Oakland A’s Expected To Sign Lazaro Armenteros

The Athletics are getting back into the international amateur market in a big way. The A’s are expected to sign 17-year-old Cuban outfielder Lazaro Armenteros for around $3 million when the 2016-17 international signing period opens tomorrow and blow past their international bonus pool, sources told Baseball America.

Armenteros was one of the best players in his age group at the time he left Cuba. He played for Cuba’s youth national team in August 2014 at the 15U World Cup, where he hit .462/.611/.962 with 10 walks and eight strikeouts in 36 plate appearances. That came after he excelled in Cuba’s 15U national league, batting .416/.529/.733 in 136 plate appearances and ranking first in home runs (6) and slugging, with 26 walks, 19 strikeouts and 12 stolen bases in 14 tries.

Armenteros wouldn’t rank among the Top 100 prospects in baseball, but he is the same age as the international prospects who signed last year on July 2, and he stacks up well against the top players from that class, with an expected price tag that would reflect that. A righthanded hitter, Armenteros has a strong, physical build at around 6-foot-1, 205 pounds with a promising combination of above-average raw power and speed. He was a corner outfielder in Cuba and many scouts project him to stay there, though he could see some time in center field given his present speed.

Armenteros’ swing is unconventional and several scouts said they think his stroke has gotten more uphill as he’s started to showcase for scouts. He’s also susceptible to chasing and swinging through high fastballs, but he has a strong track record of hitting against his peers. Given his age and inexperience, Armenteros will likely start his career in Rookie ball this summer in the United States.

The A’s are expected to sign several other international prospects tomorrow as well. Dominican shortstop Marcos Brito (the No. 13 international prospect), Dominican shortstop Yerdel Vargas (the No. 24 prospect) and Dominican outfielder Kevin Richards (No. 39 prospect) are all expected to sign with Oakland. Going over their international bonus pool means the A’s will have to pay a 100 percent overage tax to the commissioner’s office next year and won’t be allowed to sign any players for more than $300,000 during the next two international signing periods, beginning on July 2, 2017. The Astros, Braves Cardinals, Nationals and Padres are also expected to exceed their international bonus pools tomorrow.