The Texas Rangers sign 17 y/o Dominican for $4.5 Million

by DominicanDandy on Feb 29, 2026 3:50 PM EST

Reportedly the Texas Rangers have signed Jairo Beras a 17 y/o from San Pedro de Macoris:

Dionisio Soldevila ‏ @dSoldevila Source: Rangers sign Dominican outfielder 17 year-old prospect Jairo Beras for $4.5 million

Jeff Passan of Yahoo is reporting that other teams are furious because they thought Beras was eligible for July 2, 2012.

Jeff Passan ‏ @JeffPassan Just heard from an executive who says he "strongly disagrees" with the idea that the Rangers will end up with Jairo Beras. Fascinating case.

The kid is described as 6'5 175 with an advanced hit tool and plus power potential.

At a recent Showcase held by MLB for 2012 eligible prospects Beras had a different D.O.B and was the star of the show. Apparently he revised his age so he could sign. MLB is investigating whether this is his real D.O.B because as we have seen in the past(Adrian Beltre, Wilson Betemit) age changes in D.R not only happen to get younger but also to get older.

Dionisio Soldevila the AP reporter that first reported the signing is reporting that:

Dionisio Soldevila ‏ @dSoldevila: MLB's office in the DR is investigating Jairo Beras' case. "For MLB, he's 16", said Rafael Oscar Pérez, head of the office

The Rangers have spent more than $13 Million on prospects from the Dominican and Venezuela since July 2011, this include the signing of Beras if it goes through.

Great for the Rangers for being a step ahead of the competition in Latin America. Great signing of another great talent form D.R.

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Read More: Jairo Beras (CF - TEX), Texas Rangers

Comments

If he changed his birthdate without notifying everyone, he gets a year ban by MLB

Don’t think this was as much the Rangers being a step ahead, as it was some terrible reporting and advising by Beras’s representatives. This contract is getting voided.

by RynoRooter on Feb 29, 2026 4:45 PM EST reply actions

I disagree it gets voided...

Jeff Passan ‏
Source who has spoken with Rangers people says team thinks MLB will OK the signing because other teams knew Beras’ revised age.

keithlaw ‏ @keithlaw
The more people I talk to, the more it sounds like Jairo Veras (or Beras) was in fact eligible to sign with Texas.

Teams are just pissed they got scooped…

JD’s like, "you want some f*&#ing pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, b*#&hes;!"- RCCook

LSB: "Oh s#*t, JD. You crazy!"

by laxtonto on Feb 29, 2026 5:07 PM EST up reply actions

Of course the team thinks it will go through.

Otherwise why even try to sign him?

The issue is the changing of the birthdate. The director of the MLB office down there said that as far as MLB was concerned, his birthdate was December of 1995. This is the info that obviously the majority of the teams had as well. Now which one seems more likely to you:
1. Major League Baseball and every team other than the Rangers just got his reported birthdate wrong;

2. Someone from Beras’s side changed his reported birthdate after the fact that it was already reported to MLB and all the other major league teams as December of 1995.

The second one is much more likely, meaning he altered his birth date. Correct me if I’m wrong, but any birthdate changes result in a void of the contract by MLB and a one year ban from signing for the player.

by RynoRooter on Feb 29, 2026 5:36 PM EST up reply actions

In that same mold, here is the most recent tweet from latin america BA guru Ben Badler:

“Several teams believe MLB will not and should not approve the reported Jairo Beras contract with Texas. Disciplinary action possible.”

He explained earlier that Beras is in a heap of trouble outside MLB if his reported birthdate of December, 1995 isn’t correct, as he represented the DR in some international tourneys with that as his listed age.

by RynoRooter on Feb 29, 2026 5:44 PM EST up reply actions

This probably is the root of all of this...

jorgearangure
Also said part of the problem is that Beras’ mother was undeclared minor when she gave birth and Beras was not declared until 1 yr later

If true, he is 17, even if the paper work says he is 16…

Sounds like either the MLB did not do deep enough research or Texas went out and got documentation form the mother…

JD’s like, "you want some f*&#ing pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, b*#&hes;!"- RCCook

LSB: "Oh s#*t, JD. You crazy!"

by laxtonto on Feb 29, 2026 6:24 PM EST up reply actions

MLB doesn't have the burden, the player and his reps do

Under the new CBA, they had to register with MLB in January, which included the providing of a birth certificate. Beras’s listed December of 1995 as his birthdate. He had to notify MLB if there was a change, which he obviously didn’t.

by RynoRooter on Feb 29, 2026 6:37 PM EST up reply actions

KG would have you believe otherwise

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=16139

by PrincetonCubs on Feb 29, 2026 8:29 PM EST up reply actions

Well, either way this kid is screwed

A) Age really IS 16, contract is void, he has to wait until july 2nd if he’s not suspended beyond that.

B) Age really IS 17, he lied about his age and therefore his contract is void and he’s suspended.

What was this kid thinking?

Snoochies

by guessatomo on Feb 29, 2026 6:23 PM EST reply actions

Yo really think it was him who came up with this?

