Mariners land outfielder, two shortstops

The Mariners added a trio of top international prospects to their system and more could be on the way.

The club on Tuesday announced it had signed outfielder Lazaro Montes (No. 8 on MLB.com’s Top 50 International Prospects list), shortstop Michael Arroyo (No. 41) and No. 48 Martin Gonzalez, a shortstop from the Dominican Republic.

Terms were not disclosed, but according to industry sources, the club has agreed to deals with Montes signed for $2.5 million, Arroyo for $1,375,000 and Gonzalez for $1.3 million. The Mariners have a base signing pool of $5,179,700.

Montes will start in center field and could eventually move to a corner spot because of his body, but he has all of the tools to stay in the middle of the diamond.

For now, he projects to be an average defender with an average arm. Like most prospects his age, the 17-year-old is still working on his outfield routes and improving his overall range. He also projects to be an average runner. Seattle is banking on his impactful raw power and above-average athleticism.

Arroyo is known more for his hitting ability than his power potential, but there’s no denying his elite skills and feel for hitting. Overall, the 17-year-old has five-tool potential and could possess above-average tools across the board if he continues to develop at a normal pace.

He’s at shortstop now, but could end up at second base.

Gonzalez is a glove-first prospect, but he does make hard contact and boasts a projectable body that is expected to add strength. What he lacks in “now” power, he makes up for in hitting ability and potential.

On defense, he shows plus hands with smooth actions and is expected to be a plus defender. He projects to have an average arm and his range is improving.

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association finalized a deal in March 2020 that addressed the international signing period during the pandemic. The 2022 international signing period runs through Dec. 15, 2022, the second year in a row the period, which previously began July 2, started in January.

The current rules also state that 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.

Here are the prospects who have agreed to deals with the Mariners in the 2022 international signing period:

Lazaro Montes, OF, Cuba -- $2,500,000
Michael Arroyo, SS, Colombia -- $1,375,000
Martin Gonzalez, SS, Dominican Republic -- $1,300,000