Even if this is the first you've heard of it, the opening of the international signing period has become a bigger deal. That's true for the rest of the major leagues and now it has become especially true for the Padres.
July 2nd is an important date on the calendar these days. That's the first day that teams can sign the 2015-2016 international free agent class. Think of it like the draft, but for prospects outside of the United States (including Puerto Rico) and Canada. Except, it's not a draft, it's a free agent market with caps on spending.