Astros Agree To Deal With Top 50 International Prospect
The Houston Astros are assembling their 2024 international signing class and have agreed to a deal with a Top 50 prospect per MLB Pipeline.
The deal, not formally announced by the Astros, is with Dominican Republic Anderson Paula, an outfielder who is rated No. 49 overall by MLB Pipeline.
The Astros have a $5.284 million pool for signings. Given where Paula is slotted in the rankings, the organization should have more money to spend as the day continues.
The window for signings opened on Monday and remains open until Dec. 15.
Last January the Astros landed a pair of Top 25 players when it signed No. 17 shortstop Camilo Diaz and No. 21 outfielder Esmil Valencia. Combined, the Astros spent $3.35 million on the pair.
Where they are reveals the nature of the time needed to develop international prospects. The pair are the No. 28 and No. 29 prospects in the Astros’ organization, respectively. Both spent last season with the Astros’ teams in the Dominican Summer League, with Valencia batting .262 and Diaz batting .209.
MLB Pipeline projects the pair will be ready for the Majors in 2028. Both are 18 years old.
Jose Altuve was also an international signee by the Astros. Signed in 2007 out of Venezuela, he made his MLB debut four years later.
Paula joins an organization that is attempting to build depth in the outfield after giving up two top outfield prospects in a trade last August to re-acquire pitcher Justin Verlander.
The Astros’ top prospect is an outfielder, Jacob Melton. So is No. 2 prospect Luis Baez. But neither is projected to be ready for the Majors in 2024.
Scouts at MLB Pipeline see Paula “has tons of power potential, and that tool makes him one of the most intriguing international prospects on the market. He shows power to all fields, and his approach will get better once he begins to train with the Astros.”
