The Mets were one of the numerous teams whose Roki Sasaki dreams were shattered on Monday when the 23-year-old Japanese ace informed them that they were out of the running for his services.
As expected, it has come down to the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, with the Toronto Blue Jays an unexpected third finalist.
While it will force the Mets to pivot elsewhere if they are indeed searching for one more starting pitcher, their international bonus pool money, which will replenish on Wednesday, will now be used for quite the consolation prize.
The Mets have been in a verbal agreement with Domincan shortstop Elian Pena on a $5 million deal, which can be signed and made official this week.
The 17-year-old was considered a top-three international free agent this winter alongside Sasaki and fellow 17-year-old Dominican shortstop, Josuar De Jesus Gonzalez.
A left-handed bat, Pena has the makeup to develop into a legitimate five-tool star at the MLB level. He has already displayed sound defense up the middle and at the plate, has exhibited remarkable bat speed and plate discipline for a prospect his age.
The Mets’ desire to invest this much money into such a young prospect is also telling of how highly he is regarded. Pena’s expected $5 million deal almost doubles the franchise’s previous most expensive international free agent signings when they inked catcher Yovanny Rodriguez to a $2.85 million deal last winter.
