The Miami Marlins are continuing their quest to corner the market on international bonus pool money with their trade with the Houston Astros.
There is no secret that the Miami Marlins covet Victor Victor Mesa. In fact, their entire offseason strategy appears to be centered around his signing, as well as that of his brother, Victor Mesa Jr., and possibly fellow Cuban Sandy Gaston. However, the Orioles still have more international cap room, potentially making them the favorites to land the talented Cuban prospect.
However, the Marlins have done their best to change that. Through various trades, they are thought to be close to the Marlins total for bonus money. And yet, Miami still is not satisfied, having acquired even more money in a trade with the Houston Astros.
According to a source, the Marlins received $500K in International pool money from Astros in today's deal. https://t.co/88Hl1cLNGS
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) October 16, 2018
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
As the Astros are the penalty when it comes to signing international prospects, they can only spend up to $400,000 on any individual player. Instead, they were able to use their cap money to bring in two recent international signees in Adonis Giron and Brayan De Paula. Both minor leaguers were on the Astros Dominican Summer League team this past year, making their ascension to the majors a long term process.
Nonetheless, there were signs of promise for both players. Giron posted a decent .255/.331/.362 batting line, hitting three homers and stealing 12 bases, although he was caught eight times. De Paula, in his second year in the DSL, posted a 2.23 ERA and a 1.286 WHiP, striking out 45 batters in 44.1 innings.
Despite the potential upside for those two players, the Marlins have other targets in mind. They have already proven to be all-in on acquiring the Mesa brothers with their earlier trades, including the decision to send Kyle Barraclough to the Washington Nationals. In adding even more money to their pool, they are just furthering that commitment to landing the Cuban prospects.
The Miami Marlins have acquired even more international cap room. But will that be enough?