What would be the ramifications of signing an IFA to a MLB contract and placing him in AA or AAA for a year or two?

He would lose an option every season that he was kept in the minors.  Nothing else.

Thanks, seems worth it then...since im low on prospect funds and the guy would be usable now

his bonus would still ofcourse from prospect funds, its just the $327000 for the next 3 years that would come from your players budget.  So in effect it makes your bid $1 mill better, and IFAs will take a ML contract over a MiL contract if everything else is equal.  Only give those types of contracts to guys that are sure fire big leaguers in 3 seasons (or less).

And hope they don't get hurt and miss a full year of minor league development in those first three years.

Jeez.

Designate him, without waivers, after you assign him.    He'll be removed from your 40, saving two options, and you won't have to "rush" him to the bigs.    Additionally, options are only necessary if you're going to move him back/forth between AAA/BL.   A lot of my best players have 2 options at the end of their careers.

Wouldn't that take him off the active roster, though, Mike?

And, if it matters, you shouldn't offer 327k unless you need to ... 54,500 is sufficient.

Yeah, for about 30 seconds.   Which is how long it takes to designate a player, without waivers, and then re-assign him.    It can only be done with a player who has options remaining.

So when we are looking at international prospects the signing bonuses come from a different fund than player payroll?

So when we are looking at international prospects the signing bonuses come from a different fund than player payroll?

Prospect money.