Corbin Burnes Leaves Baltimore Orioles, Agrees To Deal With Arizona Diamondbacks

The Baltimore Orioles ace has signed a $210 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Jon Conahan | 47 Minutes Ago

Corbin Burnes wasn't expected to return to the Baltimore Orioles over the past few months, but losing him doesn't hurt any less.

It was only a matter of time, and it finally happened early Saturday morning.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the right-hander has agreed to a six-year, $210 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Burnes has an opt-out after his second season.

The Orioles could've offered him more than Arizona, but according to Nightengale, the Cy Young Award winner wanted to stay close to him.

"The Baltimore Orioles were also aggressive in their pursuit to keep Corbin Burnes but the opportunity for Burnes to stay at home in Phoenix during spring training and the regular season meant more than chasing the last dollar."

It was uncertain what Burnes wanted in free agency in recent weeks. Some had suggested he wanted the most money, while others said he wanted to play for a bigger market team.

Baltimore couldn't offer him the market, but neither do the Diamondbacks.

Nonetheless, home eventually became what he was looking for, and as a result, Arizona got one of the best starters in baseball.

It's unfortunate that the Orioles couldn't work something out for that price.

Had his deal been worth around $250 million, it would've been one thing, however, after what he's shown throughout his career, Burnes is well worth $210 million, even if his stuff continues to regress.

Baltimore is now without an ace-caliber arm again, an issue it faced last winter.

The Orioles have time before the upcoming campaign begins, but their options are running low.

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From the story I read he hit pretty well at the end of last season, but his defense isn't much. He and Junior Baez make a nice overpaid former Cub keystone combo.

His defense is terrible. That is why the Yankees got rid of him. Remember his gaffes in the playoffs.

I guess I meant Javier Baez as the other half the Tigers DP combo, unless they are able to get rid of him; his 3 seasons in Detroit have gone from not so great to
bad to abyssmal

2022 238/278/393
2023 222/267/325
2024 184/221/294
and a steady more than 5 K for every BB

Roki Sasaki Might Visit 1 or 2 Teams before Deciding which Club He Wants to Sign with

AP

13:19 JST,  December 31, 2024

NEW YORK (AP) —

Prized Japanese free agent Roki Sasaki may visit one or two teams before deciding which club he wants to sign with.

Sasaki’s agent, Joel Wolfe, said Monday that 20 Major League Baseball clubs submitted information to the 23-year-old right-hander, who listened this month to presentations along with his team of supporters at the Los Angeles office of Wasserman Media Group.

Sasaki returned to Japan and is considering along with family and advisers how he wants to proceed ahead of his signing window, which runs from Jan. 15-23. Wolfe said Sasaki is likely to narrow the field but might meet with one or two more clubs and could visit one or two cities.

“He is definitely driving the ship and calling the shots. Roki is a very driven and intelligent and particular person. I’ve learned a lot about why he wanted to come to MLB right now and so badly,” Wolfe said during a 20-minute Zoom session with reporters. “He is a guy that wants to be great. He’s not coming here just to be rich or to get a huge contract. He wants to be great. He wants to be one of the greatest ever. I see that now that.”

Sasaki has reportedly met with the New York Yankees and New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Texas and San Francisco. Wolfe said during the winter meetings he assumed Sasaki will “seriously consider” San Diego.

He did not specify which teams Sasaki met with but said clubs were not prohibited from publicly discussing their meetings.

“We’ve had numerous conversations about team location, market size, team success, things like that,” Wolfe said. “He doesn’t seem to look at it in the typical way that other players do. He has the more long-term, global view of things. I believe Roki is also very interested in pitching development and how a team is going to help him get better both in the near future and over the course of his career.”

Wolfe said each meeting had a two-hour limit and the sessions were attended by general managers, assistant general managers, managers, pitching coaches and members of biomechanics, performance and training staffs. Teams were told not to bring players but some included one or two players in video presentations.

“He didn’t seem overly concerned about whether a team had Japanese players on their team or not, which in the past as I’ve represented Japanese players that was sometimes an issue,” Wolfe said.

