Right-hander Roki Sasaki has been officially posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network (X link) and Mark Feinsand of MLB.com (X link). That opens a 45-day window for Sasaki and his representatives to talk to MLB clubs, meaning he will need to have a deal in place by January 23 or else he will return to the Marines.
Since Sasaki is under 25 years old, having just turned 23, he is considered an amateur under MLB rules. As such, he must be signed as part of the international bonus pool system. The 2024 international signing period ends on December 15 and the 2025 period starts on January 15. All reporting has suggested that Sasaki will wait to sign until the new period starts up and each club gets a fresh pool of spending money, so he seems destined to sign somewhere between January 15 and 23rd, though the talks can now officially begin.
It seems to be a lock that Sasaki will be coming to the majors next year, the only question is who he will play for. Money won’t be the primary factor, as each club will be able to offer a roughly similar signing bonus. As laid out by Ben Badler of Baseball America, each club has a bonus pool in the $5-8MM range. Teams can trade for more pool money but can’t increase their initial allotment by more than 60%.
If money were Sasaki’s motivation, he would have waited another two years to make this move. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was posted after his 25th birthday and was able to secure a $325MM guarantee from the Dodgers, but Sasaki has insisted on making the move now because he presumably just wants to test his mettle at the world’s top level as soon as possible.
He also surely knows that he will eventually be rewarded as long as he keeps pitching well. Shohei Ohtani also came to the majors as an amateur and had to settle for a small bonus with the Angels, but he flourished and eventually got his big paycheck from the Dodgers once he accrued six years of big league service time.
Given those parameters, Sasaki will likely be deciding his new club based on other factors. It has been suggested by some observers that the Dodgers are a favorite, given that the franchise has had success in general but also especially with pitchers. It’s also possible that the presence of Ohtani and Yamamoto might be nice for Sasaki as he makes the move to a new country and new culture. Some have also suggested the Padres as a strong contender since Sasaki reportedly has a strong relationship with Yu Darvish and might prefer to be in a market away from Ohtani and Yamamoto, giving him a greater chance to step into a spotlight and parlay that into sponsorships opportunities while his direct earning power is relatively low. He may have other preferences based on geography or a team’s competitive outlook, though those can only be guessed.
No club can be officially ruled out, however, given the cheap sticker price and Sasaki’s quality as a pitcher. He has allowed only 2.10 earned runs per nine innings over his NPB career, striking out 32.7% of batters faced while only giving out walks 5.7% of the time. There are some slight workload concerns since Sasaki has had some injuries and never thrown 130 innings in a season, but any club would still love to take a chance on him for the small price of a few million dollars.
Whoever ultimately lands Sasaki, it could lead to domino effects that impact other clubs. MLB teams generally commit their bonus pools years in advance via verbal agreements. Players in countries like the Dominican Republic and Venezuela aren’t allowed to sign until they are 16 years old but they often have handshake deals worked out with clubs years in advance. Whichever club agrees to sign Sasaki, even for a bonus of just a few million, might have to renege on a few of those verbal agreements. That would be an awful situation for those players but could lead to them suddenly becoming available for other clubs. That could create further domino effects if some clubs then back out of their own verbal agreements in order to pivot to the newly available players.
At Baseball America, Badler recently took a look at the chaos that could ensue as the Sasaki situation plays out. That will have to wait, as it likely won’t be known for over a month which team Sasaki will choose.
Padres…..
Vermonster – Dodgers are the heavy favorites. They need a young cost controlled starter and how could he resist the opportunity to play with Ohtani and Yamamoto?
How about the opportunity to join the Giants and compete against them? Sounds a hell of a lot cooler.
@kirk
no it doesn’t, lmao.
As more and more players from other professional international leagues move to the U.S. should there be a limit on any one team’s ability to sign them? Geographical advantages should in my view be removed if monetary compensation is not an issue.Western teams seem to have an unfair advantage with some countries like Japan.
What about the East Coast’s advantage with countries in Europe?
I somewhat agree here. Baseball lives leaving all these ways a team can attack chips but the truth is a vortex has been created. There is pull now unlike any other.
