The Pirates switched up their strategy Wednesday on the first day teams could sign international free agents.
The Pirates gave an $850,000 signing bonus to Christopher Cruz, a 16-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic. In recent seasons, the Pirates have signed free agents from Latin America in bulk rather than premier players to large bonuses.
The Pirates also signed two other Dominican players for $600,000 each – left-hander Yojeiry Osorio and outfielder Emmanuel Terrero.
In addition to those three, the Pirates signed 18 other free agents from six different countries:
Colombia: LHP Diego Chiquillo
Dominican Republic: OF Robert DePaula, OF Ewry Espinal, RHP Luis Faringthon, RHP Darvin Garcia, RHP Roelmy Garcia, RHP Rafael Mendez, RHP Wandi Montout, SS Delfin Ramirez, SS Jeral Toledo
Mexico: RHP Patricio Ress
Nicarauga: RHP Keneth Quintanilla
Panama: 2B Francisco Quintero
Venezuela: RHP Gilberto Alcala, C Eybert Escalona, SS Javier Rivas, RHP Eliecer Romero, OF Dioris Valdez
