The Mets signed two free agents Thursday for about as much as they dropped on anyone this winter not named Michael Cuddyer.
On the first day of the international signing period, the Mets sprang for seven-figure contracts for a pair of highly rated 16-year-old shortstops. They gave $1.5 million to Gregory Guerrero, a Dominican Republic native who is the nephew of big league great Vladimir Guerrero, and $1.2 million for Andres Gimenez of Venezuela.
Gimenez is ranked No. 15 and Guerrero is ranked No. 17 on MLB.com’s list of the top international prospects.
Guerrero’s older brother Jose is a pitching prospect in the Mets organization.
In other news, the Mets traded minor league right-hander Gaither Bumgardner to the Angels for an international bonus pool slot.
Bumgardner was taken in the 23rd round of the 2013 Major League draft out of the University of South Carolina – Upstate. A reliever, the 24-year-old Bumgardner was 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA in three games with Class A Brooklyn this year.
The Mets got the Dodgers’ slot No. 90, giving them an extra $239,400, according to Baseball America, to spend on international players before facing penalties.
With AP