Having exceeded their bonus pool money for the current international signing period that began last July, there’s an opportunity for the Los Angeles Dodgers to add to their impressive haul.
Lazaro “Lazarito” Armenteros, a 16-year-old outfielder from Cuba, was declared a free agent by Major League Baseball in January. That made him eligible to sign with a club as early as Feb. 10.
However, due to his age, Armenteros is subject to international spending limitations. As such, any team that has exceeded their allotted signing bonuses are required to pay a 100 percent luxury tax penalty on top of an agreed-to contract.
Los Angeles will not be able to sign pool-eligible prospects for more than $300,000 over the next two international signing periods.
There was some belief Armenteros would wait for the next international signing period to begin on July 2, which would have all but eliminated the Dodgers’ chances of landing the young talent.
That no longer appears to be the case with Armenteros closing in on a decision, and the Dodgers among the teams with interest, according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com:
Lazaro “Lazarito” Armenteros will spend the next 24 hours pondering his future. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound outfielder is expected to make a decision on where he will sign Wednesday, about one month after Major League Baseball declared him a free agent. The Braves, Cubs, Dodgers, Padres and Phillies are among the nine teams with a strong interest in signing the 16-year-old, according to industry sources
Armenteros hit .462 with nine home runs, five triples, three doubles and eight RBIs in nine games for Cuba at the U15 Baseball World Cup in Mexico. Spearheading Cuba’s championship run, he was named to the all-tournament team.
Armenteros recently met with and spoke to Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig as both were in attendance at a Caribbean World Series game.
