Top 40 International Bonuses Of 2015
See Also: 2015 International Reviews Index
See Also: 2015 International Spending By Team
Baseball America has compiled data on the top 40 signing bonuses of 2015. The first chart does not include Cuban players—more on them in a second chart below—to focus on the more traditional international amateur signings, primarily from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
All of these players signed on or after July 2, so they all count under the current 2015-16 international bonus pools. Giants shortstop Lucius Fox, who went to a Florida high school but moved to the Bahamas to sign as an international free agent last year when he turned 18 on July 2, holds the record for the highest international bonus of all time for a non-Cuban player. The record international bonus for a 16-year-old still belongs to Rangers outfielder Nomar Mazara ($4.95 million).
Overall, teams spent far more aggressively at the top of the market for Dominican players than they did in Venezuela, perhaps due to the growing challenges of scouting in Venezuela. There were 18 Dominican players signed for at least $1 million compared to just four from Venezuela.
While the Dodgers spent more money than any team last year primarily due to three Cuban signings, the Cubs paid 12 of the top 40 international bonuses last year for non-Cuban players, with seven-figure deals for players from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, Panama and South Korea.
| TOP 40 BONUSES | ||||
| Player | Pos | Country | Team | Bonus |
| 1. Lucius Fox | ss | Bahamas | Giants | $6,000,000 |
| 2. Jhailyn Ortiz | of | Dominican Republic | Phillies | $4,010,000 |
| 3. Wander Javier | ss | Dominican Republic | Twins | $4,000,000 |
| 4. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | of | Dominican Republic | Blue Jays | $3,900,000 |
| 5. Starling Heredia | of | Dominican Republic | Dodgers | $2,600,000 |
| 6. Jonathan Sierra | of | Dominican Republic | Cubs | $2,500,000 |
| T-7. Gilberto Celestino | of | Dominican Republic | Astros | $2,250,000 |
| T-7. Seuly Matias | of | Dominican Republic | Royals | $2,250,000 |
| 9. Leody Taveras | of | Dominican Republic | Rangers | $2,100,000 |
| T-10. Aramis Ademan | ss | Dominican Republic | Cubs | $2,000,000 |
| T-10. Ronny Brito | ss | Dominican Republic | Dodgers | $2,000,000 |
| T-10. Derian Cruz | ss | Dominican Republic | Braves | $2,000,000 |
| T-10. Daniel Montano | of | Venezuela | Rockies | $2,000,000 |
| 14. Carlos Vargas | ss | Dominican Republic | Mariners | $1,625,000 |
| T-15. Jose Albertos | rhp | Mexico | Cubs | $1,500,000 |
| T-15. Gregory Guerrero | ss | Dominican Republic | Mets | $1,500,000 |
| T-15. Jeison Guzman | ss | Dominican Republic | Royals | $1,500,000 |
| T-15. Franklin Reyes | of | Dominican Republic | White Sox | $1,500,000 |
| T-15. Juan Soto | of | Dominican Republic | Nationals | $1,500,000 |
| 20. Cristian Pache | of | Dominican Republic | Braves | $1,400,000 |
| 21. Henderson Perez | c | Venezuela | Cubs | $1,250,000 |
| 22. Andres Gimenez | ss | Venezuela | Mets | $1,200,000 |
| T-23. Miguel Amaya | c | Panama | Cubs | $1,000,000 |
| T-23. Kwang-Min Kwon | of | South Korea | Cubs | $1,000,000 |
| T-23. Cristian Olivo | of | Dominican Republic | Reds | $1,000,000 |
| T-23. Yonathan Perlaza | ss | Venezuela | Cubs | $1,000,000 |
| 27. Oneil Cruz | ss | Dominican Republic | Dodgers | $950,000 |
| T-28. Cristopher Morel | ss | Dominican Republic | Cubs | $800,000 |
| T-28. Isaac Paredes | ss | Mexico | Cubs | $800,000 |
| 30. Alvaro Seijas | rhp | Venezuela | Cardinals | $762,500 |
| T-31. Elvis Alvarado | of | Dominican Republic | Nationals | $700,000 |
| T-31. Andres Munoz | rhp | Mexico | Padres | $700,000 |
| T-31. Fernando Tatis Jr. | 3b | Dominican Republic | White Sox | $700,000 |
| 34. Miguel Hernandez | ss | Venezuela | Reds | $650,000 |
| T-35. Yunior Perez | rhp | Dominican Republic | Cubs | $600,000 |
| T-35. Brailyn Marquez | lhp | Dominican Republic | Cubs | $600,000 |
| T-35. Henry Pujols | 3b | Dominican Republic | Indians | $600,000 |
| T-35. Anderson Amarista | rhp | Venezuela | Rockies | $600,000 |
| T-35. Raffy Ozuna | ss | Dominican Republic | Cardinals | $600,000 |
| T-40. Jose Gutierrez | of | Venezuela | Cubs | $550,000 |
| T-40. Mario Prenza | of | Dominican Republic | Marlins | $550,000 |
| T-40. Jose Sibrian | c | Venezuela | Brewers | $550,000 |
Teams can sign the top 16-year-old players in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela every year on July 2, but their ability to sign Cuban players depends on who is able to leave the island. Below are the top 10 bonuses for Cuban players signed in 2015 who fall under the international bonus pools.
The biggest Cuban signing of 2015 was the Dodgers giving Hector Olivera a six-year, $62.5 million major league contract (including a $28 million signing bonus). His deal and the four-year, $6 million contract (including a $1.2 million signing bonus) the Braves gave Cuban outfielder Dian Toscano were both exempt from the pools. Dodgers righthander Pablo Millan Fernandez ($8 million) and Orioles lefthander Ariel Miranda ($725,000) were also both exempt from the pools, although they signed minor league contracts.
Dodgers righthander Yaisel Sierra isn’t listed below because he signed in 2016 and was also exempt from the pools. With around 200 Cuban players having left the country in pursuit of a major league contract, the quick drop-off on this list is a reminder that most Cuban players are not signing huge contracts, and many of them aren’t getting signed at all.
| Player | Pos | Team | Age | Pool | Bonus |
| 1. Yoan Moncada | 2b | Red Sox | 19 | 2014-15 | $31,500,000 |
| 2. Yadier Alvarez | rhp | Dodgers | 19 | 2015-16 | $16,000,000 |
| 3. Yusniel Diaz | of | Dodgers | 19 | 2015-16 | $15,500,000 |
| 4. Yoan Lopez | rhp | Diamondbacks | 22 | 2014-15 | $8,260,000 |
| 5. Omar Estevez | 2b | Dodgers | 17 | 2015-16 | $6,000,000 |
| 6. Eddy Julio Martinez | of | Cubs | 20 | 2015-16 | $3,000,000 |
| 7. Andy Ibanez | 2b | Rangers | 22 | 2015-16 | $1,600,000 |
| 8. Yoanys Quiala | rhp | Astros | 21 | 2014-15 | $794,000 |
| 9. Alejandro Garcia | cf | Astros | 24 | 2015-16 | $750,000 |
| 10. Pedro Marquez | of | Diamondbacks | 21 | 2015-16 | $160,000 |
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