The Mets are gearing up to make a major splash in the international market this January. Are you thinking of Roki Sasaki too? Nope, it looks like their focus is on a 16-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic named Elian Peña. Reports are circulating that the team plans to sign Peña to a $5 million deal. You would think that $5 million isn’t massive, but by their standards it is.

It will be the largest bonus they’ve ever handed out to an international prospect. With about $6.2 million in their bonus pool, the Mets are clearly betting big on the young infielder. So, what has the Mets’ front office so excited about Peña? Well, it’s his bat, plain and simple. Scouts rave about his smooth, compact left-handed swing that stays through the hitting zone for a long time, helping him square up pitches with ease.

Elian Peña came to New York and became the most expensive international ‘amateur’ player

A “line-drive bat” that generates hard contact across the strike zone? Yeah, that’s exactly the kind of offensive weapon any team dreams of. Add to that a “thick frame,” and Peña is already being compared to big-league sluggers like Rafael Devers of the Red Sox. Some scouts believe his bat will outshine any potential defensive limitations—though there’s still hope he could stick at shortstop. Even if he eventually shifts to third base, Peña’s offensive upside would make him a major threat in the middle of the lineup. What sets Peña apart, though, isn’t just his physical tools. His approach at the plate is incredibly advanced for his age.

If the Mets pull this off, it’ll be another significant step in their transformation as a team that is increasingly aggressive in tapping into the international market. Signing Peña to a deal of this size signals a shift in the franchise’s philosophy, moving away from the old-school approach of relying solely on the draft and looking more toward cultivating global talent. After last year’s signing of catcher Yovanny Rodriguez for $2.85 million—the most ever by the Mets—this move would solidify New York’s commitment to building a powerhouse farm system with talent from all corners of the world.

The Mets won’t be adding a certain superstar pitcher to their rotation anytime soon

Roki Sasaki, the electrifying Japanese ace, is reportedly not heading to New York. While the Mets could certainly use him to help shore up their pitching staff, it’s the Yankees who seem to have missed out on him as well. Despite the Mets posting a similar ERA (3.91) to the Yankees last season, the rotation still carries some big question marks. Losing Luis Severino to the A’s was a tough blow, and with Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes dealing with their uncertainties, the pressure is on.

But hey, the Mets did make a huge move by bringing back Sean Manaea, who re-signed with the team for a cool three-year, $75 million contract. Manaea, who’s coming off a solid 2024 campaign with 12 wins and a career-high 181 2/3 innings, seems thrilled to be back in Queens, and for good reason. Not only is his pitching a huge boost to the staff, but the Mets organization’s off-field support is a win, too.

It’s that kind of attention to detail that makes a team like the Mets feel like the perfect fit, both on and off the field. But while the Mets might not be landing Sasaki, there’s still plenty of time for them to keep making moves as spring training looms. The big question on the horizon? Will Pete Alonso get a shiny new contract to keep him in New York for the long haul? Mets fans are hoping that’s the next big splash on the horizon.