Can do that from a good team in new york
Not realistic. Some teams have advantages to the Caribbean players just the same. Some of the central states have tax advantages where the player can keep more of their income because the state doesn’t charge income tax… things are not even, this isn’t a communistic enterprise.
How about the opportunity to join the Reds and shock the world? The Roki and Elly show we will call it. They both will end up in LA anyway.
And the DR…..see Soto for example.
Uh, plenty of international players have gone to Midwest or East coast. That’s ridiculous.
So your solution is to make baseball even more communist?
Nacb55 is a terrible user name but the comment gets an up vote. People need to knock off the “communism will solve all problems” mentality. It literally solves no problems. All it does is create more while taking personal freedom away.
reality has imbalance.
besides people watch LAD vs NYY world series
they dont watch TEX vs ARI
having underdogs and overdogs is life, and contributes to sports making sense. Or you could be like the NBA and force the knicks to move homegrown players to replace them with equivalents, for no legit reasons
Or all the Caribbean players begging to play in Florida.
Ohtani thought that joining a non-contender might be a good idea… Zero playoff games later, he joined the Dodgers.
Why put off the inevitable?
No- the cry babies are asking for equal ground. That equals communism. I want teams to actually try to be better- all teams have money. Teams have done damage to their own brands if they stop spending for players- I live in the Bay Area, the Oakland As were always sold out when they had strong teams and even when they had mediocre teams but when they stop paying all together the city lost interest and moved focus to basketball. Same goes for Pittsburgh they were sold out everywhere then penny pinched themselves into a downward spiral for attendance- they lost generations of fans due to trying to maximize profits.
Fever – “I don’t want to be in 3rd place as Japanese star / revenue from marketing of team. I want to be in first place.” AJ opens the door.
Yes, from all reports, Yu wants him there and will gladly allow him to be #1.
Long – In terms of marketing, LA has the bigger market and likely greater exposure with more regular season and postseason success.
I don’t know anything about him from a personal perspective, but I would think those factors are more important. How much in marketing revenue does Yu receive?
Besides, my understanding is Tatis as an extremely entertaining player owns the local market.
Yu is his mentor …how can you resist playing with his mentor in SD?
Judge – Well for one thing, Roki would be committing 6 years to whichever team he joins.
Yu has just 4 years left on his contract, at which point he would then be 42.
Dodgers.
Yankees!
Please?
Cubs please!
We need a power pitcher, top of the rotation type of guy and he fits the bill. That being said, I can see him signing with the Dodgers…sigh
You will get Christian Walker and you will like it. 😉
Thank you, sir! May I have another, sir!
Dont have to worry about uncle steve blowing everyone away i guess
Hopefully to the Pads, if not this could be one of the most abysmal off seasons in Padres history.
The amount of players leaving and holes on this roster are concerning.
…or Dodgers. One of the two for sure. I’d say the Dodgers, but his idol is Darvish.
Cubs just signed him in record time! Good job everyone (I wish)
I’m hoping the same, sounds like he’ll be signing right around Cubs Convention time…
That being said I wouldn’t be opposed to Hoyer trading for some INTL money here by flipping some prospects they probably won’t be playing anytime soon. Even if they miss on Sasaki with around 8 or 9 million they could make a killing on the South American International Market. They might actually get more out of it.
@unclemike1526. I can see teams doing that. I’m sure he already has a list of 10 teams. That he wants to talk to. You might be able to trade it for a mlb player or a decent prospect.
he’s not signing until January 15
Seattle
Next Dodger.
Sadly, I think this is unavoidable.
Mets go get him we don’t have a #1 or #2 yet maybe Sasaki and a trade for Crochet would help a lot and than put Peterson in the long relief role
yeah that’s a little too hopeful sorry
Senga is most definitely a #2 starter until he proves differently.
Besides his rookie season?
171 2/3 innings 2.99 Era, 211 K, 140+ ERA I mean that’s borderline Ace territory, so to call him a #2 is reasonable barring injury.
I’d call that an ace, personally.
I would too personally, but just wanted to be conservative to the fact that it’s a one year sample size.
Reyday: that’s fair, I hadn’t realized the sample size was just one year. We know he’s very talented, so the expectation should be to repeat those numbers.
