Touted shortstop among international signings

MIAMI -- The Phillies signed three players Wednesday on the first day of the international signing period.

They signed Venezuelan shortstop Arquimedes Gamboa, one of the top infielders on the international market, for $900,000. Gamboa ranked No. 15 on MLB.com's Top 30 International Prospects list. They also signed Venezuelan shortstop Daniel Brito for $650,000 and Panamanian left-hander Jhon Nunez for close to $100,000.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said they planned to use most or all of their $3.2 million allotted for international players.

"Three signed and working on others," Amaro said. "We'll find out more in the next 24 hours."

Gamboa -- a 5-foot-11, 158-pound switch-hitter -- is an athletic shortstop with a solid skill set. He is expected to hit for power in the future, and there is a belief that he is a better hitter from the right side of the plate.

Known for his quick feet and good balance on defense, Gamboa is versatile enough to play multiple infield positions. Scouts like his bat control, but there is room for improvement on offense. He is from Cumana, Venezuela, and is trained by Denis Leonett.

In accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement, each team is allotted a $700,000 base and a bonus pool based on the team's record in 2013 for the international signing period. Philadelphia's bonus pool total for this year's signing period is $3,221,800.