One of the areas of baseball most impacted by the Covid-19 shutdown and the financial uncertainties around it is the International Free Agent market. Traditionally this avenue for acquiring players opens up to teams on July 2 each year, which is where the term J2 comes from. The 2019-20 market was extended into October this past year, which has pushed the 2020-21 International Free Agent market into today, January 15.
If you’re looking for full evaluations on these players you’ll have to wait until we have more information or get to see them on tape against other professionals. The team board type writeups that we know you enjoy will have to wait, but if you’re craving full evaluations on these players go to Baseball America and check out Ben Badler’s work. Most of the information gathered here will come from Baseball America or any video of these players I can find on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, etc. Here’s a brief but informative international preview on all 30 clubs.
Atlanta Braves
Available Bonus: $1,572,000
Top Player: SS Ambioris Tavarez
Quick Summary: The Braves are stuck with the lowest bonus allotment this year, losing 50 percent due to the sanctions placed on them and an additional $500,000 for the Marcell Ozuna signing. Despite that they managed to nab SS Ambioris Tavarez, one of the more interesting prospects in the class because of his power and arm. The Braves couldn’t sign anyone for over $10,000 last season. He ranked 67th on our 2021 FYPD list.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Available Bonus: $5,889,600
Top Player: SS Manuel Peña
Quick Summary: The Diamondbacks have developed some high profile shortstops from the international market the last few years in Jazz Chisholm, Geraldo Perdomo and Liover Peguero. They are going back up the middle this year for a pair of interesting prospects. SS Manuel Peña is a left-handed bat with exciting offensive tools and ranked 108th on our FYPD Ranks. SS Jefferson Peña has a compact build with good speed and power despite his build.
Baltimore Orioles
Available Bonus: $5,889,600
Top Player: SS Maikol Hernandez
Quick Summary: The Orioles are new to this market and got involved late last year and still managed to sign LHP Luis Ortiz (who ranks 35th on our Orioles prospect list). This year they are adding SS Maikol Hernandez and C Samuel Basallo, both players are getting over seven figures. Hernandez projects as an all-around shortstop that should display all five tools and ranks 66th on our FYPD Ranks. Basallo is one of the younger players in the class. A left-handed hitting catcher with some pop.
Boston Red Sox
Available Bonus: $5,348,100
Top Player: OF Miguel Bleis
Quick Summary: The Red Sox big 2019 IFA signee was Chih-Jung Liu, who checks in as the 17th ranked prospect on our Red Sox team board. This year their top target is OF Miguel Bleis (106th on our FYPD), a power hitting corner outfielder from the Dominican Republic. Other notable signees are C Enderso Lira and SS Luis Ravelo.
Chicago Cubs
Available Bonus: $5,348,100
Top Player: SS Cristian Hernandez
Quick Summary: SS Cristian Hernandez is one of the better prospects in this class. He should be a mainstay on T100 lists for years to come once he starts playing in games and is our top FYPD J2 name and 11th overall on the list. The Cubs are also going back to Venezuela for a catching prospect after signing two last season. (Ronnier Quintero and Brayan Altuve) C Moises Ballesteros has interesting offensive skills. In addition to the two catchers the Cubs also signed SS Kevin Made in last year's class. They’ve also traded for two 2019 J2 players, acquiring SS Reginald Preciado and OF Ismael Mena from the Padres for Yu Darvish.
Chicago White Sox
Available Bonus: $5,348,100
Top Player: OF Yoelqui Cespedes
Quick Summary: The White Sox took an unusual approach to this market, yet a familiar one at the same time. The three players the White Sox are linked to are three of the older international prospects. 23 year old OF Yoelqui Cespedes is a tooled up Cuban that has hit tool questions. RHP Norge Vera has long been rumored to have a deal with the White Sox. He sits in the low-90s with good breaking ball feel. OF Oscar Colas is rumored to have a deal with the White Sox but is likely to wait until next year's signing period to secure a larger bonus. All three are from Cuba, which isn’t a surprise looking at the White Sox roster. Their biggest international signing last season was SS Yolbert Sanchez, also from Cuba.
