The international free agent signing period opened on Monday, and the Mets made an immediate splash, inking 16-year-old catcher Francisco Alvarez to a deal worth $2.9 million, according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com.

Meet the (new) Mets: Francisco Alvarez and Freddy Valdez (photo/@williamaish) @mlbpipeline https://t.co/ONmfiYF86C pic.twitter.com/xfXQRlzyG0
- Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) July 2, 2018

Alvarez is the No. 9 international prospect, per Baseball America.

Alvarez is "one of the strongest players in the class," according to Baseball America. "He has a stout, blocky frame, although he moves surprising well underway for his size. Alvarez's swing starts with a small toe tap and he generates big raw power with an aggressive hack."

The Mets also signed outfielder Freddy Valdez, the No. 25 international prospect, reports Sanchez, who says "the Mets' reputation in Latin America and across the globe is a strong one."

According to Baseball America, Valdez, who signed for $1.45 million, is "a physically mature 16-year-old whose game is built around his size and strength. Valdez's best offensive tool is his raw power, with a power-over-hit profile. Valdez doesn't have natural hitting rhythm, so it may take time for him to improve his balance and timing to sync everything up in games to tap into his power."

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