The New York Mets, like many other teams, made a run at Japanese superstar Rōki Sasaki. However, as his deadline to sign approaches, teams are being ruled out and the Mets have seemingly lost the sweepstakes.

The New York Mets lost out on Roki Sasaki but now plan to pivot and sign a player who could be a long-term shortstop.

While the New York Mets won’t be signing Japanese ace Roki Sasaki, this week they use all of the money that might have gone to him on the player baseball scouts believe is the second-best international prospect right now.

The Yankees signed former Mets first baseman Dom Smith to a minor-league contract, according to YES Network. Smith, 29, hit .233 with six home runs and a .691 OPS combined for the Reds and Red Sox in 2024.

Roki Sasaki appears ready to announce the MLB team he will sign with in the near future. The Japanese star reportedly told the Mets and Yankees it will not be with them.

The New York Mets were ruled out of the Rōki Sasaki sweepstakes, but there are plenty of other elite international prospects. The signed Elian Peña to a record-breaking deal.

The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes are rounding third base. The Japanese phenom has reportedly narrowed down his list of teams to three -- the Dodgers, Padres and Blue Jays, according to an ESPN report -- and will be making his decision in the coming days,

Roki Sasaki's window to sign with a major league team opens Wednesday, but the coveted Japanese right-hander has already closed the door on a few clubs, including the New York Yankees, per multiple media reports.

On the first day of MLB's international signing period, the New York Mets agreed to deals with 15 players. The Mets announced the deals on

The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes are winding down, with finalists emerging and teams being informed that they're out of the running.