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Fangraphs has their international prospect rankings up. I recommend reading the overview for info on how they got bonuses and scouting data.
Emmanuel Luna with a $2.3 million bonus. Power over hit profile with a 40 FV projected for corner OF. Carlos Carrion with a $1.0 million bonus. Athletic projection with big and a 35+ FV expected to be 3B at higher levels.
MLB also has theirs up.
https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/2026/international/
MLB has Luna as a 55 although I assume that is ceiling. They have a lot more details on him in their writeup. Carrior isn’t in their top 50.
I have to admit it is interesting reading the differences in FG and MLB. MLB’s are much more optimistic and must be pure ceiling based although maybe that makes sense for international prospects as they all are realistically extreme risk. FG is more willing to share concerns ina players profile though like hit tool concerns on Luna while MLB has him at 55.
Well the Cardinals still haven’t announced their 2026 signings yet but BA has a list of several names that have signed as well as their bonus amounts.
Emanuel Luna, OF, Dominican Republic ($2.3 million)
Carlos Carrion, SS, Dominican Republic ($1.1 million)
Rafeli Moronta, RHP, Dominican Republic ($450,000)
Sebastian Rojas, C, Venezuela ($450,000)
Jhon Fraganten, OF, Dominican Republic ($350,000)
Christopher Vargas, OF, Dominican Republic ($300,000)
Emilio Jimenez, LHP, Dominican RepublicSubscriber article with a lot to see.
Digging into details behind the #STLCards' 12 first-day 2026 international signees. In the process, the organization reportedly committed more than $5 million. Get the story at TCN! https://t.co/fLmxu3sgoJ pic.twitter.com/ZqRnqQHSXB
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) January 16, 2026
I havent had a chance to read the article yet and will later, but $5 million is disappointing to me. I know in the past they like to leave some money for later signing and maybe that will be the case, but $3 million is a lot of left over space. They should have thrown a high offer to a guy slotted to sign with another team to whish them away.
We bagged the elephant though, Albert. Emanuel Luna is going to be a star…..possibly of the “super” variety.
The risk level in the International signings is extremely high. Most of these kids still will grow, have never had a proper diet, and haven’t even played in many game settings actually. You never know how they will progress when they get to the academy and then when they transition stateside afterwards.
Luna has good potential, but I would have liked to have used some of that leftover money (which very well be allocated but not reported) to get another high profile player. 2 tickets give better odds than 1. I do like they spent big on 1 guy that was a top 10 talent this year though. With only 1 DSL team they don’t have as many roster spots and should target the higher quality guys with some quantity sprinkled in
AI Overview of leftover funds.
MLB international bonus pool leftovers are unused funds from a team’s annual allotment that can be carried over, traded (up to a limit), or sometimes used to sign players for small bonuses ($10k or less) outside the pool; teams like the Orioles and Dodgers had significant leftovers in 2024, often sought after by other clubs, though they must be spent within the system or they’re lost, with carryover rules allowing some flexibility for the next year’s pool.
How They Work
Pool Allotments: Each team gets a set bonus pool, influenced by market size, revenue, and penalties/bonuses for free-agent signings.
Trades: Teams can trade bonus pool money in $250,000 increments, but can only acquire up to 60% of their original pool.
Small Bonuses: Signing a player for $10,000 or less doesn’t count against the pool, allowing teams to sign many players without dipping into their main funds.What Happens to Leftovers
Carryover: Unspent money can typically be added to the next year’s bonus pool, giving teams more flexibility.
Trading: Teams can trade these funds for other players or prospects, as seen when the Dodgers traded Lantigua for pool space.
Loss: If not used or traded, the money is essentially forfeited and goes back to the league, not back to the team’s operational budget.
Examples from 2024
The Baltimore Orioles had about $2.1 million left.
The Los Angeles Dodgers had roughly $1.9 million remain ing.These leftover funds are valuable assets, often sought by teams looking to make big splashes for top international prospects.
Great example why not to always trust AI. Questions have to be asked very, very carefully and explicitly. Even then, the answers may not be fully correct, as in this case.
Info our subscribers get that you cannot find elsewhere.
Going deeper at The Cardinal Nation. #STLCards Assistant General Manager Moises Rodriguez discusses recent international signings, upcoming promotions to the US, budgets, scouting strategies and much more. https://t.co/SQAQR3jcuw pic.twitter.com/39csJPOQvH
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) January 23, 2026
I’m a little late to watch but I really enjoyed that interview Brian. Fantastic content and thanks for setting up the interview.
When the Cards had 2 DSL teams, did they play in the same stadium?
Getting guys everyday playing time with two teams at what overall probably wouldn’t cost a lot more does seem logical unless I’m missing something?
Diamonds in the rough are easier to find if you have double the chance.
CFICT asked:
1) When the Cards had 2 DSL teams, did they play in the same stadium?
2) Getting guys everyday playing time with two teams at what overall probably wouldn’t cost a lot more does seem logical unless I’m missing something?
3) Diamonds in the rough are easier to find if you have double the chance.
1) Yes, they shared the facility, playing there on alternate days. One team at home, the other on the road. They played in separate divisions.
2) The only expense that is not double with two teams is the playing field.
3) Only if you are willing to spend significantly more money.
Another note. The international cap for bonus spending is the same if you have one DSL team or two. So, for two teams, you’d have to cast the net very wide and find a lot of long shots. As Moises said in the interview, the international pool is not as deep as in the domestic draft.
So extra housing and probably the same chef cooking double the meat and eggs, and extra coaches and staff with another 25-30 dudes signing at less than 50k is not cheap, but find one long shot/diamond in the rough that produces at least 2 WAR seems like a smart move.
It’s cold and gross here folks, so just thinking of how they can find/manufacture cheap talent.
Breaking: The Cardinals are expected to sign RHP Leonil de Leon (17) to an international free agent deal.
Standing at 6'2, 170 pounds according to PG, Leon is a former SS prospect who converted to pitching. He's up to 95 mph on the mound with 2400 RPM on the fastball, and also… pic.twitter.com/nMYuMCN8bg
— Redbird Farmhands (@RedbirdFarmhand) February 5, 2026
RPM seems like a dumb way to measure something that takes a half-second to reach home plate…so it’s 20 revolutions per fastball.
I will say though, it’s probably as dumb as MPH 😉
I havent had a chance to read the article yet and will later, but $5 million is disappointing to me. I know in the past they like to leave some money for later signing and maybe that will be the case, but $3 million is a lot of left over space.
Yes, but the Cardinals are poor now. They have to live on a budget.
Further confirmation on my earlier post:
International news: The St. Louis Cardinals and 18-year-old right-hander Leonil De Leon have reached an agreement on a deal.
One of the top pitchers available in the current international signing period.
Full story and video at Beisbol FR.https://t.co/6k2AptClHr
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) February 9, 2026
I was trying to think of a Dominican League signing that came straight to stateside leagues? I could not.
Would they in a million years bring Luna or de Leon to the FSL? I’d guess less than 1%
The 1% Chance of starting Kuna stateside seems about right. However, if he tears up DSL, they might bring him over for the last month or so. I believe that has been done before.
Would they in a million years bring Luna or de Leon to the FSL? I’d guess less than 1%
Could they bring a 17 yr old to FSL if they wanted to?
CFICT asked:
I was trying to think of a Dominican League signing that came straight to stateside leagues? I could not.
Would they in a million years bring Luna or de Leon to the FSL? I’d guess less than 1%.
1. Alex Reyes immediately comes to mind, but it would be a very, very short list.
2. Agreed. Less than 1%.
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