Dec. 9: Rojas is guaranteed $5MM over his two years with Hanshin, reports Hector Gomez of Z Sports 101 in the Dominican Republic (Twitter link). ESPN’s Buster Olney hears the same, adding that Rojas can earn up to $500K worth of incentives in each season of the deal.
Dec. 8: 2020 Korea Baseball Organization MVP Mel Rojas Jr. is heading to Nippon Professional Baseball on a two-year deal, according to Jon Morosi of MLB.com. He’ll join the Hanshin Tigers. Financial details aren’t yet available.
Rojas, the son of former major leaguer Mel Rojas, was a third-round pick of the Pirates in 2010. He never reached the majors with the Pirates or the Braves, who acquired him in a minor trade in 2016, but has found his niche overseas.
Rojas signed a $400K contract with the KT Wiz of the KBO in 2017 and then slashed .321/.388/.594 with a whopping 132 home runs in 2,218 plate appearances. The 30-year-old Rojas batted .349/.417/.680 with 47 homers in 628 PA en route to MVP honors in 2020.
Following his tremendous effort this year, Rojas drew major league interest in recent weeks, as MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes and Steve Adams wrote. However, instead of going to MLB, he will remain in Asia.
Not surprised he couldn’t get a major league deal to his liking with the way this offseason is expected to go.
Can’t believe Eric Thames got $16 million guaranteed (!) just four years ago coming out of the KBO.
I’m honestly surprised no one took a chance on him, because teams are being cost-conscious this off-season..
They probably could have signed him for a pretty modest deal, except he could have come with some upside in value..
I really wanted the Braves to give him a shot, when he was tearing it up in AAA for them, but for whatever reason they wouldn’t call him up..He, at the VERY LEAST, showed signs of being an excellent 4th outfielder at the time, but they just let him go to pursue his opportunities overseas..
At Gwinnett, Rojas Jr. displayed a solid approach at the plate, being able to hit for average and power, he showed he was capable of playing at least an average to slightly above average LF and RF, and he displayed some decent speed and good baserunning skills…
Was there ever any character or clubhouse issues with Rojas Jr. I’m unaware of?!?…Idk, it didnt makensense at the time, and it doesn’t make sense especially now…
Yep. Thought he’d be a low cost/some upside add for someone. Angels need a placeholder in right/4th outfielder, Cleveland, Toronto.
I don’t think it’s a question of no teams having interest in him. More likely no MLB teams matched what he’s getting in Japan. If he hammers in that league, he still may get his chance of playing in MLB and make even more money.
Rojas Jr is a man amongst boys in the Asian leagues.
Or his agent announced his interest to sign with an MLB team, fielded some possible offers, and used it as leverage to get a NPB team to give him a favorable contract.
There’s a huge difference between kbo and mlb just like there is a different between kbo and Japan
I Listen to him on MLB XM. He was true to his word.
What did he say?
“What did he say?” Forrrgettaboutit!”
Hahahahaha
He’d rather play full time with a guarantee, than sign a minor deal with only a chance to play.
Which makes perfect sense. To be honest I’m surprised more fringe players don’t go down this route, a full season showcase in NPB rather than a handful of appearances with limited plate opportunities.
I appreciate though that foreign player roster spots are at a premium too…
Exactly my thoughts also. Gets the star treatment overseas or a 4th outfielder here state side. Seems to be a no brained.
Not to mention Japan and Korea are handling covid in a superior manner to America, taking a year away from MLB to not die is probably also a no brainer
I had not considered this. Seems reasonable.
So much for him coming to the MLB, it was all fake news.
or maybe Hanshin just provided a better offer
@cheeryvladdy hey, do us all a favor and look at the title of this website. Literally every single post here qualifies as “fake news”, but this “fake news” you talk about also is simultaneously a big part of MLB’s hot stove season, that we all love.
If you aren’t happy with this setup, please never come to this site, thanks.
I commented this earlier and even though this has nothing to do with this post but I’d like to see the MLBTR writers each make a top 10 at each position list like how MLBN does with Brian Kenny and the Shredder. Would be bringing a lot of opinions and debates
That’s not really MLBTR niche.
I’d rather see that then “The Blue Jays are interested in ____”
I’m hearing reports that the Blue Jays are interested in your idea for a Top 10 list.
I mean, the site is called “MLB Trade Rumors”. They report transaction rumors in baseball.
Ayyyyyeee, nice one
@mlb it would be a nice little change up instead of the same stuff over and over and over
“You wouldn’t BELIEVE how many free agents this MYSTERY team has had talks with. Page 50: Trevor Bauer; page 49: JT Realmuto…. page 2: Can you guess this team???…”
The Pirates
Then go to a different app. It’s been this way for years. It’s a rumors app. Lots of places to get the info you desire.
@Clayton_Chokeshaw – first, change your screen name, its out of date
– second, “The Blue Jays are interested in ____” is literally what this website was built off. If you don’t like it, start your own website. You won’t do that though, because the types of people who tell others what to do never have any real skills or ambition.
