Dodgers Continue to Add International Talent With a Quad of Young Dominican Players

In addition to their recent signing of 17-year old outfielder Ariel Sandoval, the Dodgers announced today that they have also signed three more 17-year old players out of the Dominican Republic.

Deivy Castillo is also an outfielder, Ravel Hernandez is a shortstop, and Miguel Urena is a right-handed pitcher.

Sandoval received a $150,000 signing bonus.

Bob Engle, Vice President of International Scouting, and a international scouting department largely composed of former Seattle Mariners scouts, have made it clear that the Dodgers are jumping back into the international talent scene. The Dodgers had been virtually absent from the global baseball talent market for quite some time under the Frank McCourt regime. The Dodgers spent $177,000 on the international market in 2011 compared to the Texas Rangers who spent $12.83 million in 2011.

Remember, the Dodgers now must spend within the international spending cap f $2.9 million for the period of July 2, 2012- June 15th 2013. Various penalties and taxes would be implemented if a team would go over budget.

Over Budget

Penalty

0-5%

Pay a 75% tax on the overage.

5-10%

Pay a 75% tax on the overage & forfeit ability to sign any player for a bonus of more than $500K in the 2013-14 signing period.

10-15%

Pay a 100% tax on the overage & forfeit ability to sign any player for a bonus of more than $500K in the 2013-14 signing period.

15%+

Pay a 100% tax on the overage & forfeit ability to sign any player for a bonus of more than $250K in the 2013-14 signing period.

Yasiel Puig‘s $42 million deal was the Dodgers’ last big international signing before the new collective bargaining agreement took effect. Unfortunately now that the Dodgers look to reestablish themselves in international scouting, they are now bound by the spending cap.

Regardless of monetary restrictions when it comes to signing these international players, the new scouting team for the Dodgers still look to add talent from all corners of the globe.