Cuban teenage pitcher Luis Morales declared a free agent by MLB
A highly sought-after 19-year-old pitcher is in a position to command a huge salary.
Cuban right-hander Luis Morales will be eligible to sign with an MLB team on Sept. 7 after being declared a free agent on Thursday, and he is expected to demand a record sum for a pitcher in the international bonus pool, according to multiple reports.
Beisbolfr.com was the first to report that Morales will be declared a free agent by MLB.
Oakland’s A’s, who are the worst AL 46-81, are considered heavy favorites to sign Morales. The young flamethrower’s speed peaked between 97 and 99 mph during various practices for MLB teams, according to ESPN.com
Cuban right-hander Luis Morales – a coveted 19-year-old prospect who is expected to demand a record sum for a pitcher in the international bonus pool – will be eligible to sign with an MLB team on September 7 after being declared a free agent on Thursday, a a source confirmed to ESPN.
The Oakland Athletics are considered strong favorites to sign Morales who defected from the Cuban U-23 team in Mexico City in September 2021.
At open showcases for MLB teams in January and April, Morales showed off his high-flying fastball. He also has a breaking ball that many in the game consider above average. Morales’ third pitch is the switch, considered his weakest and most inconsistent pitch, but that’s often the case for many young professional pitchers who pitch hard.
Most of the money in the pool in this current international signing period has been spent, meaning Morales is likely to sign in the next international signing on January 15, as most of the money in the pool at the during this period has been spent.
In 2018, Sandy Gaston, another Cuban right-hander, received the biggest bonus given to a pitcher since the international bonus pool was capped in 2016, receiving $2.61 million from the Tampa Bay Rays. Superstar pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani received $2.315 million from the Los Angeles Angels in December 2017.
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