17-year-old shortstop Elian Peña gets $5 million bonus in deal with Mets

NEW YORK — 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, the highest amount on the opening day of the international signing period of 2025.

Peña was ranked as the third-ranked prospect in the international class 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. the San Francisco agreement. Giants at $2,997,500.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays, all of whom hope to sign Sasaki, have not finalized any contracts with bonuses of more than $10,000, which count toward their signing bonuses. Only half of the 30 teams finalized deals over $10,000 in the opening hours of the signing period.

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

Hoping to become a two-way player much like Shohei Ohtani, 18-year-old Shotaro Morii made the rare decision to bypass Japanese professional baseball altogether and signed with the Athletics for $1,510 $500.

Other deals included Dominican infielder Johan De Los Santos and the Pittsburgh Pirates ($2.25 million), Venezuelan catcher Gabriel Davalillo and the Los Angeles Angels ($2 million), Venezuelan infielder Brayan Cortesia and the Washington Nationals ($1.92 million), Dominican infielder Darell Morel and Pittsburgh ($1,778,600), player Venezuelan infielder Leon Santiago and the Minnesota Twins ($1,697,500), Dominican outfielder Maykel Coret and the Tampa Bay Rays ($1.6 million), Venezuelan outfielder Breyson Guedez and the Athletics ($1.5 million), Dominican outfielder Elian De La Cruz and the Arizona Diamondbacks ($1.1 million), shortstop Dominican Christopher Acosta and the Milwaukee Brewers ($1.1 million), Dominican infielder Raymer Medina and Tampa Bay ($1.1 million), Venezuelan catcher Daniel Hernandez and Washington ($1.1 million dollars) and Dominican infielder Warel Solano and Tampa Bay ($1.05 million).

Players born between September 1, 2007 and August 31, 2008 can sign during this year’s period, which ends December 15. Teams have signing bonuses ranging from approximately $5.1 million to $7.6 million; Signing bonuses of $10,000 and less do not count against a team’s cap.