MLB Allows Hector Mendoza Unrestricted Free Agency In Unusual Case

Major League Baseball on Tuesday declared Cuban righthander Hector Mendoza a free agent. When Mendoza turns 23 on March 5, he will be exempt from the international bonus pools, despite having only pitched four seasons in Cuba.

To be exempt from the international bonus pools, players must be at least 23 years old and have played at least five seasons in a foreign professional league, such as Serie Nacional in Cuba.

Mendoza played four seasons for La Isla de la Juventud in Serie Nacional. Those four seasons alone would be insufficient for Mendoza to be exempt from the international bonus pools. However, while Mendoza was still in Cuba, the Cuban baseball federation loaned Mendoza to the Yomiuri Giants in Japan, with Mendoza pitching brief parts of two seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball.

The commissioner’s office determined that Mendoza’s time in Japan counts as seasons in a foreign professional league. So once Mendoza turns 23 in March, he will be exempt from the international bonus pools.

That decision will have significant ramifications, both for Mendoza and teams that previously might have expected they couldn’t sign him. As a penalty for having previously exceeded their bonus pools, 10 teams are currently unable to sign any player subject to the pools for more than $300,000. Now those teams—including the Cubs, Dodgers and Yankees—will be able to sign Mendoza without any restrictions. Even the Red Sox, who are banned from signing international players during the current 2016-17 signing period until July 2, would be able to sign Mendoza, since their ban only applies to players subject to the bonus pools. The Angels, Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, Giants, Rays and Royals are the other teams currently under the $300,000 limit that will not affect Mendoza.

Since Mendoza is exempt from the international bonus pools, he is also eligible to sign a major league contract, though he isn’t major league ready. In a country thin on pitching, Mendoza had been one of Cuba’s better pitching prospects, ranking as the No. 12 player on Baseball America’s list of the Top 20 Cuban players in April 2015. At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Mendoza had pitched as a closer for La Isla de la Juventud. Though durability is a concern, Mendoza has the repertoire to develop as a starter with an MLB club.

Baseball America subscribers can read an in-depth scouting report on Mendoza here.