I wanted to chime in is because I think we sometimes lose sight of what an ace is, because what the best of the best do that skews our perception. And to be fair, I think the numbers are right about where the ace status discussion begins, especially innings-wise for a pitcher heading into their prime years (or conversely, one that hasn’t been hampered by injury).
How quickly many dismiss the Mets. Why wouldn’t he want to pitch for the Mets. He can be at the top of a rotation with fellow Japanese star Senga. Play for the team who just signed the best player in Baseball. And play for an Owner who will make sure he gets his money through Media deals for his first few years in one of the biggest Media markets in the Country. An Owner who can also offer him the most money when he becomes a FA. Stearns and Cohen have been to Japan to see him pitch and meet him. I think he signs with either the Dodgers, Mets, or Yankees.
Soto is a great hitter but he is not the best player in baseball. I bet you didn’t even think that until last night.
Agree to disagree. Argument can be made for many players as best in baseball. I thought he was before he signed with the Mets and after. At his young age he’s only going to get better. If we didn’t get him I would be disappointed but would’ve understood if he resigned with the Yanks. The Mets with Cohen and Stearns have taken this franchise from the doldrums of the Wilpons to yearly excitement.
If not Soto this year it would’ve been Vlad Jr or Tucker next year. Knowing we will compete for the best FA’s in MLB year in and year out is what is great about being a Mets fan. We deserve it after suffering for years of the Coupons, I mean Wilpons!
soto has been the best hitter in baseball basically since he has come up. no amount of your salt will change that
Mets are a very obvious destination. People havent adjusted yet to yankees being number 2 and obviously the dodger fans suddenly think everything they believe is eternally true.
Ohtani is the best player in baseball history.
he will be the day people finally give up on ohtani as a pitcher. until then ohtani is worth more because he does both. Soto is best hitter in MLB, Acuna Harper Judge Ohtani Lindor Witt Jr are similarly valuable. Its not so clear cut as people want to pretend. But if I have 1 AB and need the line to move, Soto is the guy
I have never liked soto and itll take time for me to accept him, hopefully he grows up. But I have no doubt Soto was the best target of pretty much all FA’s ive ever seen except perhaps Arod
lol not even close. maybe by the end but i doubt it. the pitching career is nearing its end imo
Best hitter in baseball does not equal the best player in baseball. Defense is half of the game.
And no I’m not salty. Soto was never going to my team so I didn’t care where he signed.
MotownWings- He is one of the greatest hitters to ever play baseball. In an era where Pitching is more dominant than its ever been. Ever!
One can take a look at how OPS’s and BA have steadily dropped over the past decade. A great hitter with low chase rates and high OBA is more valuable than ever. Obviously!
Over the last couple seasons the median BA in MLB has gone down to about .240-.245 The median OPS last yr was .711 It was .706 in 2022.
Kinda makes Soto’s .989 OPS from last season and his career .421 OBP look amazing in this Pitching environment
Wow defense is nowhere close to half the game. Pitching is half with a small sliver of that belonging to defense behind the pitcher. Maybe 10% of the game and thats generous
Soto is not the best hitter in baseball… lol
of course there are multiple ways to define it. but as someone who has never liked him i have firmly believed it for years
Apparently someone forgot about Joe Orsulak
He’s a great hitter. No doubt about it. Unfortunately that and power are the only two tools he has.
Lol dude wants peterson in the least valuable spot for a pitcher
Why the hell would you put Peterson in the bullpen? That’s beyond silly.
We groomed him over half a decade and he finally starts looking to be putting it all together and you want to switch him up lmao.
2.9 ERA over 120+ innings and like a 130 ERA+. He’s a legit MLB starter so I dk what you’re thinking.
Didnt covid teach you how dumb people are?
I think the Mets spent their international pool money already. Am I wrong on that? Probably.
article says it renews in january… do people read the articles or just go to the comments to express ignorance?
@Ray
depends on whether you specifically mean, “spent” in the most traditional sense in that they’ve already signed the contracts or “promised” (on an unofficial handshake deal).
my guess is the latter would have them “agreed to terms” but not signed officially.
the dominos, as the article calls them, are going to be really interesting. and the possible effect in a few years of both Latin American prospects going to different teams than were originally informally agreed upon and also the downstream effect on bridges burnt by broken pinky promises.
yea its an interesting concept but the poor teams are likely going to find that being poor isn’t really the issue here but attracting the guy. NY and CA maybe a couple other locations are by far the most likely and its not really the money issue
I was under the impression that the Mets already had started to spend the 2025 money, but that’s incorrect.
