Toronto Blue Jays use international bonus pool money to sign three pitchers

[polo007]

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BALTIMORE – The Toronto Blue Jays have signed one Cuban pitcher and two Dutch hurlers with the international bonus pool money acquired in the trades of Kendrys Morales and Dwight Smith Jr., according to industry sources.

The deals were completed recently, sneaking in ahead of Saturday’s deadline for using 2018 spending slots and before the July 2 opening of this year’s signing period.

They picked up $1 million from the Oakland Athletics in the Morales deal plus another $500,000 from the Baltimore Orioles for Smith. Acquiring the spending slots so late in the period with the top players already signed forced the Blue Jays to be creative in identifying talent worth betting on.

The majority of their spending room was used on acquiring Yosver Zulueta, a 21-year-old righty from Cuba who has reportedly been clocked up to 98 m.p.h. and sits 94-95. He’s pitched for Granma in the Cuban National Series.

Out of the Netherlands, the Blue Jays signed 17-year-old right-handers Jiorgeny Casimiri and Sem Robberse, both of whom have played in the Dutch league – described as roughly equivalent to the D2 college level in the United States – and on the under-18 national team.

[SharoneWright]

Thanks for posting. Kinda cool to be the only bidder out there... Hey, you never know.

[Schad]

I can see Zulueta listed as one of the better prospects in Cuba going back a couple years, and...that's pretty well it. Basically found money for a couple guys that weren't tabbed for a role, though.

[Ong_dynasty]

I like these kind of trades. Shows creativity in our front office. Lottery tickets. If one makes it..then good.