Top Signing Bonuses During MLB's International Signing Period

The A's gave Dominican P Michel Inoa $4.25M, the top bonus ever given to a foreign player during the int'l signing period. Spending was up this year among most MLB clubs, as teams like the Pirates exceeded $1M in total int'l bonus expenditures for the first time in franchise history. The Padres committed nearly $5M in signing bonuses to five int'l players two months after opening a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic. The Red Sox signed six players, five of whom hail from Venezuela, while the Yankees signed five players, at least three of whom likely received high six-figure bonuses. The Reds gave Dominican OF Juan Duran a $2M signing bonus, but the deal was completed before the first date of the int'l signing period. Players who are at least 16 are eligible to sign during MLB's int'l signing period, which lasts from July 2 until the end of August. The chart below lists the top 10 bonuses given to foreign players during MLB's int'l signing period (BASEBALLAMERICA.com, 9/24).

CHART TOPPERS: Bonuses given out to int'l signees during '08 account for five of the top 10 all-time highest bonuses, with Michel Inoa's $4.25M being far and away the highest ever. Putting that into context, just three players signed with any team for a bonus of at least $1M during last year's int'l signing period. P Byung-Hyun Kimg was the only player in the top 10 to be age 20+ when they were signed. This list does not count Cuban players such as Jose Contreras, who played at that country's highest level, as amateurs (BASEBALLAMERICA.com, 9/24).