BREAKING: Elian Peña, 17-year-old Dominican shortstop, signs with Mets for $5 million bonus

Mets finalize $5 million deal with 17-year-old Elian Pena

NEW YORK (AP) – Elian Peña, a shortstop from the Dominican Republic who turned 17 in October, agreed to a $5 million bonus with the New York Mets on Wednesday that was the largest amount on the first day of the 2025 international signing period.

Peña was rated the No. 3 prospect in the international class for this year by MLB.com behind Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, who must agree to a deal by Jan. 23, and Dominican shortstop Josuar De Jesus Gonzalez, who agreed with the San Francisco Giants at $2,997,500.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays, all hoping to sign Sasaki, did not finalize any contracts with bonuses of more than $10,000, which count against their signing bonus pools. Just half of the 30 teams finalized deals of more than $10,000 in the opening 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 said. “Certainly the 2025 signing period has had more uncertainty than others.”

Dominican outfielder Cris Rodriguez, ranked fourth, signed with Detroit for $3,197,500, and Andrew Salas, a shortstop and outfielder ranked fifth, signed with Miami for $3.7 million. Salas was born in the U.S. and moved to Venezuela.

Hoping to become a two-way player just like Shohei Ohtani, 18-year-old Shotaro Morii made the rare decision to bypass Japanese professional baseball entirely and agreed with the Athletics at $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 from Sept. 1, 2007, through Aug. 31, 2008, are eligible to sign during this year´s period, which ends Dec. 15. Teams have signing bonus pools ranging from about $5.1 million to $7.6 million.

Australian right-hander Robinson Smith signed with Pittsburgh for $400,000 and Italian right-hander Filippo Sabatini with Philadelphia for $80,000. Ugandan infielder Armstrong Muhoozi agreed with Pittsburgh for $40,000.

Related Posts

⚡ FLASH NEWS: 6’6″ 270lb Red Sox Behemoth Juѕtіn Gonzаleѕ Exрlodeѕ Into Bаѕebаll Amerіcа’ѕ Elіte Toр 100! 🔥 The Boѕton Red Sox’ѕ рroѕрect рірelіne hаѕ а new gіаnt іn the nаtіonаl ѕрotlіght. Juѕtіn Gonzаleѕ, the 19-yeаr-old outfіelder often cаlled “Boѕton’ѕ Aаron Judge,” hаѕ offіcіаlly crаcked Bаѕebаll Amerіcа’ѕ Toр 100 rаnkіngѕ, lаndіng аt No. 98 followіng а wаve of рroѕрect grаduаtіonѕ eаrlіer thіѕ week…

аt juѕt 19 yeаrѕ old, а 6’6″, 270-рound аbѕolute monѕter from the Domіnіcаn Reрublіc hаѕ offіcіаlly crаѕhed the nаtіonаl ѕрotlіght — Boѕton Red ѕox рroѕрect Juѕtіn Gonzаleѕ…

BREAKING NEWS: “He Never Truly Left Los Angeles…” — Jason Heyward Returns to Dodgers in Emotional Front Office Role, Clubhouse Erupts….

One of the most beloved faces of the Los Angeles Dodgers is officially returning — but this time not in the baseball glove, but in a special…

(BREAKING) “Fenway Will Always Welcome Him Back” — Jason Varitek Receives Open Invitation from Red Sox, Boston Erupts with Emotion….

An emotionally charged piece of news has just sent the Boston Red Sox community into a frenzy: legendary captain Jason Varitek is reportedly still open to returning…

🚨 BOMBSHELL: METS REGRET ALARM — Letting Pete Alonso walk already looked risky, but the latest injury blow to Francisco Alvarez just made that decision feel even uglier. With Alvarez expected to miss 6–8 weeks after a torn meniscus, New York’s lineup suddenly looks thinner, colder, and painfully short on the kind of power Alonso once brought every night. Citi Field wanted a fresh direction — but now Mets fans may be staring at the brutal cost of losing their Polar Bear..ll 👇👇👇

METS’ DECISION TO LET PETE ALONSO WALK LOOKS WORSE AS JORGE POLANCO STRUGGLES THROUGH INJURY AND POOR PRODUCTION The New York Mets made a decision that many…

🚨 BOMBSHELL: METS LINEUP MELTDOWN — New York is being urged to cut ties with $126 million All-Star Bo Bichette as his bat turns from expected savior into a brutal offensive headache. The criticism is getting louder because Bichette’s slow start has been described as a “black hole” in a lineup already drowning in missed chances. If the Mets keep sliding, this could become the kind of trade-deadline drama that turns Citi Field pressure into full-blown chaos..ll 👇👇👇

METS’ SLOW START COULD FORCE MAJOR TRADE DEADLINE DECISIONS AS BO BICHETTE’S STRUGGLES BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE The New York Mets entered the season with expectations, money,…

🔥 DODGERS VS. GIANTS SHOWDOWN: NL West Rivalry Explodes at Dodger Stadium Tonight as Los Angeles Looks to Defend Home Turf and San Francisco Hunts for a Statement Win.ll 👇👇👇

Dodgers vs. Giants Preview: NL West Rivalry Takes Center Stage at Dodger Stadium Tonight The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants meet again tonight at Dodger…