That seems quite low for a strong performer at an (admittedly low) minor league level. How do you turn 1.5m into a better prospect than what you just gave away? Are international signings now that dependent on hoarding cash?
Given that each team is hard-capped*, the ability to sign multiple blue Chip prospects is diminished. Trading for more money from a team that is under sanction$ is one way to get more bang for your buck.
* Much like the draft, the IFA hard cap is both hard and squisshy. Specifically, any IFA signing of $10k or less does not count towards the bonus pool. Which is how the Red Sox were able to sign 70 players last year. However, for any "real" prospects, the Sox can't spend more than $4.9 million without getting more pool money.
$ Although we are now in the second year of the new system, the sanctions from the last system are still in place for some teams. Specifically, in the previous system, if a team blew past their pool, they were sanctioned with two years where the top bonus allowed to be given out was 300k.
The Reds have a nominal bonus pool of over $6million. However, they are in the 300k jackpot. So, their ability to spend to their figure is nearly impossible.
Thus, a win win situation. The Reds get Cedrola (who they think is a prospect in theory worth more than 300k on the international market) and the Red Sox flip a player they don't see as essential for a new shiny toy. And get a win for scouting and development (Cedrola was signed for $35k).
Next year, the sanctions from the previous system will no longer be around. So, I expect the trading of IFA pool money will be considerably less.