The Marlins upped the ante in their pursuit of highly coveted Cuban prospect Victor Victor Mesa by trading reliever Kyle Barraclough to the Washington Nationals on Wednesday for international bonus pool money.
The Marlins can use that money in their attempt to sign the 22-year-old outfielder, Mesa’s brother Victor Mesa Jr., and pitcher Sandy Gaston. The three worked out Friday at Marlins Park in front of scouts for all 30 major league teams.
The Baltimore Orioles are also interested in the three players and have the most money to spend on them: about $6.7 million.
But in acquiring international spending money in Saturday’s trade of minor-league pitcher Ryan Lillie to the Cincinnati Reds and Wednesday’s deal sending Barraclough to the Nationals, sources said the Marlins now have almost as much money as the Orioles at their disposal in their pursuit of the three prospects.