The Philadelphia Phillies had $1 million less to spend internationally but they made the most of it by agreeing to a deal with a Top 20 prospect on Monday.
Per MLB Pipeline the Phillies agreed to a deal with Dominican Republic outfielder Jalvin Arias, as the 17-year-old will get a $1.4 million bonus. The Phillies have not officially announced the deal.
The Phillies have $4,652,200 in bonus money to spend internationally. They lost $1 million as part of the deal to sign Trea Turner last offseason. Because Turner spurned the Dodgers’ qualifying offer, the Phillies surrender $1 million as part of the agreement.
Arias is the No. 19 prospect as rated by MLB Pipeline and will be the Phillies’ highest-rated international prospect this cycle.
Last January the Phillies signed highly-touted Dominican Republic shortstop Starlyn Caba to a $3 million bonus, which was a large chunk of the Phillies’ $4.644 million bonus pool last year.
Caba played in the Dominican Summer League last year and batted .301 with two doubles, two triples and 17 RBI. He’s already been assigned to the Florida Complex League Phillies.
But it typically takes international prospects several years to be Major League ready. Caba is the Phillies’ No. 13 overall prospect but isn’t expected to join the Phillies until at least 2027, per MLB Pipeline.
By spending so low on Arias, the Phillies likely aren’t done reaching agreement on the first day of the signing period, which ends Dec. 15. Arias joins an organization that has 10 outfielders among its Top 30 prospects, including No. 3 prospect Justin Crawford, the Phillies’ first-round pick in 2022.
According to MLB Pipeline, “Arias sports an explosive uppercut swing that plays well alongside his idea of what he wants to do at the plate. Already at 210 pounds with gap-to-gap pop, there figures to be more in the tank in the power department as he continues to mature and fill out physically.”
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