The restrictions in the international market the last two signing periods did not prevent the Padres from prepping for the 2019-2020 window. The homework included scouting more than 200 at-bats before signing Dominican outfielder Ismael Mena for $2.2 million on Tuesday. The Padres also watched between 50 to 60 competitive games over the last 2½ years before signing switch-hitting shortstop Reginald Preciado of Panama for $1.3 million.
“I couldn’t be happier landing those two guys,” Padres international scouting director Chris Kemp said by phone Tuesday morning.
Kemp was speaking outside a hotel in David, in the Chiriqui province on Panama’s west coast, where a horde of media joined family and friends celebrating Preciado’s deal.