In the high-stakes world of international baseball signings, two powerhouse franchises are poised to make a splash when the market opens in 2025. The Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers, perennial contenders with deep pockets, have been quietly stockpiling bonus pool money in anticipation of a landmark signing period headlined by Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki.
Orioles, Dodgers Hoard Cash for 2025 Spending Spree
According to league figures, the Orioles left a staggering $2.1 million of their 2024 international bonus pool unspent, while the Dodgers banked nearly as much at $1.9 million. With most teams exhausting their allotments year after year in the fiercely competitive Latin American market, Baltimore and Los Angeles made the calculated decision to roll over funds in hopes of a bigger prize next year.
That prize is undoubtedly Roki Sasaki, the 23-year-old flamethrower who is widely considered the best pitching prospect to come out of Japan since Shohei Ohtani. Sasaki’s electric fastball, devastating splitter, and unflappable mound presence have scouts drooling, with many projecting him as a frontline MLB starter from day one.
Sasaki Sweepstakes Set to Begin Jan. 15
Sasaki’s highly anticipated posting finally came on Dec. 8, kicking off a 45-day negotiating window that extends into the 2025 signing period beginning Jan. 15. This means whichever team ultimately signs the young ace will have their bonus counted against next year’s pool.
“He’s someone that is obviously a major priority for us, and we’re going to do whatever we can, and know that there are a lot of other teams that are going to do the exact same thing.”
– Andrew Friedman, Dodgers President of Baseball Operations
The Dodgers, never shy about flexing their financial muscle, have made their intentions clear. President of Baseball Ops Andrew Friedman minced no words when discussing Sasaki, calling him “a major priority” and vowing to do “whatever we can” to bring him to Los Angeles.
Padres Lurking as Potential Darkhorse
But Baltimore and L.A. aren’t the only suitors eyeing Sasaki. Don’t sleep on the San Diego Padres, who many consider the favorites to land the coveted righty thanks to a hefty $6.2 million bonus pool in 2025. With Japanese stars Yu Darvish and Hideo Nomo already part of the organization, San Diego offers Sasaki a chance to join a thriving community that could ease his transition to MLB.
“I feel like the organization is in a really good place with Sasaki. If there’s an open market competition to be had, I feel like we’re in a good spot for a multitude of reasons.”
– Mike Shildt, Padres Manager
Manager Mike Shildt is confident his club has the inside track, citing not just the team’s existing Japanese pipeline but also their rabid fan base, perennial contender status, and chance for Sasaki to “create a legacy” by bringing San Diego its first title.
Latin Pipeline Still Lifeblood for Most Teams
While the Sasaki sweepstakes have captured the baseball world’s attention, the bulk of international spending still flows to Latin America. Most teams exhausted their 2024 bonus pools signing top teenage prospects, primarily from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Cuba.
- Giants, Red Sox among other big 2024 savers: San Francisco ($767,500), Boston ($740,000), Colorado ($647,800) and the White Sox ($640,000) also left significant unspent 2024 pool money, though none to the degree of Baltimore and L.A.
- 14 clubs left less than $100K on table: Over half the league spent within $100,000 of their full 2024 allotment, speaking to the competitiveness of the international market even in a “down” year without a Sasaki-level prize.
Ultimately, while the 2025 period will be dominated by the Sasaki signing, the international market remains a critical pipeline for injecting young, cost-controlled talent into MLB. The Orioles, Dodgers and other thrifty 2024 spenders are gambling that one elite arm is worth more than a dozen longshot teenagers, a bet that will be fascinating to watch play out in the years to come.
