According to Jorge Arangure of ESPN, the Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to terms with 17-year old outfielder Willy Garcia to a $280,000 bonus. Garcia hit .217 in 23 at-bats in the Dominican Prospect League. He’s got a projectable frame at 6′ 3″, 177 pounds. My guess is that he’ll play in the Dominican Summer League in 2010.
Just to put the bonus in perspective, the Pirates gave Exicardo Cayonez $400,000, and Jordaneli Carvajal $350,000 last year. Jonathan Barrios received $250,000. The only reported bonus this year was shortstop Ramses Pena, at $150,000. Barrios was considered a top-25 prospect in the 2008 international signing period, so the fact that Garcia got $30,000 more than him says something about how the Pirates value him (yeah, that’s kind of an “internal value” reference).
