We’re #1 In Something…

We’re #1 in International Free-Agent spending according to a Baseball America report last week.

This doesn’t seem like much but when people complain about how we don’t spend money to bring in “hitters” take a look at the list and see that we spent more than the big dog Yankees to bring in premium talent into the organization. This also doesn’t take into account how much the Mariners originally signed Esteilon Peguero.

When you consider that into the equation you realize that the Mariners are bringing in high quality, first rate talent and willing to pay to get them.

Click more to see … well more.

Player Bonuses 1. Mariners $6.47 million 2. Yankees $5.27 million 3. Astros $5.13 million 4. Pirates $5.00 million 5. Athletics $4.73 million 6. Blue Jays $4.18 million 7. Cubs $4.16 million 8. Rangers $3.57 million 9. Braves $3.28 million 10. Padres $2.75 million 11. Royals $2.70 million 12. Twins $2.54 million 13. Tigers $2.53 million 14. Cardinals $2.47 million 15. Indians $2.47 million 16. Rockies $1.96 million 17. Rays $1.73 million 18. Mets $1.69 million 19. Red Sox $1.64 million 20. Reds $1.56 million 21. Phillies $1.49 million 22. Diamondbacks $1.42 million 23. Brewers $1.39 million 24. Marlins $1.19 million 25. Orioles $1.18 million 26. Nationals $853,000.00 27. Giants $849,000.00 28. Angels $617,000.00 29. White Sox $345,000.00 30. Dodgers $314,000.00

Then below you look at who we all brought into the organization in comparison to the rest of the league and it’s a solid mix of talent. A couple of Pitchers, one of the top outfielders and the arguably the best middle infielder available.

One note: Yordyn Calderon (#29th overall), I’ve seen as a third basemen and then is below credited to be outfielder

1. Adonys Cardona RHP Blue Jays 16 Venezuela $2.8 million T-2. Luis Heredia RHP Pirates 16 Mexico $2.6 million T-2. Ariel Ovando OF Astros 16 Dominican Republic $2.6 million T-4. Phillips Castillo OF Mariners 16 Dominican Republic $2.2 million T-4. Renato Nunez 3B Athletics 16 Venezuela $2.2 million 6. Edward Salcedo SS Braves 18 Dominican Republic $1.6 million 7. Carlos Martinez RHP Cardinals 18 Dominican Republic $1.5 million 8. Jorge Alfaro C Rangers 16 Colombia $1.3 million 9. Danry Vasquez OF Tigers 16 Dominican Republic $1.2 million T-10. Humberto Arteaga SS Royals 16 Venezuela $1.1 million T-10. Esteilon Peguero SS Mariners 17 Dominican Republic $1.1 million 12. Orlando Calixte SS Royals 18 Dominican Republic $1 million 13. Duanel Jones 3B Padres 16 Dominican Republic $900,000.00 14. Jose Torres RHP Mariners 16 Colombia $851,000.00 15. Jin-Young Kim RHP Cubs 17 South Korea $850,000.00 T-16. Yoel Araujo OF Rays 16 Dominican Republic $800,000.00 T-16. Vicmal de la Cruz OF Athletics 16 Dominican Republic $800,000.00 18. Gabriel Cenas 3B Blue Jays 16 Venezuela $700,000.00 19. Wilmer Romero OF Yankees 16 Dominican Republic $656,500.00 T-20. Luis Pina LHP Mariners 16 Venezuela $650,000.00 T-20. Christopher Tamarez SS Yankees 16 Dominican Republic $650,000.00 22. Argenis Raga C Athletics 16 Venezuela $580,000.00 23. Javier Pimentel SS Twins 16 Dominican Republic $575,000.00 24. Carlos Penalver SS Cubs 16 Venezuela $550,000.00 25. Wagner Mateo OF Diamondbacks 17 Dominican Republic $512,500.00 T-26. Jeimer Candelario 3B Cubs 16 Dominican Republic $500,000.00 T-26. Jose Rafael DePaula RHP Yankees 19 Dominican Republic $500,000.00 T-26. Edwin Moreno OF Padres 17 Dominican Republic $500,000.00 29. Yordyn Calderon OF Mariners 16 Dominican Republic $477,500.00 30. Eduardo Rivera RHP Yankees 17 Dominican Republic $475,000.00

This list doesn’t include RHP Rigoberto Garcia and LHP Erick Gomez also signed by the Mariners. Not only did they sign a solid group of guys but 4 of these guys were ranked in the Top-20 of international prospects. Matt Garrioch also put together a ranking of the international signees too.

So when complaining about the fact the Mariners never sign “big bats’ just remind yourself we have… they just haven’t arrived yet.