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Top 50 International Bonuses Of 2016



By Ben Badler
on March 22, 2017

See Also: 2016 International Reviews Index Below are the 50 biggest signing bonuses for international amateur players during the 2016 calendar year. The list includes all players subject to the international bonus pools and excludes older players who were exempt, such as Blue Jays shortstop Lourdes Gurriel or Dodgers righthander Yaisel Sierra. All but one—Cuban outfielder/first baseman Yordan Alvarez, who signed with the Dodgers then was traded to the Astros—signed during the current 2016-17 signing period that began last year on July 2. Most of the bonuses at the top of the list went to Cuban players. Of the 15 players who signed for at least $2 million, 11 were from Cuba. Braves shortstop Kevin Maitan drew the biggest bonus among non-Cuban players, setting a Venezuelan record at $4.25 million. Padres shortstop Luis Almanzar’s $4.05 million was the highest bonus for a Dominican player. The 28 highest bonuses all came from teams that went over their international bonus pools. In all, 37 of the 50 biggest signings went to teams that exceeded their pools. The Padres have the most players on the list with 11, while the Braves (7), Astros (5), Cardinals (4), Nationals, Phillies, Rangers, Rockies (3 each), Reds and Brewers (2 each) also have multiple players on the list. Venezuela is the country with the most players on the list (18), followed by the Dominican Republic (16), Cuba (15) and Mexico (1). Outfielders Albert Guaimaro (Marlins) and Simon Muzziotti (Phillies) each originally signed for $300,000 with the Red Sox in 2015, but the commissioner’s office removed them from the organization and made them free agents. The amount they received above $300,000 counts against their teams’ 2016-17 bonus pools.

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No.PlayerPosCountryTeamBonus
1Adrian MorejonlhpCubaPadres$11,000,000
T-2Alfredo RodriguezssCubaReds$7,000,000
T-2Jorge OñaofCubaPadres$7,000,000
4Vladimir GutierrezrhpCubaReds$4,750,000
5Kevin MaitanssVenezuelaBraves$4,250,000
6Luis AlmanzarssDominicanPadres$4,050,000
7Yasel AntunassDominicanNationals$3,900,000
8Abrahan GutierrezcVenezuelaBraves$3,530,000
T-9Lazaro ArmenterosofCubaAthletics$3,000,000
T-9Michel BaezrhpCubaPadres$3,000,000
11Jonatan MachadoofCubaCardinals$2,350,000
12Ronald BolañosrhpCubaPadres$2,250,000
T-13Cionel PerezlhpCubaAstros$2,000,000
T-13Yordan Alvarezof/1bCubaDodgers$2,000,000
T-13Norge RuizrhpCubaAthletics$2,000,000
T-16Yunior SeverinossDominicanBraves$1,900,000
T-16Gabriel AriasssVenezuelaPadres$1,900,000
T-16Johan OviedorhpCubaCardinals$1,900,000
19Jeisson RosarioofDominicanPadres$1,850,000
T-20Yerdelluis VargasssDominicanAthletics$1,500,000
T-20Victor GarciaofVenezuelaCardinals$1,500,000
T-20Tirso OrnelasofMexicoPadres$1,500,000
T-20Anibal SierrassCubaAstros$1,500,000
24Luis GarciassDominicanNationals$1,300,000
T-25Justin LopezssVenezuelaPadres$1,250,000
T-25Randy ArozarenaofCubaCardinals$1,250,000
T-27Juan ContrerasrhpDominicanBraves$1,200,000
T-27Freudis NovassDominicanAstros$1,200,000
29Yanio PerezofCubaRangers$1,140,000
T-30Josue GuerreroofDominicanWhite Sox$1,100,000
T-30Marcos BritossDominicanAthletics$1,100,000
32Yenci PenassDominicanBraves$1,050,000
T-33Yefri del RosariorhpDominicanBraves$1,000,000
T-33Jordy BarleyssDominicanPadres$1,000,000
T-33Livan SotossVenezuelaBraves$1,000,000
T-33Yeikel BlandinofVenezuelaRockies$1,000,000
T-33Yorbin CeutassVenezuelaAstros$1,000,000
38Jose SanchezssVenezuelaNationals$950,000
T-39Alfredo GarcialhpVenezuelaRockies$900,000
T-39Brayan GonzalezssVenezuelaPhillies$900,000
41Leuri MejiaofDominicanRangers$850,000
42Alison QuinterocVenezuelaPadres$830,000
T-43Pablo AbreuofDominicanBrewers$800,000
T-43Albert GuaimaroofVenezuelaMarlins$800,000
T-43David GarciacVenezuelaRangers$800,000
46Simon MuzziottiofVenezuelaPhillies$750,000
47Jean Carlos CarmonassDominicanBrewers$725,000
48Francisco MoralesrhpVenezuelaPhillies$720,000
49Diego BlancorhpVenezuelaRockies$700,000
50Angel MacuarerhpVenezuelaAstros$695,000

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