The age change is very beneficial to him because he would be able to signed before the Bud Selig rules come into effect.

The Rangers are the most connected team in Latin America so I’ll wait before I pass judgement. For all we know there may be a perfect explanation for his age change. We’ll see.

XandyMan Coming for you!!!!1

by DominicanDandy on Feb 29, 2026 6:37 PM EST up reply actions

Might be an explanation for the age change

But there isn’t any explanation for why he didn’t notify MLB immediately once there was a realization that the age wasn’t correct. As I said above, under the new CBA, these kids had to register with MLB in January. And changes to that registration information had to be given to MLB and disseminated to the rest of the league.

by RynoRooter on Feb 29, 2026 6:40 PM EST up reply actions

Pretty much

Although it’s tough to put too much blame on the kid when his family is probably struggling and he has a greedy “manager” whispering in his ear that he can make $2 million more than he otherwise could if he just changed his story.

by RynoRooter on Feb 29, 2026 6:38 PM EST up reply actions

Hopefully he isn't punished

If he really is 17, that is. But if the Rangers pulled a fast one on much of the league, I’d like to see the contract voided and Beras free to negotiate another deal, with the Rangers excluded from the bidding. That shouldn’t cost Beras much, if anything, but would punish the Rangers, if they are culpable in any way.

by gabrielsyme on Feb 29, 2026 8:40 PM EST up reply actions

Er

Cost him much? If he has to renegotiate, there is gonna be a 2.9 million dollar hardish cap put on international spending.

I guess a team may decide to bust it and take some of the penalties, but who knows. I’ve never heard of this guy before, which doesn’t mean much, but that lends to the fact that he’s not some incredible talent, rather a very good one who will get 2.5 million under the new CBA restrictions rather than 4.5.

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by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Mar 2, 2026 9:30 AM EST up reply actions

He was widely regarded as the top international player for next year.

by bdlugz on Mar 2, 2026 10:33 AM EST up reply actions

Fair enough

I was unaware of that. Still, I really think teams are going to just stick to the limit. I don’t think any team is going to want to go more than 5% over the 2.9 million dollar budget on him. If a team goes over by more than 5% (or 5% or more, it’s unclear.. the site I’m looking at has it listed at 0-5% and then 5-10%) up to 15%, they can’t sign any one player for more than 500K the next signing period. If it’s more than 15%, it changes to 250K.

Thus, I doubt a team spending more than 3.045 million. So he will probably get 2.8 million or so. 2.8 million instead of the entire budget because teams will want to at least pick up a few other players for 10K-50K to keep their academies and VSL/DSL teams stocked if nothing else. Again, seems like this could going to cost him 1.5 million+ unless a team really likes him.

To back up my argument a bit more, it was clear draft spending exploded in 2011, seemingly in anticipation of the new CBA. The same probably happened in IFA, spearheaded by the Rangers. They spent 5 million on Nomar Mazara and 3.5 million on Ronald Guzman. The Royals spent 3.05 on Elier Hernandez. Those three bonuses were the 1st, 3rd, and 5th biggest bonuses of all time according to this. That same list shows that top IFA prospects in 2009 and 2010 got bonuses ranging from 2.6 to 3.15 million. I expect them to go back to close to that and teams will get to pick and choose one elite IFA. The other option would be to pay the 100% tax and every other year go bonkers.

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by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Mar 2, 2026 11:19 AM EST up reply actions

That Jon Daniels is a sneaky one

go long with extenze...i do

by angelsownredsux on Feb 29, 2026 9:18 PM EST reply actions

If he really is 17 and not 16

Is he still eligible or does his actual age not matter as much as what he’s told MLB (or what MLB believes he is)?

by CaptainCanuck on Mar 1, 2026 12:06 AM EST via mobile reply actions

A bit surprised

at more or less the money given to a kid at that size. He has to be extremely skinny and when it comes to hitting his height (if he is even done growing) works against him as well…. Sure he likely has some potential but that’s some serious money… Mazara now him? Rangers seem to be getting carried away a bit IMO.

by hybrid on Mar 1, 2026 3:28 AM EST reply actions

Last chance

ahead of the new CBA to have money be a difference maker. If you believe in the potential, you spend now while you can.

Some see a glass half empty, some a glass half full. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be. - George Carlin

by t ball on Mar 1, 2026 9:17 AM EST up reply actions

true

I still wouldn’t, but it makes more sense

by hybrid on Mar 2, 2026 2:57 AM EST up reply actions

I'm really surprised the Rangers

have spent so heavily on a few players internationally and not heavier in the draft. They let 3 of their top 8 picks go to college. That is really confusing to me.

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by Matt Garrioch on Mar 1, 2026 4:23 PM EST reply actions

They have deloped great

Latin American prospects so I guess that has to do with it. They have the best scouting network in Latin America so the are putting their money where their strength is.

XandyMan Coming for you!!!!1

by DominicanDandy on Mar 1, 2026 6:50 PM EST up reply actions