Because Sasaki is under 25, he is limited to a minor league contract subject to the 2025 international signing bonus pools. Team figures range from $7,555,500 to $5,146,200, though they can start trading allocation in $250,000 increments starting Jan. 15. They are limited to adding 60% of their initial amount available.

Shohei Ohtani went through a similar system when he signed with the Los Angeles Angels for a $2,315,000 bonus ahead of the 2018 season.

“When he first came over it took him many years to get settled as a player and I’m sure personally as well,” Wolfe said. “Roki is by no means a finished product. He knows it and the team know it. He’s incredibly talented. We all know that.”

Wolfe said some teams had spent months working on their presentations. They were delivered to his office electronically, FedEx and even by hand.

“While quality and the uniqueness varied, it was really something,” Wolfe said. “It was like the Roki Film Festival. There were highly in-depth PowerPoint presentations, short films, some teams made actual books. … They had people that clearly spent hundreds of hours researching Roki and his personal background, his professional background.”

Each team Sasaki met with was given what Wasserman said the pitcher termed an identical “homework assignment.”

“It was a great opportunity for the teams to really show what they specialize in,” Wolfe said. “It showed how they can analyze and communicate information with him and really showed where he was coming from in analyzing and creating his selection criteria in looking at different teams.”

Wolfe said Sasaki decided he wanted to leave the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball’s Pacific League after playing alongside Ohtani, Yu Darvish and Shota Imanaga as Japan won the 2023 World Baseball Classic and watching Imanaga dominate on the mound with the Chicago Cubs in the first half of the 2024 season.

If Sasaki waited until after the 2026 season to sign with an MLB team, he could sign a major league contract as a free agent, possibly for hundreds of millions of dollars.

“I’m speaking my own opinion,” Wolfe said: “He realized in order to take it to the next level he had to come here to play against the best players in the world every day and tap into all the resources that major league teams have to … help him become one of the best pitchers.”

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[ The Guardians have the resources that Sasaki is looking for. All we need is 2 years of Sasaki to solidify the starting rotation and get it back on the right track. This could be a game changer. It's a big deal.

Roki is also very interested in pitching development and how a team is going to help him get better both in the near future and over the course of his career.”

Roki is by no means a finished product. He knows it and the team know it.

So! Roki ! Come on down! }

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Yes it could be good for his development process to choose the Guardians.
But I will be immensely shocked if he decides on a team that's neither on the West Coast nor has any other Japanese players on the roster. And certainly not located somewhere in the middle of the continent.

Yeah. Don't think he could find Cleveland on any maps. Maybe Google can be of some help.

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Another team raiding the Guadians' development staff.
So the question is: Who is responsible for developing the development team?

New Cardinals player development setup: Former Red Sox exec Chaim Bloom will replace outgoing president of baseball operations John Mozeliak after the 2025 season, and the club has already added new assistant general manager for player development and performance Rob Cerfolio and farm director Larry Day, both from the Guardians organization, following Gary LaRocque’s retirement. Bloom had a hand in building up the Boston farm before his departure, while Cerfolio and Day helped Cleveland develop five current Top 100 prospects and more candidates for that list just behind them. The Cards have three Top 100 players themselves now in JJ Wetherholt, Tink Hence and Mathews, but they could use a deeper and more robust system when they’re looking to retool the MLB club for a new era.

MLB Rumors: Japanese star hints at joining Dodgers to team up with Shohei Ohtani

As the Los Angeles Dodgers strengthen their roster with key signings for the upcoming season, a Japanese star has expressed potential interest in joining the team to play alongside Shohei Ohtani.

By Santiago Tovar

January 05, 2025 11:00AM EDT

Japan continues to captivate MLB with a pipeline of exceptional talent. At the forefront is Shohei Ohtani, who solidified his legacy by leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a World Series title last season. Ohtani’s historic contributions in 2024 not only elevated his team but also inspired interest from other rising Japanese stars eager to join him in the league.

One such standout is Roki Sasaki, a pitching sensation generating significant buzz. The 22-year-old has drawn interest from multiple MLB teams, including New York franchises, who are closely monitoring his progress. Sasaki’s dominant performances in Japan have sparked excitement among fans eager to see his skills tested on the world stage.

