Dodgers Rumors: Deal With Yadier Alvarez May Be In Place

While the Los Angeles Dodgers have slowly but steadily built depth throughout the organization through the draft, the immediate impact of recent international signings can’t be understated. Hyun-jin Ryu and Yasiel Puig have been key to the Dodgers’ success in recent years and Alex Guerrero is on his way to being next in line.

At just 18 years old, Julio Urias is waiting in the wings and he may soon be joined by a fresh wave of young faces come July 2. After not signing Yoan Moncada, the Dodgers are expected to spend big and incur the restrictions that come with signing players who are under 23 years old and have less than five years of professional experience.

Among the prospects the Dodgers have consistently been tied to is right-hander Yadier Alvarez, who some believe has already received a deal from the club, according to Kiley McDaniel of FanGraphs.com:

I’ve heard from multiple international scouts that believe the Dodgers already have a deal with Alvarez for $16 million (which would cost the Dodgers $32 million total, due to the dollar-for-dollar tax by MLB on 23 and under international prospects), but his reps deny a deal is done. Alvarez can’t sign right now anyway and, while a deal may not be done, everyone I’ve talked to thinks Alvarez will end up with the Dodgers (though a number of other teams are interested), and the price is about where scouts thought it would end up, so this makes a lot of sense.

At 6’3 and 175 pounds, Alvarez has a fastball that reaches the mid-to-upper 90s, as well as a plus-slider and changeup. On top of Alvarez’s talent, his youth and frame certainly give teams more than reason to see promise in the years to follow.

McDaniel also reports the Dodgers may have a deal in place with center fielder Starling Heredia, someone they were linked to back in March, and shortstop Ronny Brito, among others.

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