Cardinals Announce 11 International Signings For 2024 Period

CARDINALS ANNOUNCE 11 INTERNATIONAL SIGNINGS FOR 2024 PERIOD

Five Pitchers & Six Position Players Representing Four Different Countries Among Today’s Signees

ST. LOUIS, Mo., January 15, 2024 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced today the signing of 11 free-agent players representing the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico and Cuba on the first day of Major League Baseball’s international signing period for 2024. Five pitchers, three outfielders, two shortstops, and one first baseman were among the signees who will all be assigned to the Dominican Summer League.

All of the players are being signed for the 2024 minor league season and are subject to MLB approval.  A complete listing of the Cardinals international player signings is below:

Name	Pos.	B/T	HT	WT	DOB	Age	Hometown
Brayan Amoroso	OF	R/R	6’1”	204	07/07/2007	16	Tacarigua, Venezuela
Gabriel Chinchilla	RHP	R/R	6’2”	170	10/20/2006	17	Caja Seca, Venezuela
Branneli Franco	RHP	R/R	6’3”	209	02/05/2007	16	San Cristobal, Dominican Republic
Jesus Garcia	RHP	R/R	5’11”	150	01/25/2006	17	Bobare, Venezuela
Edward Guribe	OF	R/R	6’1”	195	11/16/2006	17	San Cristobal, Dominican Republic
Cristofer Lebron	SS	R/R	6’1”	167	03/20/2007	16	Santo Domingo Oeste, Dominican Republic
Yaxson Lucena	OF	L/R	5’10”	185	07/23/2007	16	Barquisimeto, Venezuela
Yairo Padilla	SS	S/R	6’2”	173	06/28/2007	16	Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Ryan Rodriguez	RHP	R/R	6’0”	166	08/31/2007	16	Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Christian Saez	1B	L/R	6’1”	207	02/20/2007	16	Cienfuegos, Cuba
Earle Zulueta	RHP	R/R	6’3”	205	12/20/2006	17	La Habana, Cuba

— STL —

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The International Signing Period is about as confusing as the draft is. Players must turn 16 before they sign and be 17 before Sept. 1 the following year (born between Sept. 1, 2006, and Aug. 31, 2007) to be eligible in the current signing period. Only players registered with MLB in advance are eligible to be sign. Each team is given a bonus pool they can spend, like the draft; if they exceed their pool, they risk taxation on the overage and potential signing restrictions in the future.

The Cardinals have $5,152,200 in bonus money to spend this year. They forfeited $500,000 when they signed Willson Contreras before last season. The Cardinals historically have signed guys on the first day, then trade away their remaining pool for current minor league players.

Franco is the prize here; he was ranked #25 in the class by MLB.com and #37 by Fangraphs. He received a $800,000 bonus. He’s one of the top pitching prospects available, sporting a low 90s fastball and a potential plus changeup at a young age; he should be sitting in the high 90s as he continues to mature. The fastball also has great sink, so he should be a groundball machine. He also throws a slurve with good movement.

While none of the others did rank on top lists, Baseball America considered Padilla one of the top breakout prospects for under $1M.

Guribe received a $700,000 bonus. Saez received a $150,000 bonus. No word yet on any other bonus

Baseball America also has Oliver Gonzalez (RHP, Panama) listed as a signee, which the Cardinals haven’t announced yet.

All of these players should begin in the Dominican Summer League, either this summer or next summer; it all depends on the contract that they sign.

I’ll be back later in the week with full scouting reports.