Another player making waves is Munetaka Murakami, a power-hitting third baseman for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. At just 24 years old, Murakami has expressed interest in making the leap to MLB. His impressive statistics and consistent performances have led analysts to believe he could soon join the growing contingent of Japanese stars in the league.

Fueling speculation, Murakami recently hinted at his MLB aspirations. According to Dodgers Nation, the slugger shared a New Year’s Eve photo on social media wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers cap—a subtle yet tantalizing signal to fans that he might have his sights set on the iconic franchise. With talent like Ohtani, Sasaki, and Murakami, Japan’s influence on MLB is stronger than ever, leaving fans and teams alike eager to see what the future holds.








Why Murakami could join Ohtani on the Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers made headlines by securing Ohtani with a blockbuster contract, and there’s growing speculation that Murakami could be the next Japanese star to join the team. In a recent announcement, Japanese star confirmed that he would play his final season in Japan by 2025, after which he will become a free agent eligible for MLB in 2026.

Adding fuel to the rumors, Murakami shared a photo on his X account just days after the announcement, sparking excitement among fans and MLB insiders. The strong baseball connection between Japan and the United States might also play a pivotal role in shaping Murakami’s MLB journey.

Murakami’s impressive career stats in Japan

Murakami has established himself as one of Japan’s brightest baseball talents. According to Dodgers Nation, he has played 836 games in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league, hitting 224 home runs and scoring 600 runs. His remarkable achievements include winning back-to-back MVP titles, a feat that underscores his dominance in the league.

With these stats, Murakami is poised to be one of the most sought-after players when he becomes eligible for MLB. His exceptional batting prowess suggests he could become one of the greatest Japanese players in MLB history—potentially even leading his team to championship glory in the future.

MURAKAMI'S HOMER VS TEAM USA IN THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC

https://youtu.be/iiRRNlzXYuM

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Amed has been moving around the National League widely since Cle moved on from him.
Dodgers pick him every year for the stretch run and then let him go.

The Nationals have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with infielder Amed Rosario, the team announced Wednesday. The deal is worth $2 million, a source told
Rosario, 29, is one of a number of veteran acquisitions the Nationals have made this offseason, joining first basemen Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell and pitchers Michael Soroka and Trevor Williams.

Most of Rosario’s defensive appearances have come at shortstop during his time in the Majors. But with CJ Abrams stationed at short and Luis García Jr. at second base, it’s possible the Nationals will give Rosario an opportunity to earn regular playing time at third base. Last season, 23-year-old José Tena made a strong impression at the hot corner, but he could benefit from more time to develop in Triple-A if Rosario gets the nod. This, while Nationals top third-base prospect Brady House (Nats No. 3, MLB No. 84 overall) works toward his big league debut.

Rosario also could fill the role of veteran utility infielder following the departure of “glue guy” Ildemaro Vargas.

Execs prospect poll: Top system? Best at drafting? Best at trading for prospects?

January 8th, 2025

In the final installment of the MLB Pipeline Executives Poll, we’re pulling back from the granular and taking a more organizational perspective.

After exploring individual players and tools, we’re using a wider lens to see what front offices think about … each other’s operations. All of the questions in Part IV are about farm systems, from who has the best overall to who uses player acquisition tools like the Draft and trades the best.

We’ll put out our official 2025 preseason farm system rankings in March, but this is a nice early glimpse. Full disclosure: Some of the responses came before the Red Sox traded two Top 100 prospects (Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery) to the White Sox, but when those who picked Boston were asked if they would change picks as a result of that deal, only one did so, with some believing even with the trade the Red Sox had the best system in the game. Either way, this ends a run of the Orioles leading the survey.

Who has the best farm system?






We’ll put out our official 2025 preseason farm system rankings in March, but this is a nice early glimpse. Full disclosure: Some of the responses came before the Red Sox traded two Top 100 prospects (Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery) to the White Sox, but when those who picked Boston were asked if they would change picks as a result of that deal, only one did so, with some believing even with the trade the Red Sox had the best system in the game. Either way, this ends a run of the Orioles leading the survey.

