Pittsburgh Pirates Making Waves in International Signings
Ever since the news surfaced that the promising Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki would be posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines in Nippon Professional Baseball, the spotlight has shifted towards the Los Angeles Dodgers as the anticipated frontrunners in securing his talents. However, amidst this expectation, an unexpected twist has emerged, benefiting another team in the Major League Baseball landscape.
Sasaki’s posting from the Japanese league introduced a unique condition, stipulating that he could only pursue a minor league contract, with the bonus funds allocated towards the 2025 international signing pool, owing to his age of 23 years.
This condition has introduced a level of uncertainty for many international players, placing them in delicate positions as they navigate the complex rules governing their signings. Typically, players are only eligible to sign once they reach 16 years of age between the opening of the international signing period on January 15 or turning that age by September 1 within the same window.
Despite the regulations prohibiting teams from engaging in negotiations or offering deals to international players before they are eligible to sign, a prevalent industry practice tends to circumvent these guidelines. Many international players find themselves informally committed to teams years before they can officially put pen to paper.
In light of the Dodgers’ apparent readiness to offer a substantial signing bonus to Sasaki, it seems they have signaled to their prospective 2025 signees that they are free to explore other options. Seizing this opportunity, the Pittsburgh Pirates have swiftly capitalized on the situation. Baseball America’s Ben Badler revealed that the Pirates are on the brink of finalizing a deal with 6-foot-5 shortstop Darrell Morel hailing from the Dominican Republic, who was initially linked with the Los Angeles organization.
As reported by Francys Romero, Morel is anticipated to sign a contract in the vicinity of $1.7 million, marking the beginning of a significant shift where several international players aligned with various organizations are expected to embark on new journeys outside their initial affiliations.
This strategic move by the Pittsburgh Pirates underscores their proactive approach in the realm of international signings, positioning them to secure top-tier talents and forge a path towards future success on the baseball field.