Cincinnati Reds
Available Bonus: $6,431,000
Top Player: OF Malvin Valdez
Quick Summary: The Reds are traditionally quiet in the non-Cuban portion of the J2 market, but not this year as they are linked to two OFs getting a bonus around $1,500,000 or $2,000,000. OF Ariel Almonte has strong offensive skills with the arm and future frame for right field. I slightly prefer OF Malvin Valdez though due to his power/speed tools and ability to stick in center. They are also linked to SS Carlos Jorge. The top non-Cuban signee in the organization is SS Braylin Minier, who they signed last season that is our 20th ranked Reds prospect.
Cleveland Indians
Available Bonus: $5,889,600
Top Player: SS Angel Genao
Quick Summary: The Indians are quickly becoming middle infielder U, much like college football programs excel at developing certain positions, the Indians are the best at developing middle infielders. Their two big international prospects fit that bill. SS Angel Genao and SS Fran Alduey are both switch-hitting middle infielders with good bat-to-ball skills. Genao is the more physical of the pair. Our Indians team board has a whopping 17 middle infielders on the list, and among them is their best player from the 2019 class, SS Jose Pastrano, who is ranked 44th in a loaded system.
Colorado Rockies
Available Bonus: $5,889,600
Top Player: OF Felix Tena
Quick Summary: OF Felix Tena projects as a power hitting corner outfielder due to his strength and size. The rest of the Rockies class is primarily pitchers with average or better stuff. RHP Brayan Perez Volquez is a projectable arm with big league blood lines with good feel for a changeup. RHPs Yordy Vargas and Derian Morejon have low-90s fastballs but throw strikes consistently. The Rockies are expected to sign OF Dylan Jorge, but he’s holding out for a larger bonus by signing in 2022. SS Adeal Amador was the prize from the 2019 class and he’s a top ten prospect in the organization with growing offensive tools.
Detroit Tigers
Available Bonus: $6,431,000
Top Player: SS Cristian Santana
Quick Summary: The Tigers are signing SS Cristian Santana for just over $3,000,000. The infielder isn’t likely to stick at short but should stay on the infield. He has a promising hit tool. SS Abel Bastidas is more athletic and might stick at short despite his size. Detroit is also signing RHP Rayner Castillo. Detroit has spent big the last two international signing periods on Roberto Campos (2019), Jose De La Cruz and Adinso Reyes (2018). They’ve diversified and are taking the more athletic approach this time around.
Houston Astros
Available Bonus: $5,348,100
Top Player: OF Pedro Leon
Quick Summary: Despite his lack of size, OF Pedro Leon has some impressive tools. It’s easy to see why the Astros are giving him $4,000,000 and why he ranks 27th in our FYPD. There’s some uncertainty with Cuban prospects due to how grueling the defection process can be, and it often means two or three years without playing in competitive games. Not to mention all the off the field issues that come with it. Despite not having first round picks in 2020 or 2021, the Astros strategy here mimics their draft. Get one big piece, and chip away later with a smaller pool. In the draft they grabbed RHP Alex Santos, and here they get Pedro Leon.
Kansas City Royals
Available Bonus: $5,889,600
Top Player: SS Daniel Vasquez
Quick Summary: The Royals are spreading the money around this time with the top bonus being somewhere between $1,500,000 and $2,000,000. SS Daniel Vasquez has a projectable frame and intriguing skills on both sides of the ball. He’s drawn some gaudy comps based on his frame. SS Yosmi Fernandez is a switch hitter with good skills, just needs to add weight. 2019 top international signee Erick Pena is a prospect on the rise and already on Top 100 lists.
Los Angeles Angels
Available Bonus: $4,732,700
Top Player: SS Denzer Guzman
Quick Summary: Last year the Angels spent big on SS Arol Vera, and this year SS Denzer Guzman is their big acquisition. They are similar players with projectable frames that could lead to above-average or better power. Both are likely better fits at third as well. Guzman ranked 110th on our FYPD list.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Available Bonus: $5,348,100
Top Player: SS Wilmin Diaz
Quick Summary: The Dodgers have done very well in the last few international classes picking up OF Luis Rodriguez last season and C Diego Cartaya, OF Andy Pages and INF Alex De Jesus in 2019. SS Wilmin Diaz should continue that trend as he’s one of the top J2 prospects in the class. He’s a premium athlete that already gets to his power in games. He clocks in at 25th on our FYPD. His eventual size might move him to third. C Jesus Galiz was a late addition to the class.
