Earlier this week, there were rumors that the Phillies were close to signing the #4 overall international prospect SS William Bergolla.

These rumors turned out to be true, as William Bergolla, the son of a former major leaguer, signed with the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday for the hefty sum of $2.2 million, which accounted for nearly half of the Phillies total international free agent budget.

According to MLB.com the Phillies continued the weekend by signing six additional players. None of the six were among the MLB’s top 50 ranked prospects and should be considered hit-or-miss at best.

Phillies International Prospect Signings

• Aroon Escobar, IF, Venezuela — $450,000
• Romel Mendez, OF, Venezuela — $450,000
• Neify Rosario, OF, Dominican Republic — $400,000
• Leny Carela, SS, Dominican Republic — $400,000
• Nolan Beltran, SS, Colombia — $350,000
• Manolfi Jimeneze, OF, Dominican Republic — $300,000

We all remember the hype surrounding other notable prospects including Miguel Alfredo Gonzales, who famously signed a 3yr/$12mil deal in 2013 after defecting from Cuba where he was a star pitcher for the national team. Gonzales appeared in 5.1 inning over two seasons before dying in a car accident in 2017.

Recently, the Phillies have faired better. Ranger Suarez was signed for $25,000 in 2012 and was easily the most improved player during the 2021 season.

Ranger Suarez 2021 Season: 8-5, 1.36 ERA (39G, 12 starts, 106.0 IP)

Suarez finished the year with a sub-1.5 ERA in 100+ innings pitched and was used in both the Phillies’ starting rotation and the bullpen. He allowed just 16 earned runs in 106 pinnings pitched, recording 107 strikeouts with a 1.00 WHIP and a 9.1 SO9 ratio.

With little progress between ownership and the MLBPA after last weeks meetings, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find anything worth getting excited about this offseason.

The Phillies lack of success unearthing MLB level talent in international prospects over the last decade surely doesn’t help either.