The New York Mets missed on out Japanese ace Roki Sasaki in free agency, but David Stearns pivoted nicely, using the team's international bonus pool money to land a potential star hitter.

The Mets have been in a verbal agreement to sign the No. 2 international prospect Elian Peña out of the Dominican Republic — Sasaki is No. 1. With their international bonus pool money, $6,261,600, according to Baseball America, set to replenish Wednesday, they’ll have enough to officially sign Peña.

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.

Elian Peña has now signed for the largest signing bonus of any Latin American player in this international signing class.

The Mets have signed a promising Dominican infielder, considered the second-best international free agent, just behind Japan's Roki Sasaki.