Report: Blue Jays to sign No. 4 international prospect Orelvis Martinez

The Toronto Blue Jays have come to terms on a $3.5-million contract with 16-year-old shortstop Orelvis Martinez, per Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com.

Monday brought the start of the international signing period, meaning teenage prospects from outside of the United States are eligible to sign with major league organizations. It’s the same process that brought Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to the Blue Jays organization three years ago.

Martinez, a native of the Dominican Republic, is MLB Pipeline’s fourth-ranked international prospect.

According to Sanchez:

“On offense, Martinez has a good rhythm and a short, compact swing with plus bat speed. He has a chance to be an above-average hitter with above-average power. He has shown solid actions on defense and good body control. He could end up at third base, which is fitting because he has been compared to Adrian Beltre at the same age.”

And, according to his scouting report on MLB Pipeline, “There’s still some room to grow and get stronger, which leads some evaluators to think Martinez will eventually move from shortstop to third base and still develop into an above-average defender.”

The deal is yet to be confirmed by the Blue Jays, but when all is said and done, it will be the highest payment given to an international prospect in this class.