The Miami Marlins continue to add international bonus money

With the Miami Marlins most recent move to trade minor league prospects, the organization has now moved past the Baltimore Orioles in international bonus money.

If Derek Jeter and the Miami Marlins are proving anything this offseason, it’s their commitment to added more international talent to their minor league system. The move this week to send Minor Leaguers Adonis Giron and Brayan De Paula to the Astros for $500,000 in international bonus pool money.

This means the organization now has more than any other ballclub, surpassing the Baltimore Orioles in their pursuit of three Cuban prospects – Victor Victor Mesa, Victor Mesa, Jr., and Sandy Gaston. The Marlins have made it no secret about their desire to add these three players to continue the enhancement of the team’s future.

"MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro wrote this makes the possibility to sign all three more “favorable” and that, “A few weeks ago, MLB granted free agency to all three, and they are eligible to sign at any time.”"

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The three prospects have been front and center of Miami’s offseason plans as the hot stove season is quickly approaching. Miami has traded prospects and reliever Kyle Barraclough in recent weeks to free up more cash to outbid the Orioles and potentially any other team looking to add the three players.

"According to Frisaro, “Before the three trades, the Marlins had the second-most international bonus pool money available at $4.3 million. Only the Orioles, with $6.7 million, have had more. But Tuesday’s trade is believed to have pushed the Marlins’ figure to above the Orioles’.”"

The addition of more international talent would fall in line with what Miami is trying to do to appeal to the culture of South Florida. The fan base and the Mesas and Gaston would appear to be a perfect fit and also give the team solid talent to build through their minor system.

The team has decisions to make about their current Major League roster and where minor league prospects will begin their seasons at the end of Spring Training. Miami made moves last week to reduce its 40-man roster to 34, which should mean top prospects are added to fill the open slots.

Also, Miami must take into consideration the potential signings and how soon they will move them through the minor league system. Like most of Miami’s top tier of prospects, the Mesas and Gaston would be handled with care, allowing them to acclimate themselves to baseball in America.

"“The Marlins have made it clear they intend to be active on the international market, and are selling the fact that Miami, with its large Cuban community, is a natural fit for the Mesa brothers and Gaston,” Frisaro wrote."