Tim Heitman, USA Today Sports
After much anticipation, two of the top international prospects in baseball have reportedly been declared free agents and cleared to sign by MLB.
According to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com, Victor Victor Mesa and Victor Mesa Jr. are reportedly now cleared to begin negotiating with teams and can now sign an MLB contract.
Victor Victor Mesa is rated as the No. 1 international prospect according to MLB.com. The 22-year-old outfielder draws high grades for his defense in the outfield with a strong arm, great athleticism and a developing hit tool.
He has drawn comparisons from many in the industry to Washington Nationals outfielder Victor Robles, who is rated by MLB.com as the fifth-best prospect in baseball.
Mesa Jr. is a 17-year-old outfielder who also offers nice athleticism but isn’t nearly as developed as his brother defensively or at the plate. Though interest in him is certainly likely to be heavy across the league, much like with his brother.
The Baltimore Orioles carry the most international bonus pool money ($6.5 million) and reportedly have strong interest in the Cuban outfielders. The Miami Marlins, who have $4.3 million in bonus pool money, are also reportedly a frontrunner for Victor Victor.
Teams like the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers will also likely be linked heavily to the Cuban outfielders.