Nomar Mazara Gets $5 Million Bonus from Texas Rangers

Dominican prospect Nomar Mazara was made a rich man by the Texas Rangers. It seems that the Rangers offered more than $5 million in bonus money to get the prospect to sign a deal with them. This is a huge signing in the international market for the franchise, and one that could certainly pay off if Mazara comes through on his talent.

According to ESPN, Mazara is just 16 years old and stands at 6-foot-5. He is a left-handed power hitter that plays in the outfield, and could be a huge player at the plate for many years to come. He seems a lot like a Vladimir Guerrero from the left-side of the plate, and that would be quite a compliment if he could match Guerrero's talent level on the field.

There were apparently four teams trying to vie for the services of Mazara, and those that couldn't match the Rangers contract included the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics. If his perceived talent level is so high, it's a bit surprising that more teams weren't interested in signing him. It's certainly possible that they were, but that it was kept under wraps during the negotiation phase.

For Texas, this could be one of many signings that they make out of the international amateur market this year. The franchise is also close to signing another outfielder by the name of Ronald Guzman for about $3.5 million. Texas may also sign pitcher Pedro Payano for $500,000 to $600,000, showing how dedicated the team is to improving their Minor League system. If all three players turn out to be really good, it could further improve the core of young prospects that the team is trying to develop.

Regarding Mazara, he has now achieved the richest contract that an international prospect has ever signed in the Major Leagues. Before he came along, that mark belonged to Michael Ynoa (Dominican) who received $4.25 million to sign with the Oakland Athletics in 2008. It might seem a tad surprising that as owners complain that the players are making too much money, that a prospect sets a new record for a signing bonus.

The Rangers seem like a team that is not going to slow down when it comes to spending money, and this could indicate that the franchise is ready to step out of the shadow that recent financial difficulties has cast on them. The new ownership group is heading in the right direction with this team, and maybe there is a lesson here that other franchises should take a look at.