Report: A's to sign Cuban phenom 'Lazarito'
The Oakland Athletics will reportedly make a splash when the 2016-2017 international signing period opens Saturday, as the club is expected to sign 17-year-old Cuban outfielder Lazaro "Lazarito" Armenteros, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America.
Armenteros, who initially planned to pick a team in February, is expected to sign for around $3 million, leaving the Athletics only about $800,000 of their bonus pool allotment. Should they exceed their bonus pool, the Athletics will be forced to pay a 100 percent tax on the overage to the commissioner's office, and, depending on how much they spend, may be prohibited from signing any international prospects for more than $300,000 to $500,000 in next year's signing period (and possibly the following year, as well).
Widely considered one of the top-five prospects in this year's international signing period, Armenteros was heavily scouted following his defection from Cuba, drawing serious interest from at least nine teams after being declared eligible to sign by Major League Baseball in January.
Though some scouts aren't sold on his hit tool, Armenteros showed off plus power and running ability in Cuba, where the youngster hit .416/.529/.733 in 2014, leading the 15U National League with six home runs while stealing 12 bases in 14 tries.
"I'm ready to do whatever it takes,'' Armenteros told Bob Nightengale of USA Today in December. "It's like (Yasiel) Puig tells me, 'Please don't take my job. But if you keep working hard, stay focused, and play your game, nothing can stop you.'
"I want to make it to the Hall of Fame, have my numbers retired, and when I'm out of the game, for people to recognize the person I am."