Key Takeaways
The New York Yankees have agreed to a record-setting $7 million pre-agreement with 13-year-old Venezuelan prospect Albert Mejias from the 2030 international class.
The deal breaks the previous record of $6 million set by Lucius Fox in 2015, who ultimately played just 10 MLB games across his career.
Mejias’s agreement includes $6.4 million in bonus money plus $600,000 allocated toward an educational scholarship component.
MLB analyst Wilbur Sanchez, who specializes in Dominican and Latin American prospects, called Mejias “the best player in the history of the international market.”
The commitment represents the Yankees’ largest international investment in franchise history and arrives during an otherwise quiet offseason for the organization.
The Record-Breaking Agreement
The New York Yankees have secured a pre-agreement with Venezuelan prospect Albert Mejias, setting a new benchmark for international signings at $7 million. The deal was first reported on January 23, 2026 by MLB analyst Wilbur Sanchez, who focuses on prospects from Latin America.
The structure breaks down to $6.4 million in bonus money with an additional $600,000 designated as an educational scholarship. Mejias is part of the 2030 international signing class, meaning the agreement cannot be officially executed for several more years.
“At just 13 years old, he already has a pre-agreement with the Yankees for a record-setting $7.0 million bonus,” Sanchez wrote. He added that Mejias “is the best player in the history of the international market” and “could play in a professional league right now.”
The Yankees have been relatively quiet this offseason following their playoff exit, making moves to re-sign Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger while adding pitcher Ryan Yarbrough and trading for Ryan Weathers. The Mejias agreement represents a significantly different type of investment, one focused on long-term talent development rather than immediate roster construction.
Track Record of High-Dollar International Signings
The previous record holder for largest international signing bonus provides a cautionary reminder about the uncertainty inherent in these early commitments. In 2015, the San Francisco Giants signed shortstop Lucius Fox to a $6 million minor league contract. Fox’s career was derailed by injuries, and he appeared in just 10 MLB games.
Over seven minor league seasons spanning 581 games, Fox recorded 23 home runs, 190 RBIs, and a .243 batting average. He was last affiliated with the Chicago White Sox before being released in March 2024.
However, the same 2015 international signing period produced one of baseball’s biggest success stories. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. signed with the Toronto Blue Jays for $3.9 million, which ranked as the seventh-highest bonus at the time. Guerrero has since developed into one of baseball’s premier hitters, recording 183 home runs, 591 RBIs, and 1,077 hits over seven seasons. He helped lead the Blue Jays to a World Series appearance in 2025.
The contrast between Fox and Guerrero Jr. illustrates both the upside potential and inherent risk of committing significant resources to teenage prospects years before they can officially sign professional contracts.
Yankees Double Down on Elite Young Talent
The Mejias agreement reflects a calculated bet by Yankees leadership on both the player’s exceptional abilities and their own player development infrastructure. Setting a new record for an international prospect carries reputational weight beyond the financial commitment itself.
The deal also provides insight into how the Yankees plan to compete for elite international talent in an increasingly competitive market. Other organizations are likely to view the $7 million threshold as a new baseline for truly elite prospects in future signing classes.
For Mejias, the path from 13-year-old phenom to productive major leaguer remains long and uncertain. The Yankees will need their scouting assessment to hold up through several more years of physical and skill development before the agreement can be formalized. Whether this investment ultimately resembles the Fox trajectory or the Guerrero Jr. arc won’t be clear for years.
via: Heavy
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