This time: Feb. 19-26
Previous installment: Feb. 12-18
See also: Transactions Glossary

Atlanta Braves
Signed: C J.R. House, SS Edward Salcedo
Released: RHP Rico Reid, 1B Ryohei Shimabukuro

The Braves inked Salcedo, 18, to the richest bonus in franchise history ever handed out to an international amateur—$1.6 million. They've initiallly assigned him to the roster of the Gulf Coast League Braves, but Atlanta seems to think he'll be ready for low Class A Rome at some point in the near future.

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: RHP Armando Gabino, RHP Dennis Sarfate

Boston Red Sox
Released: LHP Jose Capellan [...] Continue Reading »

A team's international scouting efforts can take years to make a difference at the major league level.

Best case scenario, a team signs a 16-year-old from Latin America and he makes his big league debut as a 20-year-old four years later, a la Miguel Cabrera. In the case of less prodigious talent, it can take five to eight years (sometimes longer) between the time an international prospect signs and the point when he develops into a useful component of a major league club.

So while it might take another decade to figure out whether Twins shortstop Miguel Sano or Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez was the better player available on the 2009 international free agent market—or which team had the better overall international signing class—we can take a peek into the future to see which teams have been the most active procuring overseas talent.

One way to do so is to see which teams have signed the most international prospects in the 2010 Baseball America Prospect Handbook.

[...] Continue Reading »