Dodgers Deal Fallout: Top Prospect Darryl Morel Jumps Ship to Pirates

The 2025 international signing period is just days away from beginning on Jan. 15, and while most prospects have already committed to signing with an organization, this upcoming signing period has been thrown into some chaos.

The current signing period has been thrown in flux due to Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki making the jump to MLB. Sasaki is subject to the international signing process for amateur players, so teams will need available bonus pool money to sign him.

Generally, teams make commitments with international prospects far in advance, even up to a few years. But with Sasaki now part of the 2025 prospect class, some teams have had to back out of their commitments with prospects or make an attempt to delay their signing for future seasons.

As the Los Angeles Dodgers have made Sasaki their top priority, it has largely affected their 2025 international class. Darrell Morel, who was set to sign with the Dodgers as one of their top commitments in the class, was one of the players affected by Sasaki’s impending decision.

Morel will instead sign with the Pittsburgh Pirates rather than the Dodgers, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America:

Dominican shortstop Darell Morel, a lanky 6-foot-5 lefthanded hitter with big power upside, was set to be one of the Dodgers’ top 2025 signings. With the uncertainty of the Dodgers’ situation given that they might land Sasaki, Morel now is set to sign with the Pirates. In fact, Sasaki’s decision—or indecision, at this point—will pay off for Morel, who will sign for close to $1.8 million, a bonus that’s around twice as much money he would have gotten from the Dodgers.

The Dodgers are tied for the lowest international signing bonus pool of the 2025 class with just over $5 million available to spend on players. However, it’s unclear what has already been committed to players and what else they are working to change.

The leaders in available funds have just over $7.5 million, while most clubs range from $5.6 million to just below $7 million available.

Due to Sasaki’s posting rules, he is required to sign between Jan. 15 and Jan. 23, and a decision is expected to come later in that time frame.

The teams that are saving money for Sasaki and miss out on him will scramble to use the rest of their funds on remaining prospects, but many of them will officially sign the day the period opens on Jan. 15.

The Dodgers remain the consensus favorite to sign Sasaki, but the San Diego Padres are also lurking in the mix and the right-hander has met with multiple clubs.

Dodgers re-hire international scout

The Dodgers re-signed Mike Tosar, who had previously played a role with the team as an international scout from 2012-2019 before joining the Chicago White Sox as an assistant hitting coach.

Tosar had an influence in finding players such as Yordan Alvarez, Andy Pages and Miguel Vargas, who all became highly regarded prospects.

Tosar has previously worked with a few teams including the Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays.