Mariners Moose Tracks, 1/18/25: Shintaro Fujinami, Rōki Sasaki, and A.J. Minter
The offseason’s biggest remaining domino has fallen.
Good morning friends! The three-day weekend is now underway, and we’ve got a bunch of baseball news to bring to you.
In Mariners news...
- We had perhaps the most exciting news of the Mariners offseason to date (a low bar) in the form of a minor league signing with flame-throwing right-hander Shintaro Fujinami.
- Ryan Divish at The Seattle Times explained why he checked the box for Félix Hernández on his Hall of Fame ballot.
- The Mariners wrapped up their organizational coaching staff announcements with the complex league squads.
Announcing the coaching staff for our squads in the Arizona Complex League and the Dominican Summer League! #TridentsUp
— Mariners Player Development (@MsPlayerDev) January 17, 2025
https://t.co/jYfdUuUzBR pic.twitter.com/70b5v12zut
- International Signing Day just passed and we already have news on who the M’s will be signing next year.
The Seattle Mariners are favorites to sign OF Juan Rijo on January 15, 2026 when the next in'tl period opens.
— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) January 17, 2025
Exceptionally strong hit tool, among the best in the '26 class. Some similar traits to Michael Arroyo. Mostly avg. tools elsewhere. LF profile. ~Top 20 player in class. pic.twitter.com/8R31oooSkt
Around the league...
- The expected finally became official, with Japanese right-hander Rōki Sasaki announcing that he would sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Before Sasaki’s announcement, the Blue Jays took on the contract of outfielder Myles Shaw in order to get additional international bonus money from the Guardians, which they now cannot use how they intended.
- The Dodgers acquired additional bonus space for Sasaki by dealing outfielder Dylan Campbell to the Phillies and outfielder Arnaldo Lantigua to Cincinnati.
- As if things couldn’t get any better for the Dodgers...
Yes, the Los Angeles Dodgers will be eligible to earn a PPI draft pick after the first round if Roki Sasaki wins Rookie of the Year in 2025 or wins a Cy Young in 2025, 2026 or 2027. They can only be awarded one PPI draft pick.
— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) January 18, 2025
- The Mets shored up their bullpen by signing left-hander A.J. Minter to a two-year contract.
- Former Rangers closer José Leclerc signed a one-year pact with the A’s.
- The Brewers have agreed to a one-year deal with right-hander Elvin Rodríguez.
- Jordan Shusterman at Yahoo! Sports broke down five players to know from this year’s International Signing Day.
- The Baseball Prospectus prospect staff outlined a handful of players who aren’t in their top 101 list but could make some major noise this season. ($)
- Steve Drumwright at Pitcher List argues that baseball’s Hall of Fame is the best of its kind.
- Amanda Lane Cumming turned the clock way back to the origins of baseball in the northwest in the 1860s.
- Matt Monagan remembers the time when San Diego nearly built a floating ballpark.
- Jay Jaffe at Fangraphs dove into the Hall of Fame case for beloved closer Fernando Rodney.