{"id":141037,"date":"2026-01-17T11:58:50","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T11:58:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141037"},"modified":"2026-01-17T11:58:50","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T11:58:50","slug":"cardinals-sign-top-dominican-outfielder-as-international-free-agency-opens-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=141037","title":{"rendered":"Cardinals sign top Dominican outfielder as international free agency opens up"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Aug 28, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Chaim Bloom, Chief Baseball Officer of the Boston Red Sox on the field before the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images<\/div>\n
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The St. Louis Cardinals just added a whole lot of talent to their already strong farm system today.<\/p>\n

Across Major League Baseball, international free agent signings are being made official today as clubs are now officially allowed to put pen to paper with some of the most exciting young talent in international baseball. Lately, the Cardinals have found a ton of success in that market, highlighted by top slugging prospect Rainiel Rodriguez and current top 100 player in baseball, Ivan Herrera.<\/p>\n

Chaim Bloom just secured more exciting names to that mix, including one of the top outfielders this class has to offer.<\/p>\n

The Cardinals signed an exciting international free agent class today, highlighted by top outfielder Emanuel Luna<\/h2>\n

At the very top of the Cardinals’ class is Dominican outfielder Emanuel Luna, who turns 17 today and is the 10th-ranked prospect in the entire international class according to Baseball America. Luna, who the Cardinals signed to a $2.3 million signing bonus, has incredible raw power for his young age. Many scouts believe he has plus-plus raw power and could be a 30+ home run hitter if the Cardinals can help him develop as a prospect.<\/p>\n

On top of that, Luna is also a great athlete, so the Cardinals could be looking at a future center fielder here with big-time power, which gives Luna true star upside. This applies to every prospect in this class, but with Luna being a teenager, we obviously need to temper expectations and see how he performs in the complex league and stateside before getting too amped up. But it is encouraging that the Cardinals have found so much success so far with Rainiel Rodriguez, who could be putting himself in the conversation for a top 10 prospect in all of baseball soon.<\/p>\n

Aside from Luna, the Cardinals also brought in another high-upside Dominican 17-year-old in Carlos Carrion, who was previously linked to the San Diego Padres. Carrion signed for a $1.1 million signing bonus today, and Ben Badler of Baseball America called him one of the best athletes of this class.<\/p>\n

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The St. Louis Cardinals signing Dominican shortstop Carlos Carrion for $1.1 million. One of the best athletes in the class. pic.twitter.com\/W6KnvyILSr<\/a><\/p>\n

— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) January 15, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n