2026 International Free Agent Market

[wallus]

15 minutes ago, Spencer Michaelis said:

Little fun nugget on a player that isn't even signing for 4 classes, but Melkin Guzman has a pre-agreement with the Brewers for $2.3 million in the 2029 class. He's 13-years-old, 6'1", runs a 6.7 60-yard dash and has been gunned at 93 MPH from the outfield. Some video below, where he definitely appears to have the frame of a kid his age, so no clear signs of any age issues. Never know, but I believe this would be the biggest bonus the Brewers have given anyone since the infamous Gilbert Lara, so they're clearly *very* high on him.

miracles (@miracles_baseball) • Instagram reel

WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM

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164 likes, 4 comments - miracles_baseball on October 12, 2025: "🌟 Melkin Guzmán 📍 Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic 🗓️...

 

How's the class of 10 year olds we are signing looking?

[Spencer Michaelis]

1 hour ago, wallus said:

How's the class of 10 year olds we are signing looking?

I have yet to come across anyone beyond 2029 but there are 5 names for 2029 already lol 

 

[Jim Goulart]

19 hours ago, Spencer Michaelis said:

Little fun nugget on a player that isn't even signing for 4 classes, but Melkin Guzman has a pre-agreement with the Brewers for $2.3 million in the 2029 class. He's 13-years-old, 6'1", runs a 6.7 60-yard dash and has been gunned at 93 MPH from the outfield. Some video below, where he definitely appears to have the frame of a kid his age, so no clear signs of any age issues. Never know, but I believe this would be the biggest bonus the Brewers have given anyone since the infamous Gilbert Lara, so they're clearly *very* high on him.

miracles (@miracles_baseball) • Instagram reel

WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM

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164 likes, 4 comments - miracles_baseball on October 12, 2025: "🌟 Melkin Guzmán 📍...

 

So awkward, even dirty, reading this, though the Brewers aren’t alone. 13?

MLB couldn’t negotiate an international draft during the last negotiations, will it be a priority this time around?

Wouldn’t the organization be forced to “play dumb” and get defensive if word of this reached a larger audience?

[Spencer Michaelis]

6 minutes ago, Jim Goulart said:

So awkward, even dirty, reading this, though the Brewers aren’t alone. 13?

MLB couldn’t negotiate an international draft during the last negotiations, will it be a priority this time around?

Wouldn’t the organization be forced to “play dumb” and get defensive if word of this reached a larger audience?

Yeah, the system is horrible. I wonder about the potential for backlash too, but nobody is going to call another team out since, like you said, they're all doing it.

The organizations these kids play for are posting all the pre-agreements their players are making (not the money usually) on their Instagram pages, etc. 

The draft seems like the way to go in the grand scheme, but I also fully understand why the players would like to have the right to negotiate with 30 teams and pick where they end up.

[biedergb]

@Spencer Michaelis - do you know if any of these deals ever breakdown? I mean the stats seem absolutely astonishing, but ignoring the elephant of forged documents, he could get hurt, have peaked early or had some faulty scouting numbers. I mean I hope not as this kid (literal kid) seems like a dream type of signing. But just curious if you know as essentially 3 years ahead of official signing season seems crazy to commit that kind of bonus money.

[Spencer Michaelis]

12 minutes ago, biedergb said:

@Spencer Michaelis - do you know if any of these deals ever breakdown? I mean the stats seem absolutely astonishing, but ignoring the elephant of forged documents, he could get hurt, have peaked early or had some faulty scouting numbers. I mean I hope not as this kid (literal kid) seems like a dream type of signing. But just curious if you know as essentially 3 years ahead of official signing season seems crazy to commit that kind of bonus money.

They do, though my understanding is if they break down, it's almost always from the team's side, and because teams have relationships with the academies that they're signing these players from and want to be able to sign future players from there, they don't tend to break down unless there's a very good reason for it.

[biedergb]

that's a really solid point. Thanks!

Again incredible stuff putting together the list.  Hopeful this year's IFA players will have a better debut year than last years.  And I am already counting down to the 2029 DSL season 🤣

[jay87shot]

Thanks Spencer, at 13 throwing 90 and running sub 7 60's is amazing. I coach JV baseball and struggle with most freshman catching the ball.

[BallFour]

Frontado, Rodriguez, and Moneys all in the lower half of Baseball America's top 50 2026 International Prospects.