Miami Marlins
Available Bonus: $6,431,000
Top Player: SS Yiddi Cappe
Quick Summary: SS Yiddi Cappe originally agreed to sign with the Marlins during last J2 class but held out until 2020-21 to squeeze out a higher bonus from the Marlins. Cappe is expected to sign for around $3,500,000. Cappe fits in nicely with the 2019 J2 class, led by SS Jose Salas and SS Ian Lewis.
Milwaukee Brewers
Available Bonus: $6,431,000
Top Player: OF Jackson Chourio
Quick Summary: The Brewers do extremely well in Venezuela, and that trend continued in 2020-21 as they signed a pair of high profile Venezuelans. Projectable OF Jackson Chourio has good bat speed and up the middle traits and runs extremely well. SS Gregory Barrios is a switch-hitter with good contact skills and strong defensive qualities. SS Daniel Guilarte has shown some offensive promise as well. 2019 J2 signing OF Hedbert Perez has everyday regular upside and C Jeferson Quero may have had an under the radar breakout at instructs and the alt site.
Minnesota Twins
Available Bonus: $6,431,000
Top Player: SS Danny De Andrade
Quick Summary: SS Danny De Andrade has some pull-side pop and good plate skills, but is likely to move off of short and to third base. SS Freddy La Flor runs well but his small stature limits his power potential. The Twins signed OF Emmanuel Rodriguez in last years class for $2,500,000, and OF Misael Urbina headlined the class before that.
New York Yankees
Available Bonus: $4,323,700
Top Player: SS Hans Montero
Quick Summary: The Yankees are one of the premier organizations in Latin America, and a quick glance at their prospect list will show you just how well they do in this market. Last year they made a big splash, signing super prospect Jasson Dominguez out of the Dominican Republic for $5,100,000. They aren’t making as big a splash this season, but SS Hans Montero is getting a rumored seven figure bonus. He’s not a physical specimen but should stick up the middle with good hands.
New York Mets
Available Bonus: $5,348,100
Top Player: OF Gustavo Marquez
Quick Summary: The Mets J2 class lacks the big impact signings of last offseason, RHP Robert Dominguez and OF Alexander Ramirez. The Mets are signing more players by spreading the bonus allotment around. OF Gustavo Marquez has a sturdy frame with good pull-side pop. They are also linked to OF Johairo Cuevas and RHP Elian Nuñez.
Oakland Athletics
Available Bonus: $5,348,100
Top Player: OF Pedro Pineda
Quick Summary: The A’s went big last year with SS Robert Puason, and this time around they are signing OF Pedro Pineda to most of their allotted pool. Pineda has a massive hitch in his swing, which can be fixed, but right now he’s so quick to the ball he doesn’t need to mess with anything yet. He has one of the better power/speed combinations in this group and ranked 32nd in our FYPD list.
Philadelphia Phillies
Available Bonus: $4,732,700
Top Player: C Ricardo Perez
Quick Summary: The Phillies big splash right before the shutdown was OF Yhoswar Garcia, and this class is more of a spread the wealth approach. C Ricardo Perez projects as a bat first catcher that should stick at the position. The left-handed batter should settle in as a power over hit tool type. OF Yemal Flores has legitimate power but lacks present secondary skills.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Available Bonus: $5,889,600
Top Player: OF Shalin Polanco
Quick Summary: The Pirates are giving OF Shalin Polanco around $2,500,000 to sign. Polanco has one of the better swings in the class. Already quick to the ball, Polanco can drive the ball pull side. He has a wide range of outcomes with some questions about if he’s power over hit or vice versa, but I’m confident in his offensive skills.
Seattle Mariners
Available Bonus: $5,348,100
Top Player: 3B/1B Starlin Aguilar
Quick Summary: The Mariners are spreading their allotment around and adding multiple players while still getting some high upside types. 3B/1B Starlin Aguilar is the top player, coming from one of the premier academies in the Dominican Republic. The lefty bat has big power, but some concerns about the frame and ability to stick at third. OF Gabriel Gonzalez has big raw power, and a frame to get excited about. OF Luis Bolivar might be the fastest in the class and stick in center. The Mariners are also signing 20-year old Cuban OF Victor Labrada. The Mariners have had two of the better international signings over the last few seasons, with OF Julio Rodriguez and SS Noelvi Marte signing in 2017 and 2018. In 2019 their highest bonus went to OF George Feliz.
