TOP 5 S9 INTERNATIONAL FREE AGENTS

Lorenzo Castilla, 3B, SAL

Castilla signed with Salem back in early September with lofty expectations, and he hasn't disappointed. At Low A, he's hitting .309 with 32 HR and 137 RBI in 133 games played. He's considered the third baseman of the future, but with Denny Gaston currently at the position, you can be sure that Salem will find a place for Castilla's talents. Signed at a $17.5M bonus, it is considered quite the steal.

Carlos Martis, C, SD

Martis could end up being the most complete catcher Shoeless Joe has ever seen. Of course he's got ways to go, but this guy can do it all. He's a superb contact hitter with power and a disciplined batting eye. Defense? Yeah, he's got that too. An above average pitch caller who can get the best out of his pitcher. At AA, he's hitting .305 with 15 HR and 63 RBI. Not overpowering numbers, but keep in mind he's only 18 years old. The future is bright for this kid.

Bernie Sosa, 1B, LV

Sosa was signed only a day ago, but he brings lofty expectations to the table. He's a complete hitter, and he's probably the most ML ready out of this list. The 21 year old is currently at rookie league, where he's batting an impressive .600 BA with 2 HR and 7 RBI in 5 games. Don't expect him at rookie ball for long, where he'll feast on poor unsuspecting pitchers. He'll climb the ladder of success very quickly.

Javier Marquez, SS, AUS

Austin found themselves a bargain with Marquez, who signed the 18 year old to a $9.8M bonus. He's a defensive machine with the speed and durability needed to rack up the gold gloves. He doesn't have a great bat, but good enough to contribute when needed. Austin seems to be a breeding ground for stud prospects, and Marquez is just another addition to an already stacked minor league system.

Del Maduro, SP, MIL

Want a sleeper? Well, here you go. Maduro was signed for an extreme bargain, $4.6M. But I'm telling you, this guy will end up being a decent middle of the rotation SP. He's not overpowering at all, but his control and mixture of pitches will be what will eventually send this guy to the majors. In Low A, he's 6-5 with a 3.81 ERA in 20 starts. Outstanding pickup by Milwaukee.


HONORABLE MENTION: Yunel Espinosa, MNT; Daiki Wang, CHI