We’ve reached mid-January, signaling the start of a new international free agent (IFA) signing period. The Yankees often turn to international free agency to target top prospects, as they typically draft near the bottom of the MLB Draft and don’t have access to the top domestic talent. The 2025 IFA period begins today and runs through December 15, 2025.
The rules surrounding IFA bonus pools are complex, with teams facing deductions for exceeding the competitive balance tax or signing free agents who received qualifying offers, while teams receiving revenue sharing benefits get additional pool money. Teams can also trade portions of their pool money.
As the signing period opens, the Yankees have $6,261,000 in IFA funds available. Though the official period has just started, many teams have been in discussions with international prospects for months, and some handshake agreements are likely already in place. One potential complication is the situation with Roki Sasaki, as the team that signs him could potentially back out of previously made deals with other international players. However, this won’t affect the Yankees, as they were eliminated from the running for Sasaki earlier this week.
Last year, the Yankees signed Francisco Vilorio on the first day of the IFA period, giving the then-17-year-old outfielder $1.7 million. They also awarded significant bonuses to infielder Richard Matic and shortstop Dexter Peralta. Who will the Yankees sign this time? Stay tuned, as we’ll be updating this tracker with every prospect they bring on board.
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