Who does the best job drafting?






Also receiving votes: Reds, Royals, Yankees, Rays, Rangers

One of the interesting things about a survey like this is not only does it give you a sense of what people are thinking, it provides a ton of insight into perception. We discussed this on the most recent episode of the MLB Pipeline Podcast, wondering if the Dodgers led the polling more because of a long history of success in the Draft rather than anything specifically recent. They have done well with later-round picks (more on “sleeper prospect” success in a bit), but of late, it hasn’t necessarily been overly impressive, while recognizing it’s been a very long time since they picked early in the first round. Will the Orioles continue to get votes the further removed they are from all those top 10 picks? Time will tell.

Who does the best on the international market?






Also received votes: Braves, Red Sox, Cubs, Marlins, Phillies, Pirates, Rays

The Padres certainly don’t shy away from being aggressive on the international market, and boasting Ethan Salas (MLB No. 19/SD No. 1) and Leodalis De Vries (MLB No. 28/SD No. 2) in their system certainly doesn’t hurt their standing in this category. Eight of their top 15 prospects came from this avenue of player acquisition. The Dodgers landing in the top two for both drafting and international play speaks volumes about how they do business, though it should be noted the Brewers got a good amount of attention on both fronts as well.

Who does the best job of acquiring prospects in trades?






Also received votes: Cubs, Guardians, White Sox, Astros, Marlins, Padres

The Rays continue to dominate this category, and for good reason. We’ve long talked about their amazing ability to recognize prospect talent in other systems, especially ones lower down who come across the transaction wire as throw-ins or players to be named. Junior Caminero, Shane Baz, not to mention a more established prospect like Randy Arozarena, all come to mind and point to why teams should continue to be wary when the Rays ask about their prospects.

Who has the most underrated farm system?






Also received votes: D-backs, Orioles, Reds, White Sox, Angels, Dodgers, Twins, A’s, Cardinals, Rangers, Blue Jays

We mentioned the Brewers earlier for getting votes for drafting well and using the international market effectively, so while they may not be viewed as having the best farm system, it’s not shocking to see them leading the vote for underrated systems. They kind of fall into the “sneaky good” category, a bucket the Tigers also really belong in. It’s a little surprising that Detroit got votes for best overall system but the Brewers did not.

Which team hoards prospects the most?





Also received votes: Cubs, Reds, Tigers, A’s, Nationals

The Orioles and Guardians led the polling for this question a year ago as well, but the lead has narrowed and there were many more teams mentioned this time around, perhaps a sign of the value prospects have been afforded around baseball overall. The Orioles also started to use their rich system to bring in talent, as they did by sending Joey Ortiz and DL Hall to the Brewers for Corbin Burnes last February. Two years ago, Cleveland topped this list and the club still rates near the top as it continues to compete by promoting from within.

Which team develops pitchers the best?






Also received votes: Brewers, Twins, Mets, Phillies, Nationals

Last year, the Guardians and Mariners finished second and third on this list. They finished behind the Dodgers, who still garnered some votes, but one has to wonder if they dropped a bit due to some of the arm injuries their young pitchers have incurred of late. The Guardians continue to tease more velocity and better stuff out of the arms in their system, as well as find big league talent in later rounds of the Draft. Just look at the homegrown starters in the Mariners' big league rotation and it’s easy to see why they get high marks in this realm.

Which team develops hitters the best?






Also received votes: Cubs, Yankees, Mariners, Rays

The Orioles placed second a year ago and are still reaping the benefits of turning all those first-round bats into big leaguers: Adley Rutschman, Heston Kjerstad, Colton Cowser and Jackson Holliday have all at least made contributions, even if some have yet to solidify themselves in Baltimore. The Red Sox didn’t register in this category a year ago and they jump to the top largely because of what’s coming, rather than what’s gotten there (though homegrown players like Rafael Devers and Jarren Duran stand out, with contributors such as Ceddanne Rafaela and Triston Casas getting settled in helping the cause). Even after trading Teel and Montgomery to the White Sox, having Roman Anthony (MLB No. 3/BOS No. 1), Kristian Campbell (MLB No. 10/BOS No. 3) and Marcelo Mayer (MLB No. 7/BOS No. 2) close to knocking on the door certainly helps.

