The Philadelphia Phillies, like many Major League Baseball teams, have scouts overseas to try and be the first to land then ext top talent.
Every year, the international singing window opens, and MLB teams have a chance to sign young players to contracts, some reaching well above $1 million. But that’s with players ready to play in the minors or rookie ball, not players who are years away.
The Phillies reportedly came to an agreement with an 11-year-old shortstop on a record-breaking $1.8 million deal, according to Wilber Sanchez on Twitter/x. This would be a stunning deal, but did it actually happen?
Phillies and 11-year-old shortstop agree to $1.8M deal
“The Philadelphia Phillies have reached a pre-agreement with Venezuelan shortstop David Basabe, a member of the 2031 international class, for a $1.8 million bonus,” Sanchez reports. “At just 11 years old, Basabe becomes the youngest player in history to secure a pre-agreement with a Major League organization.”
The Philadelphia Phillies have reached a pre-agreement with Venezuelan shortstop David Basabe, a member of the 2031 international class, for a $1.8 million bonus.
At just 11 years old, Basabe becomes the youngest player in history to secure a pre-agreement with a Major League… pic.twitter.com/brX4NTYqfN
— Wilber Sánchez (@wilberdata) February 17, 2026
There are some important facts about this “$1.8 million agreement” between the Phillies and this 11-year-old shortstop prospect.
It’s a pre-agreement, and isn’t actually finalized, nor paid just yet. The Phillies have reportedly committed that money for Basabe, and as Sanchez added in another post, the Phillies have “locked him down” with a signing bonus over six figures.
This 11-year-old won’t actually be a part of the Phillies organization in 2026, as his international signing window will open in 2031, which is when this “pre-agreement” would come into effect.
The Phillies aren’t the only organization doing such pre-agreements with international players, but this agreement, of $1.8 million with an 11-year-old, is one of the more stunning that’s been reported over the years.
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Basabe is still a kid, and yet, the Phillies are reportedly already in agreement with him on a $1.8 million deal. There’s still roughly five years before the Phillies can actually act on their interest in Basabe.
So much about his game could change by then, and when it’s reported that Basabe is the shortstop with the “best offensive tools in the 2031 class,” it’s hard to believe that will remain the case as he continues to grow up.
The Phillies haven’t actually signed this 11-year-old to a contract of any kind, as this pre-agreement doesn’t actually lock in either side to this deal when he can officially be signed in 2031.
In around five years, the official result of this record-breaking and stunning reported $1.8 million pre-agreement with an 11-year-old shortstop, and the Phillies will be known.
So much time needs to pass, and so much can change between this “pre-agreement” and when Basabe can actually sign that it’s hard to imagine such a report will stick until then.
