The Philadelphia Phillies will get their first crack at signings international free agents on Jan. 15, like the rest of Major League Baseball.
Last year, Philadelphia used $3 million of its $4.4 million bonus pool to sign shortstop Jesus Caba, who was the No. 13-ranked prospect internationally. Caba was a switch-hitter with a highly-regarded glove.
Who will the Phillies snag this year? Well, Baseball America presented its Top 50 bonus board. The board was designed to determine who would get the 50 largest signing bonuses internationally. Then, the site paired the players with the teams most likely to sign them.
The Phillies were projected to sign one of those players, Dominican Republic outfielder Jalvin Arias, to the 29th-largest signing bonus.
This would be a long-term development selection for the Phillies, as Arias appears to be a center fielder now who has the ability to project as a power hitter, which could move him into a corner outfield slot down the line.
Born in 2006, Arias would have plenty of time to develop and grow into his 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame.
While the Phillies wade into the international pool, they have a star-studded group of future prospects that were named to their Organizational All-Stars by MLB.com last month.
That list included reliever Orion Kerkering, who pitched in the postseason for the Phillies as they reached the NL Championship Series before losing to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The other players on the All-Star team included outfielder Weston Wilson, outfielder Justin Crawford, right-handed pitcher Mick Abel, first baseman Carlos De La Cruz, outfielder Símon Muzziotti, outfielder Emaarion Boyd, catcher Caleb Ricketts, second baseman Oliver Dunn, third baseman Matt Kroon, and left-handed pitcher Matt Osterberg.