The Baltimore Orioles did not utilize approximately $2.1 million of their allocated international signing bonus pool for 2024, while the Los Angeles Dodgers left about $1.9 million unspent amid rumors that highly regarded Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki could be available for signing.
Major League Baseball’s international amateur signing period is active from January 15 to December 15, and Roki Sasaki was officially posted on December 8. As the 2025 signing period opens on January 15, the window to finalize a contract with the celebrated 23-year-old pitcher extends until January 23, indicating that any agreement will fall within the next signing period.
The 2025 bonus pools will vary, with some teams receiving as much as $7,555,500 while the Dodgers and San Francisco Giants will have a pool of roughly $5,146,200. The Dodgers remain one of the teams actively pursuing Sasaki.
Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, declared during last week’s winter meetings that Sasaki is a crucial target for the organization. He emphasized their commitment to securing the pitcher and acknowledged that numerous other teams are vying for his signature as well.
The San Diego Padres, with a pool of $6,261,600 available, are also considered a strong contender for Sasaki. The pitcher’s agent, Joel Wolfe, mentioned that Sasaki is likely to give serious thought to joining the Padres, particularly due to the presence of established Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish on the team and Hideo Nomo serving as a special advisor.
Padres manager Mike Shildt voiced optimism about the team’s position regarding Sasaki at the winter meetings, pointing out that San Diego boasts a thriving fanbase with packed stadiums every night, and a competitive roster. He shared that it presents an excellent opportunity for Sasaki to carve out a significant legacy while aiming for the team’s first World Series victory.
Typically, teams allocate their international signing bonus funds to sign players from Latin America.
According to final reports, other clubs that left over $500,000 unspent this year include San Francisco with $767,500, Boston at $740,000, Colorado with $647,800, and the Chicago White Sox at $640,000. Meanwhile, teams like Atlanta, the New York Yankees, and Texas fully utilized their budgets, as regulations prevent exceeding the allotted amount.
Additionally, fourteen teams had less than $100,000 in unspent funds. Players born between September 1, 2006, and August 31, 2007, were eligible to sign contracts during the signing period, with bonuses of $10,000 or lower not impacting a team’s budget allocation.