Padres are finalizing the signings of two top international prospects from the Dominican Republic, left-handed pitcher Carlos Alvarez and shortstop Jhoan De La Cruz, according to reports from Will Sammon of The Athletic and Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com. Alvarez is expected to receive a signing bonus around $1 million, while De La Cruz’s bonus is not yet confirmed, though it is believed to be in the $2 million range. Previously, Baseball America estimated De La Cruz’s value between $1 million and $1.5 million. Additionally, multiple sources have suggested that the Padres now believe their pursuit of Japanese star pitcher Roki Sasaki is over.
Alvarez was initially committed to the Padres but had explored other options after the team became a finalist for Sasaki. He will now officially sign with San Diego, reinforcing the idea that the Padres are no longer in contention for Sasaki.
The Padres, along with the Dodgers and Blue Jays, were finalists for Sasaki, though there is no word yet on his decision. The Dodgers had reportedly been looking for trades to increase their international bonus pool, which is the smallest in MLB at $5.146 million. Meanwhile, the Padres and Jays have a slightly larger pool, both sitting at $6.262 million. San Diego had also explored trades to enhance its bonus capacity.
Sasaki’s agent, Joel Wolfe, has indicated that Sasaki’s decision will not be based solely on the largest bonus offer. Sasaki could have waited until he turned 25 to become a professional free agent, similar to how Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s decision led to a $325 million contract with the Dodgers.
While the Padres’ chances with Sasaki appear slim, the signings of De La Cruz and Alvarez are still significant. MLB.com ranks them as the 21st and 39th prospects in this year’s international class. De La Cruz is noted for having well-rounded skills with solid power and a strong defensive profile at shortstop. Alvarez, a 17-year-old pitcher, already stands at 6’5″ and throws a fastball clocked at 93 mph. Having transitioned from outfield to pitcher, his arm is in excellent condition, and he’s showing encouraging command and secondary pitches despite being new topitching.
