Interest for the next phenom from Cuba is heating up, and teams are lining up for the chance to sign him. What teams are a perfect fit for the young slugger?
According to MLBTradeRumors, there are a total of nine teams already interested in the newest Cuban free agent phenom Lazaro Aramenteros. In case you are wondering who this guy is, like most casual MLB fans, let’s first take a look at what “Lazarito” offers to the the interested parties.
Dubbed as the “Cuban Bryce Harper” and the next Cuban star to take over Major League Baseball, Lazaro Arameteros is an interesting player. He is only 16 years old and is already displaying a ridiculous tool set. MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez believes that he will command a $15-$20 million signing bonus which is a hefty amount for a kid who has yet to see his 17th birthday.
Lazarito is a player who will no doubt display all five tools, and have the ability to be the kind of middle-of-the-order bat that doesn’t come around often. There is no doubt that Lazarito will be highly sought after.
The important thing to note about Lazarito’s impending signing is that he will be signed for an amount well above any team’s international bonus pool. This means that the team in question will face penalties from MLB. The penalties are a 100 percent bonus tax payed directly to MLB.
The other stiff penalty is likely the most important, as the team in question will receive a ban on international signings above $300,000, and this ban stretches over the two signing periods after the signing. While good finds can still be had in areas like the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Panama at that price, this likely eliminates the team from signing any significant amateur Cuban free agent.
Today, we are going to take a look at the teams that Lazarito fits best on. While we aim to inform you on who Lazarito could sign with, there are a number of teams not in the running of the services for the Cuban phenom because they have already gone over the bonus pool in the previous year.
According to MLB Trade Rumors, this eliminates the Angels, Diamondbacks, Rays, Red Sox, and Yankees. With three out of the five of those being really big players, that significantly limits Lazarito’s suitors.
Next: Hotlanta
Atlanta Braves
This is a pretty interesting one. The Braves have for all intents and purposes given up on competing in the 2016 season and maybe even the 2017 season. They have traded away their best pitcher in Shelby Miller and before that had already gotten rid of several members of their team.
Rumors have been swirling that the Braves not only have interest in Lazarito, but also have interest in blowing past their international spending limit when the July 2 international signing period begins. The one player the Braves have their eyes set on the most is Kevin Maitan of Venezuela.
This Venezuelan SS has been dubbed as baseball’s next Miguel Cabrera, having power that goes well beyond what normal 16-year-old players possess. The cupboard has been bare for the Atlanta Braves and with their recent tanking actions, but they have acquired some good prospects to help their farm system out.
A slew of talented international players like Lazarito, Maitan, and more will help them turn things around in the NL East, but it will likely take a long time for them to do so. Once the spending limit is passed for the Braves, expect the signings to come fast and furious.
Next: Lovable Winners
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are no longer the “lovable losers”, as they were once dubbed. After advancing to and ultimately losing the NLCS, they dropped a lot of cash on guys like Jason Heyward, Ben Zobrist, and John Lackey. The Cubs also brought in one of the top Cuban prospects in Edy Julio Martinez earlier in the offseason.
Theo Epstein’s Cubs are focused on not just winning the Central Division, but they are focused on building a team that is continually contending like the rival St. Louis Cardinals. So, seeing them go after a 16-year-old Cuban prospect is of no surprise.
The Cubs already bolster a pretty stacked outfield with Kyle Schwarber, Jorge Soler, and the aforementioned Jason Heyward. Throw in Martinez who will be ready in a few years and the Cubs interest in a future corner outfielder may seem odd, but given Heyward has an opt-out after the third year of his contract the Cubs are smartly interested in adding yet another Cuban talent to their system.
Aside from the Dodgers, not many have been more active on this front than the Cubs. However, this has its repercussions, as the Cubs will not be able to partake in the July 2 international signing frenzy that will include guys like Maitan and the newly defected Gourriel brothers. So, if Lazarito chooses to wait until then to sign, you can count the Cubs out.
Next: The Evil Empire of the Midwest
St. Louis Cardinals
Everything points to the St. Louis Cardinals being huge players at the upcoming July 2 international signing period. While there is no public knowledge of their interest in the Cuban phenom at the moment, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch says that the Cardinals are without a doubt hot on the trail of Kevin Maitan, the Venezuealan prospect we talked about earlier.
This means that the Cardinals are undoubtedly going to go over their international bonus pool. Comments regarding the Cardinals making a big splash this offseason went without justification, as the team whiffed on David Price and Jason Heyward, making the only significant signing being their inking of Mike Leake.
This was largely due to the market and the team’s remaining players, but the Cardinals have many reasons to go after an amateur free agent like Lazarito. The Cardinals currently lack a flashy dynamic prospect in their system like Lazarito, so adding him would be a huge gain for the Cardinals.
