The Chicago White Sox have agreed to sign Venezuelan right-handed pitcher Luis Martinez for $250,000, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America. Chicago hasn't committed this much money to a single international amateur in years, although they've spent on Cuban players like Alexei Ramirez and Dayan Viciedo.
Martinez, who turns 17 on Jan. 29, stands tall at 6-foot-4. Here's more from Badler on the pitcher:
He gets good downhill angle on an 88-91 mph fastball that has hit 92, an increase from the 84-88 mph velocity he was showing last summer around July 2. He has a projectable frame with long arms and plenty of room to fill out, so he should have at least a plus fastball in time. Martinez has a solid delivery, a high-70s curveball that is his best secondary pitch and he mixes in a changeup as well.
Martinez is the first big signing for Chicago since it hired Marco Paddy away from Toronto to take over the team's Latin American scouting operations. With the White Sox typically being one of the cheapest teams in the game when it comes to signing amateur talent, this could signal a possible change in strategy.
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