The Rays have agreed to sign Dominican catcher Eric Otañez.  Bonus terms were not immediately available.

Otañez, a 16-year-old righthanded hitter out of La Academia, was one of the top Dominican catching prospects available among this year's July 2-eligible players. He is 6-foot-2, 195 pounds and has a strong arm. BA subscribers can access Otañez's full scouting report here.

At the beginning of the season, we took a look at the youngest players in each league. With the start of short-season and rookie leagues and plenty of in-season promotions, here's an updated look at the 10 youngest players in each league. [...] Continue Reading »

The International Baseball Federation announced two news items this week, one with an international competition that will play out in the fall, one that IBAF hopes will return in the future.

IBAF will stage a Baseball World Cup in October, with Panama as the host nation. The United States earned its spot in the event with a strong showing last September in the qualifier in Puerto Rico. Team USA, which is expected to have a roster full of minor leaguers to defend the title it won in 2009 in Europe, plays Pool A rival Japan in its opener. The rest of Pool A includes Canada, Greece, host Panama, Puerto Rico, the Netherlands and Taiwan.

Australia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Italy, Nicaragua, South Korea and Venezuela populate Pool B. [...] Continue Reading »

Here's the latest information we have reported on confirmed signings since the international signing period opened on July 2. Links go to the original reports of the signings. Baseball America subscribers have access to scouting reports on all of these players.

• Nomar Mazara, OF, Dominican Republic – Signed with Texas, reportedly for a record-breaking bonus around $5 million

The Yankees have signed Dominican third baseman Miguel Andujar. Update (5:15 pm): Andujar signed for for $750,000, the Dominican Prospect League announced.

Andujar, a 16-year-old from San Cristobal who played in the Dominican Prospect League, was one of the top third basemen in Latin America with a well-rounded skill set. At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, Andujar stood out with his righthanded bat at an international youth tournament in Venezuela in April.

Only BA subscribers have access to a full scouting report on Andujar and other top international prospects available for July 2.

The Red Sox have signed 16-year-old Dominican center fielder Manuel Marcos for $800,000.

Marcos, who trains with former scout Fred Ferreira, was one of the best athletes and defensive outfielders in Latin America. He is a 6-foot, 175-pound lefthanded hitter. Only BA subscribers can access Marcos' full scouting report. 

The Astros have signed Dominican shortstop Luis Reynoso for $700,000.

Reyonoso, 16, is a 6-foot, 170-pound righthanded hitter who trains with Victor Baez and played in the Dominican Prospect League. Reynoso is the second Latin American shortstop that Baseball America has confirmed signing with the Astros since the international signing period opened on Saturday. The Astros also agreed to terms with Venezuelan shortstop Arturo Michelena for $220,000.

Here is Baseball America's scouting report on Reynoso (BA subscriber only).

The Blue Jays have signed Dominican shortstop Dawel Lugo for $1.3 million.

Lugo, a righthanded hitter from Bani, was one of the top 16-year-old hitters available from the Dominican Prospect League. At 6 feet, 170 pounds, many scouts believe Lugo will end up at third base. Lugo so far has the top confirmed bonus for a Latin American infielder since the international signing period opened on July 2.

Baseball America subscribers can access Lugo's in-depth scouting report as well as reports from scouts on other top international prospects.

The Indians have made another international signing, agreeing to terms with Venezuelan outfielder Anthony Santander for $385,000.

Santander, a 16-year-old switch-hitter from Agua Blanca, has an athletic 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame and showed improving overall tools as July 2 approached. BA subscribers are able to read Santander's complete scouting report, as well as reports on other top Latin American players.

Santander is the third confirmed international signing for the Indians since the international signing period opened yesterday. The Indians also signed Domincian shortstop Dorssys Paulino for $1.1 million and Dominican outfielder Francisco Miguel for $200,000.

The Pirates have signed Venezuelan center fielder Elvis Escobar for $570,000.

Escobar, 16, is a 5-foot-9, 165-pound lefty with advanced baseball instincts and feel for hitting. Escobar comes from one of baseball's biggest families. He is the son of Jose Escobar, who played 10 games with Cleveland as a middle infielder in 1991. His older brother, Giants lefthander Edwin Escobar, signed with the Rangers for $350,000 in 2008. Kelvim Escobar and Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar are both cousins, as is Mariners short-season Everett righthander Vicente Campos.

Baseball America subscribers have access to Escobar's complete scouting report and other reports on top international prospects who became eligible to sign on July 2.

Escobar is the second major signing for the Pirates since the international signing period opened yesterday, when the organization agreed to terms with Colombian outfielder Harold Ramirez for $1.05 million. Ramirez and Escobar are both represented by Hugo Catrain.

The Mariners do not have any agreement with Dominican outfielder Helsin Martinez, according to Mariners vice president of international operations Bob Engle. The International Prospect League announced this morning that Martinez had signed with the Mariners for $2 million, which Baseball America reported, citing the IPL's announcement.

"We did not sign Martinez in the Dominican Republic," Engle said. "That is not correct at all. Whoever put out that information is totally inaccurate."

The IPL had also announced that the Royals signed Dominican outfielder Elier Hernandez for $3.05 million and that the Tigers signed Dominican third baseman Adelin Santa for $750,000.

Independence Day in the United States isn't until Monday, but in Latin America teams were already starting the fireworks.

