Mets Reportedly Sign No. 2 International FA After SS Backs Out of Yankees Contract

The New York Mets have city bragging rights, at least when it comes to one of the highest-regarded international prospects available in the upcoming international signing period.

Baseball insider Francys Romero reported Thursday that shortstop Wandy Asigen, who is from the Dominican Republic, opted out of his contract with the New York Yankees so he can sign with the Mets when the signing period opens on Jan. 15.

His deal with the National League East team will be for approximately $3.8 million.

Asigen checks in as the No. 2 overall player in MLB.com's international prospect rankings, which highlighted the 16-year-old's overall athleticism, power potential at the plate and "quick-twitch" skill set that projects well to the major league level.

"A standout performer during game action despite consistently playing against some of the Dominican's top talent from a young age, Asigen has been heralded as having arguably the most advanced offensive profile among his class," the scouting report said.

It also praised his speed and ability to cover so much ground defensively at shortstop.

Ben Badler of Baseball America noted this will mark two consecutive years that New York adds "one of the premier players in the Dominican Republic" after signing shortstop Elian Peña in 2025.

It will be years before Asigen is expected to contribute at the major league level, and the Mets' overall organizational depth chart at shortstop could look quite different when that time arrives.

But they surely took some pride in beating out the Yankees of all teams for such a highly regarded player.