ATLANTA -- The Mets announced that they have signed Venezuelan shortstops Yoel Romero and Edgardo Fermin as the period for signing international 16-year-olds begins.

The @mets have signed Edgardo Fermin, SS from Venezuela pic.twitter.com/9Pb8KdOfWd — Mets Farm Report (@MetsFarmReport) July 2, 2014

Ben Badler at Baseball America reports Fermin received $250,000. Badler writes:

At 6 feet, 145 pounds, Fermin’s game will benefit from additional strength, with solid tools that play up because of his advanced instincts and feel for the game. He’s a below-average runner with a fringy arm but is smooth at shortstop and moves around well at the position. He has shown a line-drive stroke from the right side with occasional gap power and the ability to hang in against good velocity.

Badler also reports in Baseball America that Romero received $300,000. He writes:

At 6 feet, 175 pounds, Romero moves around well at shortstop with good agility and average arm strength that plays up because of his short arm stroke and quick release. More quick than fast, he’s a fringy runner with gap power from the right side and projection to grow into more strength.

UPDATE: Also on the international front, the Mets have signed left-hander Daniel Guzman, right-handers Jhoander Chourio and Jurgen Jimenez and outfielder Yordin Araujo from Venezuela and right-handers Agustin Casilla and Jose Moreno, outfielder Claudio Geraldo, shortstop Hansel Moreno and catcher Luis Lebron from the Dominican Republic.