Cubs, International Prospect Agree To Deal

The Chicago Cubs have opted to spend big on an international prospect, as MLB Pipeline reported that the team has an agreement to sign Fernando Cruz to a $4 million international bonus.

The Cubs have not formally announced the signing. Monday was the first day of the international signing window for the 2024 calendar year.

Should the financials be accurate, Cruz will account for a significant chunk of the Cubs’ international signing bonus pool this cycle. The team has $5.512 million to spend, minus the $500,000 it gave up after signing shortstop Dansby Swanson last offseason.

Cruz is rated as the No. 4 overall international prospect by MLB Pipeline. The 17-year-old is from the Dominican Republic.

He has reportedly been training with Mejia Top 10, a member of MLB's Trainer Partnership Program.

Listed as a shortstop, the only prospects ahead of him on the MLB Pipeline Top 50 are Dominican Republic shortstop Leo De Vries, who has signed with San Diego; Dominican Republic outfielder Paulino Santana, who has agreed to a deal with the Texas Rangers; and Venezuelan shortstop Jose Perdomo, who has agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Braves.

The Cubs are set at shortstop for some time, as Swanson has six more years left on his contract. But most international prospects are long-term plays who begin their careers in the Dominican Summer League and typically need at least a year to prepare to come to the U.S.

There are exceptions. The Rangers’ top international signee from a year ago, shortstop Sebastian Walcott, advanced all the way to the organization’s High-A affiliate in his first year in pro baseball.

MLB Pipeline describes Cruz as “… a hitter capable of spraying the ball to all fields because of his tremendously strong hands and forearms, (he) has enough strength in his swing to enable him to hit the ball to right field as if he were a left-handed batter.”

The site believes he projects as a 20-25 home run player and a long-term play at shortstop in the Majors.