Mets sign 16yr old Fernando Martinez

[AT]

According to various sources and specifically here from Rotowire.com...

7/11
"Martinez, a 16-year-old outfielder, got a $1.4 million contract from the Mets last week, even though he can't play in the United States until he turns 18, the Associated Press reports. Because of his arm strength, a number of scouts had expressed interest in Martinez, comparing him to fellow Dominicans Raul Mondesi and Jose Guillen. Despite his lucrative deal, Martinez said he wants to attend college and study business administration. The Mets included $100,000 to pay for his studies as part of the package."

$1.4 Million on a 16yr old Outfielder seems like a lot to me. Anyone heard anything about this young buck?

[raiders_umpire]

read that this morning in the USA today... hope the mets can wait 2 years for him to be old enough to play in the US...... but dang what 16 year old would not love to sign a 1.4 million dollar contract....

[MMoNeY24]

Never heard of him, but it says here it says his name is Jess...

Mets: Promising 16-year old Dominican signs deal
by Fanball Staff - Fanball.com
Tuesday, July 12, 2005

News
The first time the Mets signed a 16-year old out of the Dominican Republic, it worked out okay, producing shortstop Jose Reyes. They announced that on Monday, they signed 16-year-old outfielder Jess Martnez, to a deal worth $1.4 million.

Views
The Reyes signing cost them only $15,000, significantly more than the Martnez deal. It proves that the Dominican Republic is clearly being scouted more heavily and producing higher buck prospects. With both Martnez, and other Mets recent signee, Venezuelan pitcher Deolis Guerra unable to start playing professional baseball until they are 18-years old, they won't appear on the fantasy landscape for probably five years.

Article

[garf112]

read that this morning in the USA today... hope the mets can wait 2 years for him to be old enough to play in the US...... but dang what 16 year old would not love to sign a 1.4 million dollar contract....

The Mets will only have to wait one year. Next year, Martinez TURNS 18 during the season. The rule is that a player must turn 18 during the season in order to play in the states. He'll go to Instructional League in September.

Also, the Mets signed Deolis Guerra 16-year-old Venezuelan right-hander. They are two of the top international amateurs.

[bigken117]

Any news on when international players will go through the draft and not be FA? When Justin Upton was 16, why couldn't he challenge the system, become a FA, and let the Yankees pay him whatever he desired? I just don't get it. Bottom feeding teams with no scouting budget like KC will never get anywhere when teams like the Mets are throwing 1.4 million at a 16 year old because he has a strong arm.

[mcqfesijiba]

Any news on when international players will go through the draft and not be FA? When Justin Upton was 16, why couldn't he challenge the system, become a FA, and let the Yankees pay him whatever he desired? I just don't get it. Bottom feeding teams with no scouting budget like KC will never get anywhere when teams like the Mets are throwing 1.4 million at a 16 year old because he has a strong arm.

That's been wondered about for a few years now. I've heard rumors of attempts to put together a system involving an international draft of some sort, but I've never seen anything come of these rumors.