NEW YORK — Kendry Martinez, a Dominican infielder, has secured a significant deal worth $2.5 million with the Seattle Mariners, becoming one of 17 players to agree to seven-figure bonuses.
Over the initial two days of the international signing period, which commenced Wednesday and will continue until December 15, a total of 32 players have struck agreements worth $1 million or more.
Among the teams yet to finalize any contracts are the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays, both vying for the talented Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki. These two teams, along with the Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees, and Colorado Rockies, have retained their entire signing bonus pool allotment. Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres, who are also pursuing Sasaki, have completed one agreement for $10,000—this amount will not be counted against their bonus pool.
Sasaki is classified as an international amateur by Major League Baseball (MLB) due to his age (under 25) and the fact that he has not completed six seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Pursuant to the MLB-NPB posting agreement, he has until January 23 to finalize a contract with a major league team.
Other notable agreements this period include Dominican shortstop Wilfri De La Cruz, who signed with the Chicago Cubs for $2.3 million, and Venezuelan outfielder Yorger Bautista, who joined Seattle for $2.1 million. Dominican outfielder Kevin Alvarez secured $2 million with the Houston Astros, while Venezuelan shortstop Liberts Aponte agreed on $1.9 million with the Cincinnati Reds. Dominican right-hander Raudy Reyes signed for $1,797,500 with the Atlanta Braves, followed by Venezuelan infielder Eliomar Garces who signed for $1.6 million with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Additional agreements included Dominican infielder Juan Cabada with the Cubs for $1.5 million, Bahamian shortstop Ayden Johnson with the Athletics for $1.5 million, Dominican shortstop Dorian Soto with the Boston Red Sox for $1.4 million, Dominican outfielder Royelny Strop with St. Louis for $1.4 million, Dominican outfielder Kenny Fenelon with Milwaukee for $1.3 million, and Venezuelan infielder Yulian Barreto with San Francisco for $1,118,700, among others.
This signing period allows players born between September 1, 2007, and August 31, 2008, to sign contracts until its conclusion on December 15. At the beginning of the week, teams possessed signing bonus pools ranging between approximately $5.1 million and $7.6 million.
