MLB Top Prospects: A big international signing bonus doesn’t always lead to top prospects

Big-money Cubans

In a market that will no longer exist in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, young Cuban players were able to sign for not just low 7-figure bonuses, but up to 8-figure bonuses, with the top being the $31.5 million the Red Sox gave to Yoan Moncada in February of 2015. The most recent 8-figure deal is the biggest one on this list.

There are currently six players on the top 150 from Cuba, and by order of signing bonus, they would rank:

• Luis Robert, OF, Chicago White Sox, $26 million, #44
• Yadier Alvarez, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, $16 million, #81
• Yusniel Diaz, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers, $15.5 million, #131
• Adrian Morejon, LHP, San Diego Padres, $11 million, #83
• Michel Baez, RHP, San Diego Padres, $3 million, #38
• Yordan Alvarez, 1B/OF, Houston Astros, $2 million, #121

With four 8-figure signees on the 150 MLB top prospects list, Cubans by far have the most money represented in signing bonuses of any country. Because of the new CBA, future Cuban signees won’t be able to sign for the money that the players mentioned above.

The Cubans have had the heavy end of the market, so what has the “cheap” end looked like?

Next: Bargain bin