The Rays announced that they have sent minor league right-hander Sean Harney to the Mets in exchange for international bonus pool money. The exact amount of bonus pool space heading to the Rays hasn’t yet been reported, but Will Sammon of The Athletic (X link) reports that this it’s part of the 2024 pool.
Under baseball’s international bonus pool system, each team has a hard-capped limit on how much they can spend on international amateurs each year. Broadly speaking, the big-spending teams get smaller pools and the smaller-market clubs gets more. Teams that don’t receive revenue sharing can also have their pool size reduced by signing players who rejected qualifying offers. A team is allowed to increase the size of its pool via trade, though they can only go to 60% beyond their initial allotment.
That pool space is normally used to sign teenagers out of countries like the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, but this winter as a more notable player in the mix: Japanese hurler Roki Sasaki. Since he is going to be posted ahead of his 25th birthday, having just turned 23, he will be considered an amateur. Therefore, he will need to be signed within the international bonus system. That’s been a key storyline this winter so many fans might immediately connect this deal to Sasaki, but this trade is unrelated. It doesn’t signal that the Mets are uninterested in signing Sasaki nor that the Rays feel they have a shot at him. Sasaki has not yet been posted and all reports have suggested he will be available as part of the 2025 international signing period.
Speculatively speaking, it’s possible that the Mets didn’t use all of their 2024 pool money because they were waiting to see exactly when Sasaki would be posted. If he were available in the 2024 period, it would be good to have a bit of powder dry for that, but that won’t be happening. The 2024 international spending period ends very soon, on December 15, with the 2025 international period starting up on January 15 of next year.
With just a few days left to use that pool space, it seems the Mets didn’t have any plans for it and would rather have Harney. The Rays, meanwhile, must have some sort of idea for a late international signing. It’s unclear what those plans are but they seemingly felt like giving up Harney was worth it for that extra pool space, which they only have a few days to make use of.
Harney, 26, was selected by the Rays in the eighth round of the 2022 draft. Since then, he has been working his way up the minor league ladder, mostly in relief but with a few starts. He has thrown 124 2/3 innings on the farm, not having reached the Triple-A level yet. He has allowed 3.90 earned runs per nine innings, striking out 24% of batters faced while walking 8.5%.
Are we ok, talking about a Mets move? This isn’t the Dodgers.
It’s early and most of the aces haven’t signed.
Agree. Seems like a wash to me. Both have injury concerns but are solid. Same level of production when healthy.
If Cohen wants him then he will get him.
Maybe what the Mets have going for them is Soto’s comfort level with that division as well.
The Mets are a great fit.
towinagain: Although he’s been out of the NL East since 2021 while developing familiarity with the NL West and AL East, so that’s unlikely to be a big factor.
I wouldn’t call Senga an Ace but he’s prob as close as they come barring injury.
The Mets will pivot to Burnes if Soto signs elsewhere. If they sign Soto then maybe they still sign Burnes but they will be at payroll levels of 2022. Not sure what way they will go
International Bonus Pool money…interesting.
Intriguing deal at this stage and it’s one to watch moving forward.
wonder how it feels to be traded for money, and have that be the more interesting piece of the trade….. harney is a guy who at the very least two good pitching orgs have liked, the rays and now the mets. the money likely wont mean much significant since sasaki is probably going to be posted in the ‘25 period.
I’m comparing him to whomever the Rays sign with that extra money.
Bet the Rays try to get Roki Suzaki by offering him more international $’s than anyone else can. Another smart move if that’s what they’re doing. If he wants to go to the west coast team for less money, they’ve done all they could.
Could you imagine picking up this kid for 6 years at a total signing cost of 8-9M
This trade has no bearing on that since Sasaki hasn’t been posted yet. The Rays have to have someone in mind who is currently available with 2024 money.
Read the 3rd paragraph of the article.
sasaki to the Rays?
It’s 2024 money that’s about to expire and not 2025. Would love to see Sasaki to Rays.
Try to keep up.
If the Mets aren’t going to spend any more international money AND they are out on Sasaki, might as well get something for this money
They are not out on Sasaki. He will be posted for the 2025 cycle. This money is for someone who needs to be signed by 12/15/24.
Why would they be out on Sasaki? The bonus money is a perk but it won’t be his deciding factor.
World Series, here we come! The Dollar Tree David Way!
They were two games away from the World Series last year, so maybe “Dollar Tree David” knows what he’s doing.
U try too hard @bigtroll
LFGMets and The biggest troll must be the same guy.
No, I don’t wish. I don’t actually care.
This post is going to look real silly in a few months.
Or maybe in a few minutes
It already looks silly but trolls only seek attention, and he got it
Mets get their guy
Have great faith in this front office
Is the offseason over yet and I didn’t notice? NO. Still a LOT of offseason left TROLL. Stearns and Cohen haven’t even really started yet.
Straight to mute. So dopey
Troll
Trolls in general are pathetic for sure but to dedicate time out of your life to troll the MLBTR site is a particularly clear declaration that you have nothing going for you in your miserable existence.
2 elite pitchers? Verlander and Scherzer were not elite when they were traded. Still above avg but in no way elite for what they were being paid
When can teams begin trading 2025 bonus pool money? Would it need to be after 12/15?
They don’t get the money until 1/15/25 I believe.
Mets chumming the waters for what gearsup to be tbeir most exciting offseasn in history. Should be interesting winter for mets fans
Is there a list somewhere of any relevant international players who are unsigned?
Criticizing a move where the Mets give up pool money they clearly weren’t going to use? Slow Friday for the trolls.
I pity them.
Harvey Day