The Seattle Mariners have lined up one of the top prizes of the 2027 international class. Dominican shortstop Mairon De La Rosa, widely rated the best teenage hitter in the class, is expected to sign with Seattle for about $3.8 million when the next signing period opens on January 15, 2027. He landed there less than a day after walking away from a reported $4.3 million agreement with the New York Yankees.
Who Is Mairon De La Rosa?
De La Rosa is a switch-hitting shortstop from the Dominican Republic. His exact age has not been officially confirmed, but Sports Illustrated reports he is believed to be 15 or 16. The Yakima Herald-Republic reports he is generally regarded as the No. 1 prospect in the 2027 international class. Dominican infielder Mairon De La Rosa is expected to sign with the Seattle Mariners for around $3.8M when a new international period opens Jan. 15, 2027, per source. A switch-hitter and top prospect, he recently returned to the market after a prior deal with the Yankees. Scouting reports describe plus-plus speed, immense raw power potential, and a quick, balanced right-handed swing. MLB insider Francys Romero reported the Seattle agreement, as noted by “The Sporting News,” which noted that a $3.8 million bonus would be one of the largest in the class if it holds. Some perspective helps: every international amateur is a projection, and De La Rosa will need years in the minors after he signs, as none of his tools have been tested against professional pitching yet. 
How the Yankees Lost Him
International signings run on early, informal commitments. As The Sporting News noted, these deals technically aren’t supposed to be agreed upon ahead of time, but nearly every top prospect does it anyway. That makes those handshake deals fragile. De La Rosa and the Yankees split on a Saturday in January 2026, and by Sunday he had a deal with Seattle. According to Heavy, the Yankees parted ways with longtime international director Donny Rowland earlier in the offseason, and several prospects have since backed out of their deals. Yanks Go Yard reported that New York also lost infielder Leonardo Feliz and Venezuelan shortstop Josneybert Vera in the same stretch. De La Rosa accepted about $500,000 less than his Yankees number (a reported $4.3 million versus $3.8 million). International market reporter Wilber Sánchez said his representatives “chose to move forward with Seattle” despite higher offers. When a top prospect takes less money, it usually says something about the relationship and the development plan, not just the bonus.
Seattle’s International Pipeline
The Mariners have a strong recent track record in Latin America. The best example is Julio Rodríguez, a Dominican signing who became the 2022 American League Rookie of the Year and the face of the franchise. De La Rosa is not Seattle’s only big bet on the 2027 class. The Mariners also have a reported $4 million verbal agreement with Eudi Yuten, another switch-hitting Dominican shortstop. Pairing two premium middle-infield bats in one class is an aggressive play. The timing also fits a farm system meant to back up a contending big-league club. Seattle won the AL West in 2025, its first division title in 24 years. 
What Happens Before January 15, 2027
Nothing becomes official until the signing period opens on January 15, 2027. Sports Illustrated also reports that the deal is pending MLB approval. Until then, Seattle has to keep the relationship strong. De La Rosa’s split with New York showed how quickly these agreements can fall apart. There is also a bigger unknown. The Yankees blog Yanks Go Yard has speculated that an international draft could arrive in the next labor deal, which would change how future signings work. For now, the Mariners are in line to land the top hitter in the class, and the Yankees are left to rebuild their international operation.
