Following an MLB investigation into their international signing practices, the Atlanta Braves will lose their No. 5 prospect, Kevin Maitan, No. 30 prospect Abrahan Gutierrez, and 11 others, Commissioner Rob Manfred announced Tuesday. Additionally, the Braves will forfeit their 2018 third-round draft pick and face spending restrictions during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 international signing periods.
Kevin Maitan, ranked No. 38 overall by MLB.com, was a top prospect during the 2016 international signing period and signed with the Braves for $4.25 million. The switch-hitting shortstop, praised for his hitting, power, and arm, played with Rookie-level Danville this summer, hitting .220/.273/.323 with two homers in 33 games. Abrahan Gutierrez, who signed for $3.5 million, is recognized for his strong defensive skills and threw out 18 of 48 attempted basestealers in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. He batted .264/.319/.357 in 35 games.
Other prospects becoming free agents include Yunior Severino ($1.9 million), Juan Contreras ($1.2 million), Livan Soto ($1 million), Yefri del Rosario ($1 million), and Yenci Pena ($1 million). Additionally, Juan Carlos Negret, Guillermo Zuniga, Brandol Mezquita, Angel Rojas, Antonio Sucre, and Ji-hwan Bae can sign with any of the other 29 clubs. Bae, a South Korean shortstop, had an unofficial agreement with the Braves.
The investigation focused on whether the Braves circumvented international signing rules during 2016-17. General manager John Coppolella and special assistant Gordon Blakeley resigned due to the scandal, with Coppolella receiving a lifetime ban and Blakeley a one-year suspension. The loss of the third-round pick stems from attempts to offer “impermissible benefits” to sign 2017 third-rounder Drew Waters. The Braves are restricted to signing international players for no more than $10,000 during the 2019-20 period, and their 2020-21 spending pool will be cut by 50%.
Last year, the Red Sox lost five prospects and faced a ban on international signings for 2016-17 under similar circumstances. The first $300,000 of bonuses for these players did not count toward the new clubs’ bonus pools. MLB will provide further details on the release and signing process for the 13 Braves prospects separately.
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