The St. Louis Cardinals may have just signed the next Javier Baez

Did the St. Louis Cardinals just sign the next Javier Baez? Their latest signee, Jonathan Mejia, models his game after the star shortstop.

The St. Louis Cardinals did well in international free agency. Like, really well. And it’s possible they might have landed a potential star.

Their prized signing was shortstop Jonathan Mejia, who MLB Pipeline rated as their No. 14 international prospect and MLB.com described Mejia, 16, as an infielder who “patterns his game after Javier Baez.”

Of course, that does not mean that Mejia will be the next Javier Baez. But it indicates the type of player that he believes he is and their $2 million signing bonus indicates that the Cardinals clearly believe in him. After all, it’s the largest bonus that the organization has given to a player that young.

Expectations, at least for now, should be tempered for Mejia. He’s at least a few years away – perhaps even more – from debuting in the majors and needs to grow into his 6-foot, 165 pound frame. But a position that the Cardinals desperately needed internal depth is at shortstop – Paul DeJong and Edmundo Sosa have not shown they can be long-term answers – and potentially signing their future at the position for $2 million could prove to be a steal.

But the Baez comparisons are lofty and will only raise expectations as he works his way through the Cardinals’ farm system. Baez, of course, just signed a six-year, $160 million deal with the Tigers and is expected to be the face of the team’s future in Detroit.

The same will not be expected from Mejia, not with Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman, Tyler O’Neill and Matthew Liberatore all expected to be long-term stalwarts in St. Louis. That will make the transition easier, but if he reaches the potential that both he and the Cardinals believe he has, the team may have answered it’s shortstop questions for only $2 million.