Dodgers to ink pair of top 10 int'l prospects
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The Dodgers have established themselves as one of the most active teams on the international market, and they are once again off to a good start.
According to industry sources, the club has an agreement worth $2,697,500 with shortstop Wilman Diaz, No. 3 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 International Prospects List, and another deal worth $812,500 with catcher Jesus Galiz, No. 8, both of Venezuela.
The Dodgers have not confirmed the deals.
Diaz’s combination of present ability to hit and future upside at a premium position make him the highest-ranked teen in the class. At the plate, he has a plus hit tool with excellent bat speed and a knack for recognizing pitches. He developed his bat tool and made a name for himself while playing for Venezuela’s youth teams back home in Aragua.
On defense, Diaz shows plus arm potential and plus actions at shortstop.
Galiz, who had previously been linked to the Yankees, has quick feet, a strong arm and is known for his high baseball IQ. He still displays the athleticism he once showed at shortstop and has emerged as the top catching prospect on the international market. At the plate, Galiz features a compact swing and has shown the ability to drive the ball to all fields.
According to the rules established by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, clubs that receive a Competitive Balance Pick in Round B of the Rule 4 Draft have the most money to spend on international prospects, with a pool of $6,431,000. Clubs that receive a Competitive Balance Pick in Round A of the Rule 4 Draft receive the second most at $5,889,600.
The Dodgers have bonus pools of $5,348,100.
Unlike in previous years, teams are not allowed to trade any of their international pool money. Signing bonuses of $10,000 or less do not count toward a club's bonus pool, and foreign professional players who are at least 25 years of age and have played in a foreign league for at least six seasons are also exempt.