Mets finalize $5 million deal with 17-year-old Elian Pena as Roki Sasaki consolation prize
NY Post
The Mets lost out on Roki Sasaki but ended up with what they hope is a pretty good consolation prize in 17-year-old shortstop Elian Peña from the Dominican Republic.
Considered by some scouts to be the next-best international free agent outside of Sasaki, Peña signed a $5 million deal with the Mets on Wednesday, the first day of the international signing period.
The move takes up most of the team’s $6.2 million bonus pool.
If the Mets had been able to sign Sasaki — the Japanese right-hander who has narrowed his choices to the Dodgers, Padres and Blue Jays and is expected to sign within the week — they wouldn’t have had enough money left to bring in Peña.
Of course, Peña figures to be at least several years away from possibly contributing at the major league level, while Sasaki, 23, is expected to be a top-of-the-rotation starter this season.
The Mets have been linked to Peña since last year and gave him the largest signing bonus in franchise history, far surpassing the $2.85 million given to Venezuelan catcher Yovanny Rodriguez a year ago.
It was 19 degrees in the sun Wednesday morning. It was so cold you had to defrost your hair before you could brush it. It was so cold it called to mind something Frank Gifford said early on the afternoon of Dec. 31, 1967, a few hours before kickoff at the Ice Bowl at Lambeau Field.
PHILADELPHIA — The Knicks were missing their KAT, while the 76ers were without a much larger portion of their litter.
SALT LAKE CITY — Sam Carrick has stepped into the spotlight amid the Rangers’ push to turn their season around.
The Mets lost out on Roki Sasaki but ended up with what they hope is a pretty good consolation prize in 17-year-old shortstop Elian Peña from the Dominican Republic.
PHILADELPHIA — You can still debate, with compelling arguments on the sides of wise and ill-advised, about the trades for OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns.
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Karl-Anthony Towns might have made some sour New York sports fans a little angry on Wednesday night.
The Jets have interviewed 10 head-coaching candidates already, and there are another seven they have requested and are expected to interview.
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The Jets have cast a wide net in their coaching search, but one of the hottest candidates of this coaching cycle may be emerging as the favorite.
We are in the middle of searching season for the Jets, as they try to find their new general manager and head coach.
We might as well start talking about this now. As early as next Tuesday, it’s at least possible that Carlos Beltran will earn the 75 percent of the vote necessary to gain entrance to the Hall of Fame. And when that happens — if not now, then some year soon — it’s going to be a most interesting thing to watch how Mets fans react.
The Knicks hit the midway point of the 82-game season with the third-best record in the Eastern Conference and the fifth-best in the entire NBA.
The Jets didn’t play a game this past weekend. They, of course, don’t play games at this time of year, having established that pattern by missing the playoffs the past 14 seasons.
DENVER — This was not the kind of loss the Rangers have become accustomed to this season.
It is believed that former Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz died of a drug overdose, according to a Phoenix police report obtained by the Baltimore Banner.
