MLB Penalties For Red Sox International Signings Could Come Soon

Major League Baseball could penalize the Red Sox over their 2015 international signings before this year’s signing period opens on Saturday, international baseball sources have told Baseball America.

The penalties being considered, according to those sources, include signing restrictions for the upcoming 2016-17 international signing period, and possibly making several of Boston’s top 2015 international signings free agents, who would then be available to sign with any team.

The timing of the disciplinary action is significant. Several Venezuelan players were expected to sign contracts with the Red Sox on July 2, but if these penalties are imposed, those players would no longer be able to sign with Boston. That includes 16-year-old outfielder Roimer Bolivar, the No. 31 international prospect on Baseball America’s Top 50 international prospects list.

Neither Major League Baseball nor Red Sox officials responded to requests for comment Thursday.

Baseball America will have more information on the full extent of penalties as they’re revealed. The commissioner’s office had been investigating the Red Sox over whether they signed several Venezuelan players from the same training programs last year in “package deals,” which are not uncommon for Latin American signings. The Red Sox were limited to signings of no more than $300,000 last year as a result of exceeding their bonus pool during the previous signing period.

Two of their most prominent signings last year were Venezuelan outfielders Albert Guaimaro and Simon Muzziotti for $300,000 bonuses each on July 2. Guaimaro was BA’s No. 15 international prospect last year, while Muzziotti ranked No. 24. They have both been playing in the Dominican Summer League.