The international signing period for MLB kicked off on Wednesday, and while some teams have already unveiled their full slate of signees, the Phillies are taking a different approach. Instead, they’ve opted to make a strategic trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers to shake up their international bonus pool strategy.
On Friday night, the Phillies announced they had acquired 22-year-old minor league outfielder Dylan Campbell from the Dodgers in exchange for a portion of their international bonus pool money. This trade provides the Dodgers with extra financial flexibility after securing highly sought-after Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki.
Campbell, a fourth-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, spent the 2024 season with the High-A Great Lakes Loons. The outfielder showed promise, posting a .251 batting average, 10 home runs, and 53 RBIs across 493 plate appearances.
Before the trade, the Phillies had $6.2616 million available to spend on amateur international free agents this signing period. Eligible players for this year include those born between September 1, 2007, and August 31, 2008, or older. Sasaki, despite his posting by the Chiba Lotte Marines, qualifies as an international free agent due to his limited NPB service time. Sasaki’s deal with the Dodgers reportedly totals $6.5 million.
Meanwhile, the Phillies are reportedly set to ink deals with shortstop Nieves Izaguirre and 15 other players, according to Baseball America’s international signings tracker. For context, the Dodgers’ 2025-26 signing pool allocation stands at $5.1462 million, with MLB rules allowing teams to acquire an additional 60% of their original bonus pool allocation.
This trade highlights the Phillies’ calculated approach to talent acquisition, adding a promising young player while leveraging their financial resources in the international market.