Which team does the best job at finding and developing sleeper prospects?






Also received votes: Orioles, A’s, Phillies, Pirates, Giants

The top three appear in the same order as a year ago as Los Angeles, Tampa and Milwaukee continue to get praise for finding talent everywhere, from late rounds in the Draft to bargain international signees. The Dodgers ranked highly in the Draft and international signings partially for this reason. The Rays not only find talent via trades but do outstanding work in helping them reach their potential, and we’ve already noted the Brewers’ “sneaky good” system.

Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLBPipeline.com. Follow him on Facebook and @JonathanMayo, and listen to him on the weekly MLB Pipeline Podcast.

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Royals Reward Rising Prospect with Spring Training Invite

January 10, 2025

Matt Graves, Site Manager

Former Florida Gators two-player and Kansas City Royals top prospect Jac Caglianone will join the big league camp during spring training, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Caglianone has 29 games of pro experience at High-A Quad Cities since being taken with the No. 6 overall pick of last year’s MLB Draft. When Caglianone does arrive to Surprise, Ariz., for spring training, it will be alongside his future teammates including Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez.

“Being able to share a field with Bobby and Vinnie, being able to see how much influence Salvy has with being the captain and go-to-guy is really exciting, Caglianone said to Rogers.

Kansas City will release its spring training non-roster invite list on Friday. It will include Caglianone along with top prospects Blake Mitchell and Carter Jensen.

Top Prospect Jac Caglianone to Join Royals in Spring Training
The Royals are breaking recent precedent by inviting first-round pick Caglianone to his first spring training, a rare honor for a newly drafted player. Kansas City hasn’t extended a similar invitation since Alex Gordon in 2006, making this a notable milestone for the young prospect.

Despite being the best two-way player in college baseball, Caglianone has the tools to be successful. His impressive batting skills, which boast extraordinary raw power, were the primary factor in his high draft selection last year. Although the Royals envisioned him as a two-way player, given his pitching tools and personal interest in pursuing both roles, the plan has shifted for 2025.

Caglianone will solely focus on hitting. It’s deemed the fastest path to making an impact at the major league level. Rogers explained that Caglianone and the Royals agreed it was “best to focus on hitting and playing first base to get him started in his career.”

In 165 games, he batted .335/.447/.760 with 75 home runs, 189 RBI and 225 hits. He owns the Gators’ career home run record and the single-season record with 35. On the mound, he had a career 4.55 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 170 strikeouts over 148 1/3 innings.

Simplifying Caglianone’s Role

The Royals believe simplifying Caglianone’s plan as a position player will help his defense at first base, too. He will be guided by infield coach José Alguacil in spring training. Later in the season, the Royals might have Caglianone start working in the outfield, depending on his progress. If he develops quickly through the minors, the versatility will be key to his game.

“The more simple we can keep things, the more likely guys are to succeed,” general manager J.J. Picollo said. “By allowing him to focus on his offensive approach, seeing higher level and better pitching early in his career, will all help. Now he gets a chance to focus on first base, develop his skills defensively – and hit.”

Following his signing with the Royals, Caglianone debuted in High-A. He slashed .241/.302/.388 with two home runs and 14 RBI in 126 plate appearances. In the Arizona Fall League, Calgianone posted a .749 OPS. He hit five home runs and drove in 21 runs across 100 plate appearances.

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Wetherholt named FSL Player of the Week, included on MLB Pipeline Team of the Week

After a relatively slow start to his professional baseball career, former West Virginia University shortstop JJ Wetherholt was one of the most productive minor leaguers in all of baseball last week.

In six games, Wetherholt went 14 for 28 (.500) at the plate with a home run, four extra-base hits and nine RBI. He is also currently riding a seven-game hitting streak for the Single-A Palm Beach Cardinals of the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

For his efforts, he was named the Florida State League (FSL) Player of the Week, and he was also included in the MLB Pipeline Prospect Team of the Week.





