The Rays have traded minor league right-hander to the Mets in exchange for international bonus pool money, though the exact amount hasn’t been disclosed. According to Will Sammon of The Athletic (via X), this exchange involves the 2024 bonus pool.
In MLB’s international bonus pool system, teams have a hard cap on spending for international amateurs each year. Typically, larger-market teams have smaller pools, while smaller-market teams receive larger ones. Teams that don’t qualify for revenue sharing may see their pool reduced if they sign players who rejected qualifying offers. However, teams can increase their pool by up to 60% through trades.
International bonus pool money is often used to sign young prospects, primarily from countries like the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. This winter, though, a high-profile player in focus is Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki.
Since Sasaki, who recently turned 23, will be posted before his 25th birthday, he qualifies as an amateur and must be signed under the international bonus system. However, this trade is unrelated to Sasaki, as reports indicate he will be part of the 2025 international signing period. His posting has not yet occurred.
Speculatively, the Mets may have held onto their 2024 pool money initially, awaiting clarity on Sasaki’s availability. However, with the 2024 international spending period ending on December 15 and the 2025 period starting on January 15, the Mets appear to have decided to move their unused pool space in favor of acquiring Harney. On the other hand, the Rays likely have plans for a last-minute international signing and considered the trade for additional pool space worthwhile.
Harney, 26, was an eighth-round pick by the Rays in the 2022 draft. Primarily a reliever with some starts, he has pitched 124 2/3 innings in the minors, posting a 3.90 ERA, a 24% strikeout rate, and an 8.5% walk rate. He has yet to reach Triple-A.
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