Cubs Linked To Top International Prospect

The Chicago Cubs have, to this point, not spent a single dime in free agency. But that doesn’t mean the Cubs aren’t going to spend money internationally.

This year’s crop are eligible to be signed on Jan. 15 and the Cubs could be out to spend the third-most on any player in the international pool.

Recently, Baseball America ranked the Top 50 International Bonus Pool players. These are players not ranked by quality, necessarily. But the site ranked them by how much the players would make. Then, players were paired with interested teams.

The site tied the Cubs to Dominican Republic shortstop Fernando Cruz, who Baseball America believes will sign the third-highest bonus once deals are made.

Cruz is just 17, but he has solid MLB bloodlines already. He’s a cousin to Starlin Castro and that gives him Cubs ties, too. Castro signed with the Cubs in 2006 and played for the Cubs for six years in the Majors.

Cruz could nail down to a bonus of close to $4 million, thanks to a combination of raw power, speed and fielding instincts. Plus, scouts already see opposite field power out of him.

Last year the Cubs spent big internationally, too. Chicago snagged three players that MLB.com ranked as among the Top 20 players among all prospects. That included another shortstop, Derniche Valdez, who reportedly signed a $2.7 million deal as the No. 6 prospect.

Plus, the Cubs signed a second shortstop, Ludwing Espinoza, for $1 million and the No. 19 prospect, Angel Cepeda, for another $1 million.