Philadelphia Phillies general manager Matt Klentak reportedly plans to spread the team's international signing pool money. (Frank Klose/Philliedelphia)

By: Tim Kelly, Managing Editor

The Philadelphia Phillies have the top international signing pool when the 2016 international signing period begins on July 2, though Baseball America's Ben Badler notes that the team isn't planning to use that money on one or two higher priced prospects, but rather a slew of players.

The Phillies are taking a different approach toward international free agency this year. Their 2016 strategy is more in line with what they have done in previous years, spreading their budget around to sign several well-regarded players, likely all for less than $1 million. The players below should come in at a combined price lower than what the Phillies paid Ortiz, yet given the volume of talent and the quality of the players they’re linked to, this year’s approach might have a better long-term payoff.

Badler linked the Phillies to five Venezuelan prospects, including two shortstops and pitcher Francisco Morales. This report corresponds with a prior report from MLB Pipeline, which suggested that the Phillies were 'the favorites' to sign Morales and Brayan Gonzalez, one of the two shortstops mentioned by Badler.

As Badler said, the Phillies may be better served using this money to sign numerous players, rather than one. In the past calendar year, they have replenished the talent in the upper levels of their farm system, signed the aforementioned Oritz and are slated to have the No. 1 pick in this week's MLB Draft. So the Phillies are in a position where it makes sense to continue adding to the farm system depth that they already have, in hopes that one day it will help push a good MLB team over the top by either playing a role on the team or being packaged in a trade for a veteran.