The <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> are once again linked to a top catcher in International Free Agency.

On Wednesday, <a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2026-mlb-international-prospects-bonus-board/">Baseball America</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2026-mlb-international-prospects-bonus-board/"> released their Top 30 prospects for the 2026 IFA</a>, with the Blue Jays being linked to the 18th-ranked Juan Caricote, a catcher from Venezuela.
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To summarize his profile, he’s a solid all-around hitter who’ll stick at catcher because of a strong ability to receive, while he’ll eventually grow into his arm. An athletic catcher, he’s a good blocker and has a good swing from the left side of the plate with projection remaining.
Because the Blue Jays signed <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-anthony-santander-early-stages-hitting-progression">Anthony Santander</a> last off-season, the Jays lost $500,000 in international free agent bonus pool money, giving them just $5.94 million. According to Twitter user NWints30, who dug up the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/report-toronto-blue-jays-expected-korean-pitcher-moon-seo-jun">Moon Seo-jun</a> signing<a href="https://x.com/NWints30/status/1950685885655117870"> before it was reported in the mainstream</a>, the bonus for Caricote is estimated to be in the $1.5 million to $2 million range.
The Twitter user also noted a handful of other names the Blue Jays are linked to in the 2026 class: Michael Mesa, Aneudy Severino, and Omar Laurencio. That’s some great work.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Aneudy Severino: Outfielder from 🇩🇴 Omar Laurencio: Pitcher from🇩🇴 Among others which I’ll post later. plus some strong 2027, 2028 classes. Exciting times to be a Blue Jays fan.
&mdash; Nolan (@NWints30) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWints30/status/1955760512077324362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
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As for the Blue Jays’ success with Venezuelan catchers, it’s a mixed bag. In 2016, they signed Gabriel Moreno to a bonus of $25,000, which has worked out well as he was <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/revisiting-the-daulton-varsho-trade-yet-again">traded for Daulton Varsho</a>. On the other end of the spectrum, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-sign-international-free-agent-catcher-luis-meza">Luis Meza was their top signing</a> for the 2022 IFA period, and he hasn’t improved at all over the three seasons in the organization.
For the first time in a long time, one of their top IFA prospects broke out in the Dominican Summer League. Signed for a bonus worth $1 million, Juan Sanchez has become a Top 10 Blue Jays’ prospect after finishing the season slashing .341/.439/.565 with eight home runs in 253 plate appearances for a 156 wRC+.
All of this is to say that there is a lot to look forward to in the Blue Jays system, as plenty of prospects have taken a step forward this season.
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Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Blue Jays Nation</a>, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Oilersnation</a>, and <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/author/ryley-delaney">FlamesNation</a>. She can be followed on Twitter <a href="https://x.com/Ryley__Delaney">@Ryley__Delaney</a>.
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The <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> are once again linked to a top catcher in International Free Agency.



On Wednesday, <a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2026-mlb-international-prospects-bonus-board/">Baseball America</a><a href="https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2026-mlb-international-prospects-bonus-board/"> released their Top 30 prospects for the 2026 IFA</a>, with the Blue Jays being linked to the 18th-ranked Juan Caricote, a catcher from Venezuela.
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To summarize his profile, he’s a solid all-around hitter who’ll stick at catcher because of a strong ability to receive, while he’ll eventually grow into his arm. An athletic catcher, he’s a good blocker and has a good swing from the left side of the plate with projection remaining.

Because the Blue Jays signed <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-anthony-santander-early-stages-hitting-progression">Anthony Santander</a> last off-season, the Jays lost $500,000 in international free agent bonus pool money, giving them just $5.94 million. According to Twitter user NWints30, who dug up the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/report-toronto-blue-jays-expected-korean-pitcher-moon-seo-jun">Moon Seo-jun</a> signing<a href="https://x.com/NWints30/status/1950685885655117870"> before it was reported in the mainstream</a>, the bonus for Caricote is estimated to be in the $1.5 million to $2 million range.

The Twitter user also noted a handful of other names the Blue Jays are linked to in the 2026 class: Michael Mesa, Aneudy Severino, and Omar Laurencio. That’s some great work.

https://twitter.com/NWints30/status/1955760512077324362

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As for the Blue Jays’ success with Venezuelan catchers, it’s a mixed bag. In 2016, they signed Gabriel Moreno to a bonus of $25,000, which has worked out well as he was <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/revisiting-the-daulton-varsho-trade-yet-again">traded for Daulton Varsho</a>. On the other end of the spectrum, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-sign-international-free-agent-catcher-luis-meza">Luis Meza was their top signing</a> for the 2022 IFA period, and he hasn’t improved at all over the three seasons in the organization.

For the first time in a long time, one of their top IFA prospects broke out in the Dominican Summer League. Signed for a bonus worth $1 million, Juan Sanchez has become a Top 10 Blue Jays’ prospect after finishing the season slashing .341/.439/.565 with eight home runs in 253 plate appearances for a 156 wRC+.

All of this is to say that there is a lot to look forward to in the Blue Jays system, as plenty of prospects have taken a step forward this season.

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Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Blue Jays Nation</a>, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Oilersnation</a>, and <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/author/ryley-delaney">FlamesNation</a>. She can be followed on Twitter <a href="https://x.com/Ryley__Delaney">@Ryley__Delaney</a>.

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