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From Mirror, wire reports
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Friday that the club signed a total of 21 players during the first week of Major League Baseball's 2024 international signing period.
Sixteen of the 17 remaining players were signed in the Dominican Republic for the first time ever today. Eighteen players along with a staff member will take part in the organization's 14th high school graduation ceremony at the club's facility in the Dominican Republic tomorrow, which will be attended by Pirates Chairman of the Board Bob Nutting, President Travis Williams, and General Manager Ben Cherington.
The organization signed players from six different countries (Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Curacao, the Bahamas, Australia, and Panama).
The most notable signing was 17-year-old Bralyn Brazoban, who is ranked 38th by MLB Pipeline in this year's international draft class. He was signed by Pirates scout Daurys Nin.
"Bralyn has the potential to be a plus defender in the outfield and produce for average and power," said Vizcaino.
Sixteen-year-old shortstop Adbiel Feliz, who is ranked 50th by MLB Pipeline in this year's international draft class, was signed by Pirates scout Esteban Alvarez.
Director of international scouting, Junior Vizcaino, special advisor to Latin America, Luis Silverio, international supervisor, Jesus Lantigua, international scout, Jose Cruz, Venezuelan supervisors Saul Torres and Jose Partidas, along with the rest of the organization's Venezuelan scouting staff were present in Venezuela for the signing of four players.
Cardinals
ST. LOUIS -- Matt Carpenter is returning to the St. Louis Cardinals, agreeing to a one-year contract with his team from 2011-21.
Carpenter agreed to a deal for the $740,000 major league minimum, which will be offset against his guaranteed $5.5 million salary as part of a $12 million, two-year contract he signed with San Diego.
Carpenter was traded to Atlanta last month along with $1.5 million, then released by the Braves three days later. Carpenter was an All-Star in 2013, '14 and '16. He has .260 career average with 175 homers and 644 RBIs for the Cardinals, Yankees and Padres.
Astros
Hard-throwing reliever Josh Hader and the Houston Astros agreed to a $95 million, five-year contract on Friday, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical.
Hader will get a $19 million salary in each of the next five seasons, none of it deferred. He gets a full no-trade provision and would receive a $1 million bonus for winning the Mariano Rivera/Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year Award.
Hader's deal can be considered the most lucrative for a relief pitcher, even while falling short of the total dollars in Edwin Diaz's $102 million, five-year contract with the New York Mets that began last year. Diaz's deal includes $26.5 million in deferred payments he won't completely receive until 2042 and was valued at $93.2 million for baseball's luxury tax and $88.8 million by the players' association.
At 29, Hader was 2-3 with a 1.28 ERA and 33 saves in 38 chances for San Diego in 61 appearances last season, striking out 85 and walking 30 in 56-plus innings. He disappointed in his Padres debut season with a 7.31 ERA and seven saves over 19 games down the stretch.
Yankees
NEW YORK -- Jeter Downs' career with the New York Yankees could end before it started.
Downs was designated for assignment Friday, one month after the Yankees claimed the 25-year-old shortstop off waivers from the Washington Nationals. The Yankees needed the roster spot after claiming infielder/outfielder Diego Castillo off waivers from the New York Mets.
Downs, the 32nd overall pick by Cincinnati in the 2017 amateur draft, is named after former Yankees captain Derek Jeter.
The Yankees have seven days to trade Downs or place him on waivers.
New York also finalized a one-year contract with right-hander Luke Weaver, who was claimed by the Yankees off waivers from Seattle on Sept. 12, made three starts and became a free agent. His lifetime record with six clubs is 27-42.