The Minnesota Twins haven’t made a big splash this winter and the biggest storyline has been who the team is getting rid of and the Pohlad family’s pending sale of the team. Because of the slow-developing offseason, Twins fans looking for news have had to cling to arbitration and other smaller events as they try to bridge the gap to Spring Training.
One of those events is coming this week when MLB opens its international free-agent signing period. While negotiations have been made to try to institute an international draft, the signing period remains in place and has been an important aspect of building the Twins roster over the years.
So how does the international signing period work? And who are some of the names the Twins are expected to sign? Here’s a brief explanation of the international free-agent signing period and the action Minnesota could have in the coming days.
Explaining international free agency and how much the Twins can spend
International free agency is when teams can sign any amateur resident outside of the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico who is at least 16 as of Sept. 1 and has not attended high school in an MLB Draft-eligible country within the past calendar year. Most players signed during this period come from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Cuba.
The period used to take place in early July but the date shifted to January as a byproduct of the COVID-19 pandemic. The change stuck for the past couple of years and international free agency begins for this season begins on Jan. 15, 2025, and teams are given a set amount of pool money they can spend on IFA players based on the size of their draft pools, qualifying offer signing penalties and more.
For this period, the Twins are in the group of teams with the largest pool possible at $7,555,500. The Twins can also acquire up to 60 percent more money in the international bonus pool in trades but that’s a tough task this year with Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki considered an international free agent.
The Twins’ expected 2025 international signing class is headlined by Santiago Leon
Teams typically sign a large group of international players, hoping to cast a wide net to unearth talent. But most IFAs already have handshake deals in place even though they can’t sign an official contract until the IFA period begins.
For the Twins, three notable players are expected to sign. The first is Venezuelan shortstop Santiago Leon, who is the scout of longtime Twins scout Jose Leon.
According to Baseball America’s top 100 international bonus board, Leon has a mature offensive approach that allows him to recognize pitches, manage his at-bats and make frequent contact with the ability to use the whole field. While his speed and fielding need some development, the report suggests that Leon could stay at shortstop depending on if he builds on his 6-foot, 172-pound frame. Baseball America also projects him to get the 20th-highest bonus during the period.
Dominican outfielder Carlos Taveras is also expected to sign as his physicality and power have stood out. While Taveras is a dangerous pull hitter, Baseball America suggests there is some swing-and-miss to his game. Taveras also moves well for his 6-foot-1, 213-pound frame but is likely to stick in a corner outfield spot as he continues to grow.
The third prospect is Venezuelan shortstop Haritzon Castillo. A 6-foot, 175-pounder, Baseball America describes him as “an offensive-minded shortstop” but also noted that scouts have been intrigued with a potential move to catcher and he could wind up at multiple infield spots as he enters professional baseball.