A look at other international amateurs reportedly signed by the Dodgers, including notable addition from Venezuela, Panama, and South Sudan.
Roki Sasaki signed for $6.5 million, the largest signing bonus during the international signing period since 2017. But the Dodgers still had room to sign more amateurs along with the star Japanese right-hander.
The opening of the 2025 signing period on Wednesday was notable when three players with reported previous verbal agreements with the Dodgers instead signing with new teams, unwilling to wait to see whether the Dodgers would sign Sasaki.
Dominican shortstop Darrell Morrell was set to join the Dodgers for roughly $1 million, but the Pirates got him for $1.8 million.
Venezuelan outfielder Oscar Patiño was going to sign with the Dodgers for $400,000, but instead signed with the White Sox for $570,000.
Dominican outfielder Teilon Serrano originally committed to the Dodgers, but ultimately signed for $847,500 with the Twins.
The Dodgers had a bonus pool of $5,146,200 to start the international period, tied for the smallest in MLB. With Sasaki secured, on Friday night the Dodgers traded Dylan Campbell to the Phillies and sent Arnaldo Lantigua to the Reds. In total the Dodgers received either $2.25 million or $2.5 million in bonus pool space.
After Sasaki’s $6.5 million bonus, the Dodger have either $896,200 or $1,146,200 remaining for their other signings. As of Saturday night, the Dodgers have not yet announced any signings (not even Sasaki, officially), but here are the other players reportedly added to LA’s 2025 international class.
Known bonuses
So far the only Dodgers signing bonuses reported outside of Sasaki are for Panamanian left-hander Adrian Torres, who gets $365,000, and Venezuelan shortstop Luis Tovar, who gets $300,000. Both bonuses were reported by Francys Romero.
Panamanian LHP Adrian Torres officially signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers this afternoon, becoming the first addition of the 2024-25 international class.
Bonus deal: $365k (plus 100k scholarship)
The official signing took place in Panama. pic.twitter.com/AyQ1z4Lk8l
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) January 18, 2025
With the reported bonuses for Sasaki, Torres, and Tovar, that leaves the Dodgers with either $231,200 or $481,200. Any signing bonuses above $10,000 are counted against the pool.
New territory
Among the Dodgers signees is 17-year-old right-hander Joseph Deng, whom Ben Badler at Baseball America reported is the first player from South Sudan to sign with a major league team. From Badler’s story at BA:
Deng already has a big fastball for his age, reaching 95 mph. At 6-foot-7, 185 pounds, Deng has an extremely lanky, long-limbed frame with tons of space to fill out and continue to add velocity once he gets stronger. He has enormous physical upside and attacks hitters with a fastball/splitter combination.
The Los Angeles Dodgers make history with the signing of Joseph Deng, the first player ever signed from South Sudan.
He’s 6-foot-7, 185 pounds with a fastball up to 95 mph.
More here: https://t.co/0XriJ6gPQe pic.twitter.com/0nRsTMLK7i
— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) January 19, 2025
Other signings
- Venezuelan infielder Moisés Acacio, per Badler
- Dominican right-hander Derick Aquino, per Romero
- Dominican outfielder Devlyn Bautista, per Romero
- Venezuelan infielder Juan Macero, per Badler
- Venezuelan right-hander Carlos Ramirez, per Badler
- Venezuelan catcher Moisés Rangel, per Badler
- Venezuelan right-hander Ricardo Román, per Badler
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