JJ Wetherholt drives in game-winning run to win league championship in first pro season

Former WVU baseball All-American JJ Wetherholt’s first season in pro baseball baseball ended successfully late Wednesday night in Florida.

Wetherholt and the Palm Beach Cardinals defeated the Lakeland Flying Tigers by a score of 6-4 to claim the Single-A Florida State League championship in a winner-take-all Game 3. It’s the team’s first title since 2017.

The former Mountaineer went 1 for 4 in the contest. His lone hit was a two-run triple with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. It gave Palm Beach a 6-3 lead and, after Lakeland tallied a run the following frame, stands as the game-winning hit.

Wetherholt ended his first season as a pro on a heater.

The Mars, Pennsylvania, native hit for a .467 average (7 for 15) in five postseason games. He collected at least one hit in 14 of the last 17 games, dating back to August 21. Wetherholt clubbed two home runs and collected 19 RBI over that span, which also saw him produce a 10-game hitting streak and earn FSL Player of the Week honors.

Including all regular season and playoff games, Wetherholt finishes the season with a .315 batting average. He concludes 2024 with more walks than strikeouts and nine extra-base hits.

The Man from Mars is the No. 16 overall prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB.com.

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Why Is Charlie Condon Struggling In His Pro Debut?

It’s early going still for Charlie Condon and the rest of the 2024 draftees who are making their pro debuts this summer, but for the No. 1 prospect and third overall pick from the class, the adjustment to pro pitching has been shaky.

Charlie Condon is struggling in his professional baseball debut primarily because of difficulties making consistent contact with off-speed pitches, which are more frequently thrown by pro pitchers compared to college competition, exposing the length of his swing and causing him issues with recognizing and hitting breaking balls effectively; despite his raw power, this adjustment to higher-level pitching is causing him to struggle in the early stages of his professional career.

4 mo. ago
wahoowa69

I follow some twitter accounts who aggregate Rockies prospect highlights and realized I have not seen Charlie Condon pop up on my feed since his 1st minor league HR exactly 1 month ago on August 7th. There was a ton of hype about Condon being the most ready hitter in the draft. I looked up his stats and it's grim.

96 ABs - .481 OPS, 1 HR, 33 K's, 3 BB's

He's currently mired in an 0/20 slump.




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Top Draft pick's development plan mapped out

When it comes to his professional baseball debut, starting pitcher Chase Burns will be on hold until 2025.

Burns, who was the second overall pick out of Wake Forest in the 2024 MLB Draft last month, is working out at the team's complex in Goodyear, Ariz., with the goal of pitching in instructional league games in the fall.

"Multiple factors played into the decision," Reds player development director Jeremy Farrell said. "But given the time off he had from the end of the Wake Forest season and wanting to set him up for 2025, the plan will be for him to pitch competitively in instructional league and then go into a normal offseason routine to prepare for next year."

Burns Was Lights Out At Wake


In his final season of collegiate baseball, the hard throwing 21-year-old was pretty dynamic. He finished with a gaudy (10-1) record, while boasting a nice 2.70 ERA. He also added 191 strikeouts (tops in college baseball) in 100 total innings pitched for the Demon Deacons in 2024.

The Reds thought so highly of Burns they paid him the highest bonus ever for a draft pick. The $9.25 million signing bonus surpasses the $9.2 milllon former LSU Tigers standout and Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes signed in 2023 as the No.1 overall pick.

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Everything you need to know ahead of Wednesday's international signing day

Jesse Borek is a reporter/coordinator of prospect content at MLB Pipeline and MiLB. Follow him @JesseABorek.

53 minutes ago

For talented amateur ballplayers from across the globe, there is no day on the calendar quite like Jan. 15. Signaling the opening of the international signing period, it’s the day in which years of hard work and perseverance make dreams come true.

Most often, it’s the first step on a journey toward the big leagues. The majority of players signing deals as the period opens are still U.S. high school-aged, indicative of the long developmental path they still have to travel.