[Spencer Michaelis]

Here’s where I’ve got the team standing with about 10 days until signing day. Some expected signing bonuses included as well. Moises Salazar is the annual catcher with a really strong arm and interesting tools. Switch-hitter who is better from the right side. Again, not 1000% certain on all of them being 2026 signings, but feel pretty good about them.

Pos	Name	Pipeline Rank	BA Bonus Rank
SS	Diego Frontado ($1.6 mil)	24	26	Instagram
SS	Jose Rodriguez ($1.5 mil)	49	30	Instagram
INF	Osiris Ramirez Jr ($300k)	N/A	N/A	Instagram	TikTok
INF	Ricky Moneys ($1 mil)	19	41	Instagram	TikTok
INF	Leander Matos	N/A	N/A	Instagram	TikTok
C	Sebastian Franeites	N/A	N/A	Instagram	TikTok
INF	Ruben Revost ($200k)	N/A	N/A	Instagram
OF?	Manny De Los Santos ($325k)	N/A	N/A	Instagram
LHP	Alexander Mercedes ($100k)	N/A	N/A	Instagram	IG Video
C	Moises Salazar ($700k)	N/A	N/A	Instagram	TikTok
INF	Santiago Garcia ($400k)	N/A	N/A	Instagram
RHP	Joan Gonzalez	N/A	N/A	Instagram
C	Darwin Mateo (or Jabiel)	N/A	N/A	Instagram
RHP	Diego Trillo	N/A	N/A	IG Post
RHP	Daniel Muñoz ($25k)	N/A	N/A	Instagram	IG Post
C	Pepe Soto Mir	N/A	N/A	Instagram
OF?	Angeni Fernandez	N/A	N/A	Instagram
INF	Angel Rojas	N/A	N/A	Instagram
RHP	Miguel Andrade	N/A	N/A	Instagram
RHP	Jean Rivero	N/A	N/A	Instagram	IG Post
LHP	Roni Pinales	N/A	N/A	Instagram	TikTok
OF	Enrique Llovera ($140k)	N/A	N/A	Instagram	IG Post
RHP	Marcos Vera ($130k)	N/A	N/A	N/A

[Joseph Zarr]

Rickey Moneys tentatively slated to receive $1 Milly feels poetic.

[Jake McKibbin]

Alexander Mercedes video has a gorgeous rhythm to it

[wiguy94]

It will be interesting to see how they split time at SS in the DSL this year. All 3 of Frontado, Rodriguez, and Moneys have scouting reports that would make you think the Brewers would prefer them to get SS reps while in the DSL

[Jim Goulart]

 

[sveumrules]

43 minutes ago, Jim Goulart said:

 

SHOW ME THE MONEYS!!

[Joseph Zarr]

3 hours ago, sveumrules said:

SHOW ME THE MONEYS!!

Well, technically, and not to be a stickler for exactitude...Jim did in fact 'SHOW YOU THE MONEYS!!'

[snoogans8056]

BA just released their top 100 bonuses.

Diego Frontado (#24, about $1.5mil) was selected as 10 prospects “Trending Up”.

Also “Trending Up” is Moises Salazar (#67, about $700k) who is a switch hitting catcher and maybe the top defensive one in the class (“plus-plus” arm grades). Only 4 other catchers got a higher bonus.

[Spencer Michaelis]

On 1/5/2026 at 1:35 PM, Spencer Michaelis said:

Here’s where I’ve got the team standing with about 10 days until signing day. Some expected signing bonuses included as well. Moises Salazar is the annual catcher with a really strong arm and interesting tools. Switch-hitter who is better from the right side. Again, not 1000% certain on all of them being 2026 signings, but feel pretty good about them.

