Cubs Agree To Deals With 13 International Prospects
The Chicago Cubs agreed to terms with 13 international prospects on Monday, the first day of the signing period for 2024.
The agreements were reported by MLB Pipeline, Baseball America and the Chicago Sun-Times. The Cubs have not formally announced any agreements.
Nine of the Cubs’ agreements are with players from the Dominican Republic, including Fernando Cruz, whose agreement with the Cubs was announced earlier on Monday.
Nabbing Cruz was quite the coup for the Cubs, as the 17-year-old shortstop has trained with Mejia Top 10, a member of MLB's Trainer Partnership Program, and was MLB Pipeline’s No. 4 international prospect going into Monday.
The Cubs are set at shortstop for the next six years with Dansby Swanson, who signed a seven-year, $177 million deal last offseason, but most prospects are long-term plays when signed internationally. Most, if not all of these players will start their pro careers in the Dominican Summer League.
MLB Pipeline describes Cruz as “… a hitter capable of spraying the ball to all fields because of his tremendously strong hands and forearms, (he) has enough strength in his swing to enable him to hit the ball to right field as if he were a left-handed batter.”
Cruz reportedly agreed to a $4 million deal, which is a considerable part of their $5.512 million international bonus pool. If the Cubs have money left, they have until Dec. 15 to use it.
Chicago Cubs 2024 International Agreements
Fernando Cruz, SS, Dominican Republic
Robin Ortiz, OF, Dominican Republic
Yander Maria, RHP, Dominican Republic
Diego Gonzalez, C, Venezuela
Frailin Alejo, RHP, Dominican Republic
Juan Monso, SS, Dominican Republic
Ezequiel Peña, SS, Dominican Republic
Enyel Rosario, SS, Dominican Republic
Edgardo de Leon, SS, Dominican Republic
Julian Duran, RHP, Dominican Republic
Isaac Moscote, 2B, Columbia
Cesar Lugo, OF, Venezuela
Jesus Rodriguez, OF, Venezuela