But things are different in 2025. Roki Sasaki, the No. 1 international prospect, is a unicorn in the sense that, at 23, he’ll immediately be Major League-ready at the time of his signing, something not in play even for the most advanced 16- and 17-year-olds who traditionally headline these classes. Sasaki figures to factor prominently atop MLB Pipeline's Top 100 overall prospects list as soon as he puts pen to paper.

With the timing of Sasaki’s negotiation window (which closes Jan. 23) carrying into the first few days of the 2025 period, three clubs reportedly are still angling to land the potential ace with a triple-digit fastball. Sasaki can only sign for as much as an organization has available in international pool money, figures you’ll find for each club in this story.

The competition for signing Sasaki remains fierce. But what other names should you know? Here’s a deeper look at both Sasaki and the remainder of the top five:

No. 1: Roki Sasaki, RHP (Japan)

MLB teams have been waiting for the chance to sign the talented right-hander since he burst on the global scene and showcased his elite stuff in the World Baseball Classic at age 19. His heater has been up to 102 mph in the past and his splitter is virtually unhittable, generating a 57.1 percent whiff rate in 2024. He has the look of a frontline starter, ready to contribute to a big league rotation immediately.

No. 2: Josuar De Jesus Gonzalez, SS (Dominican Republic)

Switch-hitting shortstops with a polished approach at the plate from a young age are sure to draw lofty comparisons, and there’s no shortage of them with it comes to Gonzalez. His ceiling has been held in the same regard as All-Stars Francisco Lindor and José Reyes. Gonzalez was regarded as the standout performer of the 18U World Cup in early August, featuring a seven-game stint in which he went 8-for-22 with four extra-base hits, more walks than strikeouts and five stolen bases.

No. 3: Elian Pena, SS (Dominican Republic)

Evaluators rave about Pena’s off-the-field makeup and in-game savvy, believing he has legitimate five-tool impact potential across the board. Equipped with oodles of bat speed from the left side, he complements his propensity for hitting the ball hard with some of the most advanced plate discipline seen on the international scene in years. It’s rare for a prospect so young to have a keen eye for the zone, but Pena routinely puts it on display while spraying the ball to all fields when he does cut it loose.

No. 4: Cris Rodriguez, OF (Dominican Republic)

Hailing from the same city -- Santo Domingo -- as 2013’s No. 1 international prospect, Eloy Jiménez, Rodriguez has a similarly offensive-minded profile and extra large frame at a young age that has evaluators dreaming of what he can become if he taps into his All-Star-caliber upside. Rodriguez has done damage during every step of his amateur career, consistently generating extra-base hits.

No. 5: Andrew Salas, SS/OF (United States)

Andrew is the youngest of the Salas boys with both Jose and Ethan highly regarded international prospects before him. Born in Florida before moving to Venezuela, Salas is bilingual and has long been trained by his father at the family’s famed complex where big leaguers have been known to stay sharp during the offseason. Salas sees the ball exceptionally well and backs up that eye at the dish with good swing decisions. He holds the distinction of being viewed as a plus defender at two different positions despite his young age.

Breakdown

We’ve always considered baseball a global game, but that fact has become more prominent the past few years: The world’s most remote country, Bhutan? They love baseball! The first pro ballplayer born in Siberia was drafted last summer, the same year an Australian, Travis Bazzana, was drafted No. 1 overall for the first time. What’s San Marino? The country where this Pirates prospect hails from.

With that in mind, here’s a look at how the 2025 class shakes out, globally and positionally:

Twenty-nine of the players on the 2025 Top 50 International Prospects list are from the Dominican Republic. There are 13 from Venezuela, three from Cuba, one from The Bahamas, one from Aruba, one from Japan, one from Nicaragua and one from the United States (who moved to Venezuela as a youngster). Position-wise, there are 26 infielders, 16 outfielders, one infielder/outfielder, four pitchers and three catchers.

Who is eligible?