Here's a roundup of confirmed international agreements from July 2, the first day of the international signing period. Expect more signings tomorrow and throughout the week as news continues to trickle in from our sources abroad. As always, Baseball America subscribers have access to scouting reports on all of these players.

• Nomar Mazara, OF, Dominican Republic – Signed with Texas, reportedly for a record-breaking bonus around $5 million

• Ronald Guzman, OF, Dominican Republic – Texas, $3.5 million

• Elier Hernandez, OF, Dominican Republic – Kansas City, $3.05 million

• Enrique Acosta, SS, Dominican Republic – Chicago Cubs, $1.1 million

• Dorssys Paulino, SS, Dominican Republic – Cleveland, $1.1 million

• Jose Ruiz, C, Venezuela – San Diego, $1.1 million

The Astros have signed Venezuelan shortstop Arturo Michelena for $220,000.

Michelena, a 16-year-old out of Maracaibo, is 6 feet, 165 pounds and has represented his country during international youth tournaments. He's a righthanded hitters with good hand-eye coordination and defensive actions. You can read Michelena's complete scouting report (BA subscribers only) and see information on other top international prospects eligible to sign beginning today.

The Braves and Indians each signed an outfielder from Latin America today.

The Braves signed 16-year-old Iosif Bernal, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound Panamanian outfielder, for a $230,000 bonus. Francisco Miguel, another athletic, righthanded-hitting outfielder with a similar 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame, is from La Academia in the Dominican Republic and signed with the Indians for $200,000.

BA subscribers can read scouting reports on Bernal and Miguel here.

The Twins have signed 5-foot-11 Dominican righthander Miguel Gonzalez for $650,000.

Gonzalez, a 16-year-old from La Vega who trains with Raul Valera (known as Banana) and plays at La Academia, has some of the best feel for pitching among this year's July 2-eligible pitchers. Baseball America subscribers have access to Gonzalez's full scouting report, as well as reports on other top international prospects.

The Rangers have signed Dominican outfielder Nomar Mazara. Terms were not immediately available, but ESPN's Enrique Rojas reports that the bonus is expected to be around $5 million, which would be a new record for an international amateur, surpassing the $4.25 million the Athletics spent on Michael Ynoa in 2008.

Mazara, who is 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, is a 16-year-old lefty with the best raw power in Latin America. A $5 million price tag was rumored throughout the industry leading up to July 2, leaving many international scouting directors stunned that any team would pay that price. ESPN also reported that the Rangers will likely sign Dominican righthander Pedro Payano, who like Mazara is also represented by Ivan Noboa, for a bonus of $500,000-$600,000.

Here is part of Baseball America's scouting report on Mazara from yesterday:

"He may have the most raw power in Latin America, with batting practice shots that leave scouts in awe. He employs a big leg kick and generates good weight transfer in BP with excellent loft and backspin. He has a projectable body with lanky limbs on a large, strong frame. The only thing that can match Mazara's epic power are his equally epic ability to rack up strikeouts.

Mazara, who is represented by Ivan Noboa, doesn't play in any of the major leagues that have popped up in the Dominican Republic and has been showcased judiciously. Several scouts have said Mazara showed up at workouts, took BP then left without facing live pitching. Those who have been seen him in games say his hit tool is nowhere near as advanced as his power. He has a massive leg kick that works for him in BP when he's in a rhythm, but it can be difficult for him to maintain his balance and timing. He's a corner outfielder with an average arm, but any team that signs him will be banking on his bat."

The Rangers today also spent $3.5 million on another lefthanded 16-year-old Dominican outfielder, Ronald Guzman, widely considered one of the top hitters in Latin America.

The Rangers have signed Dominican outfielder Ronald Guzman for $3.5 million.

Guzman, 16, is a 6-foot-4, 195-pound lefthanded hitter from La Vega who many scouts considered to be the top hitter in this year's international signing class. Guzman, who trains with Eddy Robles and plays in the Dominican Prospect League, has an advanced swing and approach to hitting for his age with projectable raw power.

Baseball America subscribers can read a complete scouting report on Guzman as well as other top international prospects who are eligible to sign beginning today.

The Indians have signed Dominican shortstop Dorssys Paulino for $1.1 million.

Paulino, a 16-year-old righthanded hitter, is the son of former big league lefthander Jesus Sanchez, who pitched for the Marlins, Cubs, Rockies and Reds from 1998-2004. Paulino, who is from Bani and trains at La Academia, is 5-foot-11, 175 pounds and has one of the better bats among infielders in this year's July 2 class, though he might end up at second or third base because of his body type.

Baseball America subscribers have access to a complete scouting report on Paulino and other top Latin American prospects who are eligible to sign starting today with the opening of the international signing period.

The Mets have signed Venezuelan catcher Jose Garcia. Bonus terms were not immediately available.

A 16-year-old from San Felipe, Garcia was considered one of the top catchers this year. He's a 5-foot-11, 180-pound switch-hitter with a line-drive swing and good catch-and-throw skills. A complete scouting report on Garcia is available only for Baseball America subscribers, who can read about other top Latin American prospects for July 2 this year as well.

The Cardinals signed Venezuelan catcher Jose Godoy for $200,000.

Godoy, a 16-year-old from Maracaibo, is 5-foot-10, 160 pounds with a contact-oriented swing from the left side of the plate. Baseball America subscribers can read a complete scouting report on Godoy and other top international prospects for this year's July 2 class.

The Cardinals also signed Colombian lefthander Dewin Perez today for $450,000.