On the first day of the 2025 international signing period, Elian Peña, a 17-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic, signed to a $5 million bonus with the New York Mets. This was the highest amount offered.
MLB.com ranked Peña as the third best international prospect this year, trailing only Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki (who must sign by Jan. 23) and Dominican shortstop Josuar De Jesus Gonzalez (who signed with the San Francisco Giants for $2,997,500).
The Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and Toronto Blue Jays, all interested in acquiring Sasaki, did not conclude any contracts with bonuses greater than $10,000, which counted against their signing bonus pool. Only half of the 30 teams completed deals worth more than $10,000 in the first few hours of the signing period.
“It just created uncertainty for teams and certainly created uncertainty for some players,” Detroit Tigers assistant general manager Rob Metzler explained. “Certainly the 2025 signing period has had more uncertainty than others.”
The fourth-ranked Dominican outfielder, Cris Rodriguez, signed with Detroit for $3,197,500, while the fifth-ranked shortstop and outfielder, Andrew Salas, signed with Miami for $3.7 million. Salas was born in the United States and relocated to Venezuela.
Hoping to become a two-way player like Shohei Ohtani, 18-year-old Shotaro Morii made the unusual decision to forego Japanese professional baseball entirely and signed with the Athletics for $1,510,500.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and Toronto Blue Jays, all interested in acquiring Sasaki, did not conclude any contracts with bonuses greater than $10,000, which counted against their signing bonus pool. Only half of the 30 teams completed deals worth more than $10,000 in the first few hours of the signing period.
“It just created uncertainty for teams and certainly created uncertainty for some players,” Detroit Tigers assistant general manager Rob Metzler explained. “Certainly the 2025 signing period has had more uncertainty than others.”
The fourth-ranked Dominican outfielder, Cris Rodriguez, signed with Detroit for $3,197,500, while the fifth-ranked shortstop and outfielder, Andrew Salas, signed with Miami for $3.7 million. Salas was born in the United States and relocated to Venezuela.
Hoping to become a two-way player like Shohei Ohtani, 18-year-old Shotaro Morii made the unusual decision to forego Japanese professional baseball entirely and signed with the Athletics for $1,510,500.
Other agreements included Dominican infielder Johan De Los Santos and Pittsburgh ($2.25 million), Venezuelan catcher Gabriel Davalillo and the Los Angeles Angels ($2 million), Venezuelan infielder Brayan Cortesia and Washington ($1.92 million), Dominican infielder Darell Morel and Pittsburgh ($1,778,600), Venezuelan infielder Santiago Leon and Minnesota ($1,697,500), Dominican outfielder Maykel Coret and Tampa Bay ($1.6 million), Venezuelan outfielder Breyson Guedez and the Athletics ($1.5 million), Dominican outfielder Elian De La Cruz and Arizona ($1.1 million), Dominican shortstop Christopher Acosta and Milwaukee ($1.1 million), Dominican infielder Raymer Medina and Tampa Bay ($1.1 million), Venezuelan catcher Daniel Hernandez and Washington ($1.1 million) and Dominican infielder Warel Solano and Tampa Bay ($1.05 million).
Players born between September 1, 2007, and August 31, 2008, are eligible to sign during this year’s period, which ends December 15. Teams’ signing bonus pools range from approximately $5.1 million to $7.6 million.
Australian right-hander Robinson Smith signed with Pittsburgh for $400,000, while Italian right-hander Filippo Sabatini joined Philadelphia for $80,000. Armstrong Muhoozi, a Ugandan infielder, has agreed to a contract with Pittsburgh worth $40,000.
