Ever since the announcement that young Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki would be posted by Nippon Professional Baseball’s Chiba Lotte Marines, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been considered the favorites to sign him. One team has already capitalized on that expectation.
Due to Sasaki’s age (23 years old), his posting comes with a restriction: he can only sign a minor league deal, with his signing bonus counting toward the 2025 international signing pool. This adds a layer of complexity, potentially creating challenges for international players.
Typically, international players are eligible to sign if they turn 16 between January 15, when the international signing period opens, and September 1 of the same year. While teams are technically prohibited from negotiating with or promising deals to players before they’re eligible, it’s widely understood that most organizations don’t follow this rule.
As a result, many international players commit to teams years before they can officially sign. In preparation for offering the largest possible bonus to Sasaki, the Dodgers have seemingly advised some of their potential 2025 signees to explore other opportunities.
The Pittsburgh Pirates appear to have taken advantage of this situation. According to Ben Badler of Baseball America, the Pirates are expected to sign 6-foot-5 shortstop Darrell Morel from the Dominican Republic, a player who was previously linked to the Dodgers.
An additional report from Francys Romero indicates that Morel’s signing bonus will likely be around $1.7 million. Morel is expected to be just the first of several international prospects to switch allegiances as a result of Sasaki’s impending deal.
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