@marty I haven’t told anyone what to do. I was just throwing an idea out there that could be interesting and something different. I don’t know why you’re being so rude for absolutely no reason. You must be one of those insecure people that try to bully others to make themselves feel better
Well, Wladimir Balentien could get 500M yen / 4.6M USD from Softbank Hawks. Mel probably could get less than that but if he perform, he could make a big money in NPB.
I’m mildly surprised that he didn’t have more MLB interest. Sure, the competition overseas isn’t close to MLB level, but those numbers are truly eye-popping
Yet Mel Rojas Sr. remains unsigned
Dan Duquette was enamored with Rojas in the 90’s. He tried several times to swing a deal for the Sox to acquire Rojas, Sr.
Duquette and Rojas go all the way back to the Expos days. And Pedro Martinez whom he traded for in Montreal for Delino DeShields Sr.
He sees the numbers.
Is it possible MLB interest wasn’t enough $$$ to offset covid concerns he might have? Seems to me he is playing in a safer environment if he’s worried about getting exposed and a more certain one if he’s looking for a full season’s pay
I’m really curious to see what (intelligent) unsigned players go “You know what? America really isn’t handling this problem as well as other countries, if I can make 7 figs anywhere for a year, I’ll do it”. Would not be surprised to see a bigger name FA or two go to Japan, and more Dan Straily-types go to Korea.
I would think this have to be a concern. Theoretically, if he’s offered comparable money in Japan and America (on a major league deal), he’d come back to MLB, as he’s said that his goal. But if you’re offered $2.5 million in Japan and $2.5 million in America, there’s a much better chance that the MLB season gets shortened and you’re only getting a pro-rated portion of that (not too mention you’re less likely to play every day to begin with).
Mel Rojas Jr is a smart guy, he signed to play, not to go to MLB and play sometimes.
There’s been thousands of long term MLB careers that have not been allowed to happen because some 60 year old manager thinks a player reminds him of some other player he played with back 40 years ago that stole his girl or something obnoxious and unprofessional.
There’s plenty of examples, but the one that happens every year almost is the 23-29 year old at AAA who has a 1.000 OPS all year, who has been working his butt off and getting that OPS up every year who finally gets called up to MLB to….get 3 AB a week. That crud happens CONSTANTLY and is a major flaw in this game. Forcing an everyday player into the last man on the bench spot when they have been starting all year is a travesty, plain and simple. MLB players can not be expected to succeed if they don’t get regular playing time.
I agree with his mentality. Kill it again this next 2 years and get a deal to end your career stateside if possible.
The Blue Jays have signed Roger Dorn 3rd baseman and Rick Vaughn RP to minor league deals.
He got about 2~2.5MM/yr. With an option to go to the MLB. Possible after one year opt-out.
Why is everyone over the moon about KBO stats, Isn’t Preston Tucker, who could never really make it in the MLB in the KBO putting up obscene, gaudy stats himself? Don’t pretend this league is a good comp for MLB.
I really wish the winter meetings were not so lame again this year.
Nope, you are very wrong in your comment here. The KBO has been fixing any pro-offense issues they’ve had lately, and last year was one where offense wasn’t as gaudy league-wide. The KBO’s comp is slightly above AAA, but below Japan. It’s fine comp for MLB, you just want to not believe that most pro baseball players can put up good numbers with everyday ABs, everyday ABs they dont get in MLB.
But yeah, Hyun-Jin Ryu stinks, huh?
Walk it back…
The top of the league is a decent comp for MLB, in that the best KBO players can be solid contributors/starters in MLB. It’s not a very deep league, though. But with a guy like Rojas, we’re not talking about someone who’s in the top half of the KBO. He’s almost twice as good as the average KBO player. He should be able to hang in MLB.
Probably better for Rojas. We’ve seen many former MLB players go to Japan and Korea and mash and never comeback to the MLB because they know they won’t put up the same numbers here
$5M guaranteed with another $1M in achievable bonuses for $6M? He was wise to accept that offer, even if his goal is to play in MLB. At the glacial pace the MLB offseason is moving, and with reduced dollars predicted for most players, he wasn’t going to match the potential $6M here. If he produces big numbers in the NPB, which is superior to the KBO, he’ll still get his chance to play in MLB two years on with a better contract than he’d get this year. And if not? There are worse things in life than making millions playing in Japan!
Do we really need a post about every random ex-minor leaguer who signs with a new Korean or Japanese team? Do any mlb fans care about this?
$2.5M per year in the KBO is huge money! It’s like the equivalent of the $30M contract in MLB. Good for Mel. He seems to happy there and why not stay and set records when he’d have to fight for playing time (and a major league contract) in MLB. I hope he hits 50 HRs next year in Korea!
$5MM plus an additional $500 thousand in incentives? Rojas was never going to make that money at the MLB level. You go where the money is at. Good for him and his family.