Pos	Name	Pipeline Rank	BA Bonus Rank
SS	Diego Frontado ($1.6 mil)	24	24	Instagram
SS	Jose Rodriguez ($1.5 mil)	49	28	Instagram
INF	Osiris Ramirez Jr ($300k)	N/A	N/A	Instagram	TikTok
INF	Ricky Moneys ($1 mil)	19	39	Instagram	TikTok
INF	Leander Matos	N/A	N/A	Instagram	TikTok
C	Sebastian Franeites	N/A	N/A	Instagram	TikTok
INF	Ruben Revost ($200k)	N/A	N/A	Instagram
OF?	Manny De Los Santos ($325k)	N/A	N/A	Instagram
LHP	Alexander Mercedes ($100k)	N/A	N/A	Instagram	IG Video
C	Moises Salazar ($700k)	N/A	67	Instagram	TikTok
INF	Santiago Garcia ($400k)	N/A	N/A	Instagram
RHP	Joan Gonzalez	N/A	N/A	Instagram
C	Darwin Mateo (or Jabiel)	N/A	N/A	Instagram
RHP	Diego Trillo	N/A	N/A	IG Post
RHP	Daniel Muñoz ($25k)	N/A	N/A	Instagram	IG Post
C	Pepe Soto Mir	N/A	N/A	Instagram
INF/OF	Argenis Fernandez	N/A	97	Instagram
INF	Angel Rojas	N/A	N/A	Instagram
RHP	Miguel Andrade	N/A	N/A	Instagram
RHP	Jean Rivero	N/A	N/A	Instagram	IG Post
LHP	Roni Pinales	N/A	N/A	Instagram	TikTok
OF	Enrique Llovera ($140k)	N/A	N/A	Instagram	IG Post
RHP	Marcos Vera ($130k)	N/A	N/A	N/A

Curt Hogg wrote an article on 15 names expected to sign, with some info on each of them today. All were names covered in this list, but some of the names are a bit different than I had them down as.

Pepe Soto Mir's full name appears to be Francisco De Marchena Mir

Ruben Revost = Ruben Rebost

Rickey Moneys = Rickey Money (confirmed with Curt, this is how Ricky was pronouncing it)

Jean Rivero = Jean Rivero Ortiz

Still feel quite good about the list I'm quoting (updated some of the ranking stuff now that a couple extra got added by BA). I don't believe Angel Rojas will be in the 2026 class, same with Darwin Mateo, but I'm not fully sure on either. I am much more confident that the rest are.

[snoogans8056]

On 1/12/2026 at 9:17 AM, snoogans8056 said:

BA just released their top 100 bonuses.

Diego Frontado (#24, about $1.5mil) was selected as 10 prospects “Trending Up”.

Also “Trending Up” is Moises Salazar (#67, about $700k) who is a switch hitting catcher and maybe the top defensive one in the class (“plus-plus” arm grades). Only 4 other catchers got a higher bonus.

Quoting myself, but BA had another blurb about Salazar in today’s article on best players signing for under $1mil.

Great D, great arm, switch hitting catcher with pop. Same as before.

It’s cool that BA is high in Frontado and Salazar, while MLB Pipeline is high on Money.

[homer]

23 hours ago, snoogans8056 said:

Quoting myself, but BA had another blurb about Salazar in today’s article on best players signing for under $1mil.

Great D, great arm, switch hitting catcher with pop. Same as before.

It’s cool that BA is high in Frontado and Salazar, while MLB Pipeline is high on Money.

I caught that blurb on Salazar the other day. Switch-hitting, athletic catcher w a plus-plus arm and 20 homer potential? Me likey.

[snoogans8056]

Terrible news everyone. As per BA's Future Projection podcast, Money isn't pronounced money.

I am crushed.

[homer]

Just now, snoogans8056 said:

Terrible news everyone. As per BA's Future Projection podcast, Money isn't pronounced money.

I am crushed.

BA has him listed as "Moneys" as in he is so money he's plural.

[sveumrules]

FanGraphs has their 2026 International Prospects article out today (with some interesting info about turmoil atop the Yankees international operation). Scouting reports for the Brewers guys...

Jose Rodriguez (40 FV) "Rodriguez is generally seen as the best infield defender in the 2026 international class, as fundamentally sound as he is flashy. Adding strength in pro ball will be a priority for him, as few scouts see him as realistically being able to make the offensive impact of an everyday shortstop, and instead see him in the Nick Allen mold."

Diego Frontado (35+ FV) "Frontado is on the older side for the 2026 signing class and is also among its most advanced baseball players. He has deft infield actions and finds a way to put the bat on the ball even though for much of the commitment window he needed to use his whole body to swing hard. His tools are modest, but he's a good young baseball player with the frame to add more strength and have a viable skill set at maturity."

Rickey Moneys (35+ FV) "Moneys has two tickets to paradise where paradise is Maryvale. The power-hitting corner infield prospect is set to receive a $1 million bonus. Moneys is a thicker corner-only infielder with mature power for this market."

[Spencer Michaelis]

Here's a thread of video for the players that BA has listed as officially signed so far. These will be included in the write-up later as well, and I'll add a few more people to it as names become "official" on there.