The next international signing period will begin this January 15 and at least 20 Cubans will be agreeing to conttacts with MLB organizations to begin their path in professional baseball. In the last period, 29 Cubans managed to sign, a figure that may be surpassed in 2025. The only provinces that will not have representatives at the beginning of the period are Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Mayabeque, that could change in the coming year.
Signing with an MLB organization is a complicated process, each organization’s budget has a limit and only talented players end up inking contracts. In addition, quotas have also been reduced at the different levels of the minor league system, something that has reduced the number of players within farm systems and has caused a mass of releases by teams. In the current day teams have less patience in waiting for a player to develop.
So far we have learned from various sources in conjunction with our colleague Francys Romero about the mass signings so far during this international free agency period and we will be reporting more signings throughout the year. In the Top-50 of the Baseball America rankings for this period are Cubans Diego Tornes (#6, Braves, OF, $2.5M), Kevin Álvarez (#14, Astros, OF, $2.0M) and Alejandro Cruz (# 17, White Sox, 3B, $2.0M).
These are the prospects who will receive the best bonus during the period. Matanzas and Havana appear as the provinces best represented amongst Cuban signings. In addition to the talented Kevin Álvarez, Luis Morejón (CF, Rockies), Yoslaniel Hernández (LHP, Pirates) and Anthony Santa Cruz (OF, Angels) from Matanzas will also sign.
From the capital, Diego Tornes, Meykel Baro (SS, Baltimore), Kadil Rubio (OF, Tampa) and Eduardo Guillén (OF, Phillies) will be inking deals tomorrow. Rubio left Cuba in 2020 and participated in the Little League World Series Qualifier in Curacao during 2019. Due to his physique Rubio has been compared to former Major League star Alexei Ramírez.
The Baltimore Orioles will be the organization with the most Cuban signings to start the international period, as Meykel Baro will be joined by left-handed pitcher Yunior Villavicencio (Cienfuegos), shortstop Ronald Terrero (Isla de la Juventud) and catcher Yeison Acosta (Granma). Villavicencio and Terrero were part of the Cuba U-15 team that placed second in the 2022 World Cup. Acosta is a versatile player who, in addition to catching can play other positions in the infield.
Cubans who will sign at the beginning of the 2025 International Period:
OF Diego Tornes (Braves, La Habana)-$2.5M
3B Alejandro Cruz (White Sox, Sancti Spíritus)-$2M
OF Kevin Álvarez (Houston, Matanzas)-$2M
SS Jaims Martínez (Cubs, Camagüey)-$900,000
OF Maikol Rodríguez (Seattle, Sancti Spíritus)-$600,000
SS Ronald Terrero (Baltimore, Isla de la Juventud)-$600,000
SS Meykel Baro (Baltimore, La Habana)-$500,000
RHP Yordan Rodríguez (Athletics, Guantánamo)-$400,000
LHP Yoslaniel Hernandez (Pirates, Matanzas)-$400,000
RHP Adriano Marrero (Marlins, Cienfuegos)-$350,000
OF Yeison Acosta (Baltimore, Granma)-$350,000
OF Alex Rodriguez (Rangers, Villa Clara)-$300,000
CF Luis Morejon (Rockies, Matanzas)-$250,000
SS Marcos Belen Pileta (Guardians, Santiago de Cuba)-$215,000
OF Anthony Santa Cruz (Angels, Matanzas)-$200,000
OF Kadil Rubio (Tampa, La Habana)-$160,000
RHP Alexander Valiente (Toronto, Guantánamo)-$75,000
OF Eduardo Guillén (Phillies, La Habana)-$60,000
RHP Yobal Rodríguez (White Sox, Ciego de Ávila)- N/A
LHP Yunior Villavicencio (Baltimore, Cienfuegos)- N/A