However, if Lazarito prefers to sign with a team before the beginning of the season, you can count the Cardinals out. The Cardinals value Maitan way too much, and according to Baseball America’s Ben Badler, they have their eyes set on two prospects who are likely to sign during the July 2 international period.
Badler also mentions that an addition like Lazarito could come at a time when the Cardinals are preparing to potentially see a loss of draft picks because of the hacking scandal involving former Scouting Director Chris Correa, making their likelihood to sign internationally greater.
Next: The Big Spenders
Los Angeles Dodgers
While the Dodgers are under new management and have a more thrifty mindset, that won’t preclude them from going after yet another top Cuban talent much like they have already done. This signing would actually be more up the Dodgers’ alley now with the renewed focus on the farm system that Andrew Friedman has brought.
Another factor in this deal is the state of the relationship with the Dodgers and their first Cuban prospect, Yasiel Puig. Currently, things are not so hot right now with them and Puig’s name has been dangled in trade rumors and has been ran through the mud by former teammates as well. However, adding a guy like Lazarito would not only put a fire underneath the young right fielder, but it would also give him a guy he can relate to and mentor.
Such a thing like this would pay dividends for the Dodgers, as not only does it give them an elite talent set to come up in a couple of years, it could also help Puig “grow up” and become the player he has the potential to be. It’s no secret the Dodgers have a strong relationship with Cuba and this could be an elite move for the club.
Imagining a future outfield of Lazarito, Joc Pederson, and Puig is quite enticing for Dodgers fans. However, like the Cubs, if the signing doesn’t happen before the season, the Dodgers will be out of the running for Lazarito. Which is not likely.
Next: San Francisco
San Francisco Giants
Yes, you are reading this correctly. It is time for the Giants to start making a play for these top international prospects. This team may have three World Series championships in the past six seasons, but they don’t have many exciting prospects, and have not been a big player in the Cuban market to date.
However, this may change with this signing period. Much like the teams mentioned before them, they pick at the back of the draft each year, where elite talent is usually not around. So, adding a prospect in their system like Lazarito would be a great boost to their team. With guys like Hunter Pence and Angel Pagan on the doorstep of retirement in a few seasons, Lazarito would bring a welcome youthful presence to the Giants’ system.
It would give them that elite prospect that fans talk about for years. Not only that but it would open them up for more dealings in the international market, giving them a voice in an area lush with top prospects.
With the recent free agent dealings, the Giants have showed us their willingness to spend money to acquire a player in need. Considering none of the Giants top 10 prospects according to Baseball Prospectus being outfielders, I think that this is a no-brainer for a team in danger of becoming irrelevant in the NL West.
Next: Brotherly Love Tanking
Philadelphia Phillies
This is a team that has finally gotten the idea that they are not a good team and they will not compete any time soon. As late as it may be, they are finally committed to their farm system. The team could make a big splash here with all of the old contracts coming off the books.
If this happens, they will be dancing in the streets of Philadelphia. While the team has had promising outfield prospects like Dominic Brown and John Mayberry Jr. in the past, Lazarito is of a different breed and would give them their first player with a chance to be in the Ryan Howard territory for years.
While this team may be in a state of disarray now, they are committed to rebuilding their farm system again in an effort to become relevant in the NL East once more. With the Nationals’ loss of Jordan Zimmermann, lack of “impact” signings this offseason, and potential loss of Bryce Harper in a couple years, this division could swing into a Phillies and Mets division yet again. However, the Phillies will need to make impact signings like Lazarito in order to have a chance.
One could argue that the Phillies need to do more than just sign a Lazarito. This is true, but the recent trades of Chase Utley and Cole Hamels show that they are finally ready to rebuild. Look for the Phillies to start to attempt a Cubs-like rebuild, and that includes making international splashes like Lazarito.
Next: The Pads
San Diego Padres
Now we get into what is being reported as the true favorite to land Lazarito. Maybe this was what the seemingly one-sided trade of Jedd Gyorko was all about. I will admit that this one simply doesn’t make a whole lot of sense for either the team or the player. Lazarito is a sweet-swinging outfield prospect, and while the Padres need outfielders after the departure of Justin Upton, power doesn’t usually play well in Petco Park.
Regardless, the Padres are interested in spending money again. This would be the right way this time, as they are finally taking stock in what is known as one of the worst farm systems in baseball. One doesn’t often think of the Padres as a big spender, but with their moves last offseason it is well known that the time is willing to get into spending sprees when it needs to.
If the Padres were to sign Lazarito, he would immediately become one of their top-five prospects. However, they will need more than Lazarito to complete their partial rebuild. I would think that if this signing happens we would likely see the club part ways with their starting pitcher James Shields by the trade deadline.
This would give the team some much needed salary relief and give them another good prospect or two to add to their system. Much like San Francisco this would start a presence for the Padres on the international front, and would add yet another team to the list of big spenders gobbling up the top prospects from Latin America.