Los Angeles Dodgers- The pursuit of Roki Sasaki has led to significant ripple effects, as Major League Baseball teams vie for the chance to sign the Japanese pitching sensation. While the financial playing field is now level, with teams able to bid equally, some clubs may still have inherent advantages in securing Sasaki’s services. Several teams have reportedly met with the highly sought-after pitcher, but it remains unclear which club is the clear frontrunner. The Pittsburgh Pirates, in particular, were not initially known to have met with Sasaki, even though he seemed like a logical target for them. Nevertheless, the Pirates are still reaping rewards from Sasaki’s market frenzy.

Baseball America recently reported that the Pirates have benefited from this competitive environment by poaching a highly regarded international prospect from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Darell Morel, a Dominican shortstop who was initially set to sign with the Dodgers for $900,000 in the 2025 international signing period, will now sign with Pittsburgh for $1.8 million. This is a substantial financial commitment from the Pirates, especially considering their limited international signing pool of just over $6.9 million. With this deal, the Pirates’ available pool is now reduced to $5.1 million.

Although there is limited information available on Morel, Baseball America described him as a 6’5″ shortstop with significant power potential from the left side of the plate. The publication also noted that Morel was expected to be one of the top signings in the Dodgers’ 2025 international class. However, Los Angeles appears to be focusing all of its resources on bidding for Sasaki, clearing out international bonus pool money to maximize its chances of securing the young pitcher. As part of this strategy, the Dodgers have broken verbal agreements with players like Morel, who is now on his way to Pittsburgh.

The Pirates have a history of acquiring tall, left-handed power-hitting prospects from the Dodgers, with Oneil Cruz being a prime example. Cruz has since become one of the Pirates’ top players, and the team hopes that Morel will follow a similar development trajectory. Taking away a highly touted prospect from a team focused on Sasaki is a significant win for Pittsburgh.