The Phillies have agreed to a $750,000 deal with 17-year-old Venezuelan outfielder Simon Muzziotti, a source told CSNPhilly.com Tuesday.
The deal is not yet official.
Muzziotti had previously agreed to a deal with the Red Sox but was ruled a free agent by MLB when the league punished the Red Sox last week for violating the rules of the international bonus pool system. As a result, Boston is unable to sign international amateurs for a year, and all five agreements they'd reached with players, including Muzziotti, were voided.
Muzziotti has a skill set similar to Mickey Moniak, the Phillies' first overall pick in June's draft. Muzziotti is a leadoff-type with good speed and range in center field.
The Phillies, because they finished with the majors' worst record last season, have the largest international bonus pool to spend and they've been active so far in international free agency. They signed more than a dozen Latin American teens when the international signing period opened over the weekend, including standout right-handed pitcher Francisco Morales.
