In addition to adding a familiar name, the Mets have signed a top international catcher once again.
The club opened the international signing period on Monday by signing a 20-player group highlighted by Venezuelan catcher Yovanny Rodriguez, reportedly for $2.85 million, along with Vladi Miguel Guerrero — the son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero and half brother of Blue Jays star Vlad Guerrero Jr.
Rodriguez, 17, was ranked the fifth-best prospect overall in this year’s class by Baseball America and No. 6 by MLB.com.
He continues a trend of the Mets signing talented backstops internationally, after they handed their biggest signing bonus ($1.9 million) last year to catcher Daiverson Gutierrez and landed current starter Francisco Alvarez for $2.7 million in 2018.
The Mets, working with a bonus pool of $5.284 million, also signed two other prospects who were included in MLB.com’s Top-50 international free-agent rankings: switch-hitting shortstop Yensi Rivas (signed for $500,000, per MLB.com) and outfielder Edward Lantigua ($950,000), both from the Dominican Republic.
“As we carry out our goal of creating a championship-caliber organization, we will need to continue to acquire and develop future Mets,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said in a statement announcing the signings. “Having an international scouting and development apparatus that regularly brings quality players into our organization is essential.”
Vladi Miguel Guerrero, 17, is a left-handed bat who signed for $117,000.
“He’s a very interesting prospect, bat first as there’s plus-impact potential — above-average bat speed with potential plus raw power as well,” a National League international scout previously told The Post’s Joel Sherman. “More of a power over offensive profile, not as pure a hitter as Vlad Jr. but comes with the same concerns as he’ll have to watch his body and is a fair athlete as well. There’s thunder in those from the left-hand side.”