St. Louis Cardinals
Available Bonus: $5,889,600
Top Player: SS Adari Grant
Quick Summary: SS Adari Grant from the Bahamas is a really good athlete that will stick somewhere in the middle of the diamond. He’s a plus runner but lacks power due to frame. C Leonardo Bernal from Panama is a defense first backstop. A switch-hitter that has had success at the plate in several international tournaments. Just like 2019-20 the Cardinals are staying in the shallow end of the pool, going with a quantity over quality approach to the J2 field.
San Diego Padres
Available Bonus: $5,889,600
Top Player: SS Victor Acosta
Quick Summary: The Padres are one of the most active teams in this market, and their monster 2016 class is still a legendary one. Those type of classes won’t happen again under these new rules, but the Padres are still acquiring significant talent. SS Victor Acosta is a switch-hitter that should contribute on all facets. The Padres are also getting two Venezuelan OFs, Samuel Zavala and Daniel Montestino. Zavala ore likely to stick in center while Montestino will have more power but likely need it as he shifts to a corner. RHP Victor Lizarraga is a Mexican righty that is expected to sign for $1,000,000. Good frame can sits in the low-90s with a pair of secondaries. The Padres have already traded their two biggest J2 signings from last offseason, Reginald Preciado and Ismael Mena.
San Francisco Giants
Available Bonus: $5,348,100
Top Player: SS Diego Velasquez
Quick Summary: The Giants might have the overall top class without spending large on one player. Instead they are getting nearly a dozen dudes in the six figure range, and be sure to check Baseball America for the full list. SS Diego Velasquez is a thin, projectable athlete that should stick at short. SS Ramon Peralta projects to stick at the position and hit for some power. OF Bryan Guzman also brings impressive raw power to the table. Last season’s top international product was SS Aeverson Arteaga was a well rounded Venezuelan product.
Tampa Bay Rays
Available Bonus: $6,431,000
Top Player: SS Carlos Colmenarez
Quick Summary: SS Carlos Colmenarez is one of the top players in this market, and he’s been a known commodity for while now. He’s a left-handed hitter that has above-average offensive skills and the ability to stick on the dirt. He ranked 28th overall in our FYPD list.OF Jhonny Piron is expected to get between $1,500,000 and $2,000,000. He’s a strong defender with a nice power and speed combination. Last years top J2 signing was OF Jhon Diaz, and the year prior was SS Alejandro Pie and RHP Sandy Gaston.
Texas Rangers
Available Bonus: $5,348,100
Top Player: OF Yeison Morrobel
Quick Summary: The Rangers had a big 2019 class, signing SS Maximo Acosta and OF Bayron Lora, and while this class lacks the top end talent it is one of the deeper J2 classes this year. The headliner is OF Yeison Morrobel and he might be one of the most projectable prospects in this class. Does everything well and should even hit for some power as he ages. SS Danyer Cueva is a contact oriented middle infielder. SS Yeferson Tineo has a similar skill set as Cueva, but is more physical with even more projection.
Toronto Blue Jays
Available Bonus: $5,348,100
Top Player: SS Manuel Beltre
Quick Summary: SS Manuel Beltre has one of the more interesting backgrounds for an international prospect. He’s played several tournaments stateside and the Dominican prospect actually has a college commitment to FIU. He’s got sneaky pop and is getting a signing bonus well into the seven figures. SS Martin Gimenez has one of the more projectable frames you’ll find (6’3” 160) and should hit for power. The Blue Jays look to have another strong class, and the 2019 class brought them SS Rikelvin de Castro, SS Estiven Machado and 3B/OF Peniel Brito.
Washington Nationals
Available Bonus: $5,348,100
Top Player: SS Armando Cruz
Quick Summary: The Nationals have one of the best track records in this market, and are spending $4,000,000 of their just over $5,000,000 bonus on SS Armando Cruz. He has some of the best hands in the class and will stick at shortstop. Last seasons top international signee was RHP Andry Lara, who is now one of the top arms in the organization. This is a team that’s built their core through this market. When they spend big on a player you pat attention.