There are guidelines for signing international prospects. A player is eligible to sign with a Major League organization between Jan. 15 and Dec. 15. He must turn 16 before he signs and be 17 before Sept. 1 the following year. In practical terms, that means players born between Sept. 1, 2007, and Aug. 31, 2008, will be eligible to sign in the upcoming signing period. Players have to be registered with Major League Baseball in advance in order to be eligible.

International bonus pool money

The pool breakdown is as follows:

$7,555,500
CIN, DET, MIA, MIL, MIN, OAK, SEA, TB

$6,908,600
ARI, BAL, CLE, COL, KC, PIT

$6,261,600
ATL, BOS, CHC, CWS, LAA, PHI, SD, TEX, TOR, WSH

$5,646,200
STL

$5,261,600 (forfeited $1 million to sign Juan Soto and Max Fried respectively)
NYM, NYY

$5,146,200
LAD

$4,646,200 (forfeited $1 million to sign Christian Walker)
HOU

$4,146,200 (forfeited $1 million to sign Willy Adames)
SF

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Mets Free Agent Jose Quintana Predicted to Sign With AL Central Team

With Jose Quintana not expected back on the Mets next season, this baseball insider sees the lefty joining this AL Central squad.

Logan VanDine | Jan 6, 2025

It has been a very successful offseason for the New York Mets thus far, with the biggest move being signing superstar outfielder Juan Soto to a historic 15-year, $765 million contract.

New York has also addressed their needs at starting pitching. Despite losing Luis Severino to the A's, the team also signed Frankie Montas to a two-year deal and reliever Clay Holmes to a three-year contract; the Mets expect to turn the latter into a starter for the 2025 season.

So far, the biggest move out of the rotation was bringing back lefty Sean Manaea. After having a career year in his first season with the Mets, which saw him set a new career-high in innings pitched with 181.2 innings, the Amazins' resigned their new ace to a three-year, $75 million deal.

With the Mets rotation projected to consist of Manaea, Holmes, and Montas, as well as Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Tylor Megill, Paul Blackburn, and newly signed Griffin Canning as potential six-man options to their rotation, this veteran lefty appears to be the odd man out and is predicted to land elsewhere in 2025 with this AL Central team.

There has been no indication that the Mets plan on reuniting with Jose Quintana, who spent the last two seasons pitching for New York. With his tenure in Queens seemingly coming to an end, MLB insider and former GM Jim Bowden of The Athletic is predicting the Kansas City Royals will sign the southpaw.

"He’d be a solid signing for the Royals as a rotation replacement for Brady Singer, whom they traded to the Reds in November," Bowden wrote. "Although the Royals claim they’re fine moving Kris Bubic to the rotation to replace Singer, they don’t have much starting pitching depth and they’ll miss the 179 2/3 innings Singer provided last year. Quintana, who turns 36 in January, is the perfect fit."

After a rough start to his 2024 season (1-5 with a 5.06 ERA in his first 11 starts), the veteran hurler was spectacular for New York down the stretch. After posting a 2.05 ERA in July and a 0.72 ERA in September, Quintana finished the year with a 10-10 in 31 starts, along with a 3.75 ERA, 135 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.25.

The soon-to-be 36-year-old was also stellar during the Mets playoff run last season. In Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, Quintana pitched six scoreless innings, scattering four hits and one walk while striking out five.

Despite Quintana's very impressive 2024, it should not be a surprise if he doesn't return to the Mets in 2025 with the team seeing to have their rotation in place. Still, the lefty would be a solid veteran addition to a Royals team that is coming off their first playoff appearance since their World Series win over the Mets in 2015.

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Jose Quintana can be a great Guardians pitcher

Back to the rotation, which was a big part of the Mets' miracle run in the 2024 season. Jose Quintana was an unsung reason why and is a free agent the Guardians should be targeting. He spent six years with the White Sox and those were the best of his career. So a trip to Cleveland would be somewhat familiar for the veteran pitcher.

The Guardians have made a habit of developing pitchers into superstars over the past decade. They can also take a veteran pitcher and get one more solid year out of them and that could be the Quintana situation. With him pitching at a solid level in the back end of their rotation, they could be back in the ALCS.

Christopher Hennessy is an MLB associate editor at ClutchPoints

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