January 15, 2026 International Signing Period

Squire 2026-01-03 13:09:30 UTC #62

Feels like a really good point this morning

julio 2026-01-03 14:11:26 UTC #63

Too soon to know, but we should not assume that any 16-year-old Venezuelan kids will be leaving Venezuela to go work for American employers on or about January 15th. Enough stability to establish commercial air operations, in less than two weeks? Possible, I suppose, but by no means assured.

zambonir 2026-01-03 14:22:57 UTC #64

I would think actually executing the contracts and payments would also be close to impossible, though it seems like baseball has generally been loopholed through all previously sanctions (imposed by the US, that is).

andyb 2026-01-05 19:21:20 UTC #65

BA Update today (behind paywall as well).

fish 2026-01-05 19:58:43 UTC #66

Renteria ranked #2, no one else on the list. It’s all the fun of getting a top draft pick without having to tank.

andyb 2026-01-05 21:19:50 UTC #67

It said there were at least 50 million dollar bonuses and since we have only one (from the Francys Romero preview) we are not going to have more on the BA list until they expand to 100.

owaistabish 2026-01-07 15:41:14 UTC #68

fish 2026-01-07 16:01:56 UTC #69

Well, looking like he has the build and athleticism of Julio Rodriguez is a good place to start from.

owaistabish 2026-01-07 19:02:18 UTC #70

Squire 2026-01-12 14:45:56 UTC #71

Juan Parra comes in at 88 on the BA International Bonus Board but is given the trending up designation:

Juan Parra, SS, Venezuela
Team: Phillies

Trending Up ↑

Parra is an exciting athlete who could stick at a premium position. He’s a plus runner with a quick first step at shortstop, where he’s an easy, athletic mover. Like a lot of young shortstops, he’s still learning to be more consistent on the routine plays, but he has good hands, actions, range and body control along with an average arm. At 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, Parra is a switch-hitter with good plate discipline. He has fast bat speed to drive the ball with impact from both sides of the plate, showing an all-fields approach from the right side and one that’s geared more to pull hitting lefthanded.

andyb 2026-01-12 15:13:14 UTC #72

Good that he is trending up. The 88 ranking is strictly based on his bonus (reported above at $650K). Trending up might mean he is more talented than his previously agreed upon bonus. He is bigger than most of our recent SS signings like Caba so that is good in terms of the offensive potential if he can stay in the middle infield.

andyb 2026-01-13 18:12:35 UTC #73

We have a dark horses supplemental list today also from Francys Romero. [Note: Paywalled . - J]

fish 2026-01-14 13:24:08 UTC #74

BA lists Juan Para as one of 12 breakout prospects for the signing period-

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/12-breakout-mlb-prospects-in-the-2026-international-signing-class/

“ Parra is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound switch-hitter with the potential to be an athletic, power-hitting shortstop with a good grasp of the strike zone.”

owaistabish 2026-01-14 19:47:30 UTC #76

20-RHP Justin Burgos (Dominican Republic) Philadelphia Phillies ($350,000)
Burgos is another pitcher from the 2025–2026 class with strong potential to develop and eventually reach the major leagues. He owns an impressive physical profile at 6’5”, with a projectable frame that scouts really like. His fastball currently sits in the low 90s, ranging from 90 to 93 mph, and he already shows feel for both his breaking ball and his changeup, giving him the foundation of a complete arsenal.
He is considered a very projectable arm, and while it will take time for all his tools to fully align and come together, the upside is evident. Burgos also brings valuable international experience after pitching for the Dominican Republic at the 2024 U-15 World Cup in Colombia, where he stood out with a 1.83 ERA and held opposing hitters to a .115 average.

andyb 2026-01-14 19:50:33 UTC #77

Thanks. This looks like a really good class if Parra and Burgos are both rising talents to go along with Renteria. And they check the box for athletic, projectible prospects that we have had a hard time getting in Latin America in recent years.

andyb 2026-01-14 19:55:55 UTC #78

Tracker with stories and links from Matt here:

Squire 2026-01-15 02:20:13 UTC #79

It’s Christmas Eve…

Squire 2026-01-15 12:43:25 UTC #80

Here is the BA Signing Tracker:

andyb 2026-01-15 14:17:26 UTC #81

Fangraphs top 59 has Renteria 5th. Parra and others not ranked here:

fish 2026-01-15 15:53:50 UTC #82

Samuel Ortiz- looks strong with room to get stronger, good breaking ball.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNdkov3OWid/?igsh=eXNqcjV4MWx4am11