different from every other free agent market in baseball. Fortunately, we have you covered.
Explaining international free agency and how much the Braves can actually spend
Previously, international free agency started in early July. However, a change that was put in place during the pandemic has stuck to move the start of international free agency to the offseason which, honestly, seems to have been a good change. This year, international free agency opens up on January 15, 2025. Most of the guys of note (other than Roki Sasaki, of course) have long had handshake deals in place with teams, but 1/15 is the earliest when those deals can be made official.
Aside from specific age and eligibility requirements for the players involved, the biggest defining factor of international free agency is the bonus pool system. Teams are given a set amount of pool money that they can spend on IFA players which is basically derived from the size of their draft pools with a couple other variables including QO signing penalties, etc. The Braves' international bonus pool for this IFA period is $6,261,600. They can acquire up to 60% more in international bonus pool in trades, but that is going to be a bit tougher this year with teams trying to scrounge up pool money to land Sasaki.
The Braves' expected 2025 international signing class is headlined by Diego Tornes
While the Braves will likely be signing a bunch of international free agents during this period, three names stand out based on the bonuses they are expected to get. Without question, the top name the Braves are expected to sign is Diego Tornes, a Cuban outfielder who is a switch-hitter with big time raw power and bat speed. According to Baseball America, Tornes is expected to get the fifth highest bonus in all of MLB during this signing period.
An VERY intriguing name that just recently got on fans' radars is RHP Raudy Reyes. While his expected bonus is only expected to just barely crack the top 20 during this signing period, Reyes has burst on to the scene as a 16 year old out of the Dominican Republic that is already throwing triple digit heat. He is still raw and will need to learn some secondary pitches, but $1.8 million for a kid that is already throwing that kind of gas is an absolute bargain.
Two scouts with other teams said #Braves have $1.8M agreement w/ 16-yo Dominican Raudy Manuel Reyes Abreu, an RHP who had growth spurt in past year, changed his mechanics, and increased his velo from low/mid 90s to 102 mph. He’s 6-3 and 210 lbs. Signing period starts Wednesday.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) January 13, 2025
Finally, the Braves are also expected to sign shortstop Angel Carmona out of Venezula. While Carmona isn't a marquee name in this class, Atlanta managed to snatch him away from the Rangers and did so due to his strong arm that should play at short or third base and the potential to grow into real power assuming he fills out his body the way some think it will.