They have $5 M earmarked for one of the top Int’l Prospects but it isn’t guaranteed until Jan 15th. So they can pull it back to sign Sasaki. Once again I don’t think the Int’l money means as much as the Media, endorsement, commercials, etc. money that he can make. Cohen and his ties to those people can get him multi Millions in non MLB revenue. Problem is so can the Dodgers and Yankees. Which is why I think he ends up with one of those teams. San Diego isn’t a big Media Market without an Owner like the other 3 teams.
My guess is its against the rules for cohen to overtly land him side deals to enchance the contract
Interestingly on twitter they are saying Cohens jet is on flight logs to travel to Japan next week.
for what. as i understand it sasaki and his team really have no say in the matter?
i think i’m thinking of the old way of posting…?
I’m ready for international bonus money to get exchanged. That’s going to be a big sign on what team is leading the race.
SD and LA are leading the race
Dodgers can potentially roll out five #1s with Sasaki, Yamamoto, Otani, Snell and Glasnow.
And back them up with Kershaw, Gonsolin and May…
Wow you all just named 8 very likely IL members.
Yeah very likely IL but Dodgers are least have the depth to back it up. Every team has had to put starters on the IL in recent years. Think the Mariners are only team who have had the luck of not having their starters injured.
100% the Dodgers depth in starting pitching is deeper by a lot then anyone else.
So is everybody that pitches on anyteam.
implication being its dangerous to spend too much on a rotation
Many ligaments have died any many more to come to make that rotation…
So why would he sign there to be the #4 or #5 SP in the Rotation. 7th or 8th biggest star on the team. 3rd biggest Japanese star on the team. Unless he likes being in the background those are reasons he may not sign there. Dodgers are a front runner for him but they’re not a lock. We’ll learn a lot about him over these next few weeks as he meets with teams.
Where you start and where you finish is based on your own performance! If you pitch like a number 7 and not a number 1 then you’re a number 7! If you pitch like a number 1 then you move yourself up. Ask Kershaw.
Angels!!!!!
A’s. lol
Unfortunately, posted now greatly benefits the Dodgers. If he holds out until January 15 he goes on the 2025 international bonus pool and a lot of teams can give him more money.
Right now though until January 15 I think the Dodgers have the most money remaining on the 24 books
@braves25. He’s going to sign in January. All this does is allow him to legally talk to teams.
He’s posted and has 45 days. Unless dodgers go on a flurry of trades to acquire ifa money January 15th falls within the 45 day window. It’ll be about 35 days till January 15 leaving about 10 days in the signing period. Give or take.
One would think if MONEY was the motivating factor, Sasaki might have waited and shot for 1/3 of a billion dollars in two years, opposed to nickel and diming over 5 or 7 million…
No chance he signs before Jan 15th, the Dodgers only have couch coins to give him in ’24 monies. He’ll wait until everybody gets their ’25 pools. Every team will have *similar* money, so ultimately he’ll sign wherever he wants to play.
How so ? Where can you find who has the most international money left ?
And @ MLBTR, why isn’t that info in any of your articles on this guy ?!?
apnews.com/sports/mlb-2024-remaining-international…
He’s not signing for 6YRS at $2.5MM.
He’ll wait 5 weeks and get 5-8MM more.
Padres have $6.1MM and the Dodgers have $5.1MM to spend in ’25, but they may trade for 25% more.
@gwynning. Is it only 25%. thought it was 75%
Thx Gwynn! Yeah no chance he signs this year !
Great news about the padres !!! Please anyone but dodgers !
And as for my reds, I hope they are scouting and recruiting hard the top padre and dodger commits for 25 lol. Bc a lot of them will be searching for a new team
Most likely not. However, he could put his signing bonus in his pocket right now for holiday shopping, while lining up a few endorsement deals this month as well…
@big whiffa. You could pull it up just check 2025 mlb international bonus money . If you have 6 million you can add up to 75% of that number. The contract is a standard minor league deal it’s set. You can play with the bonus money a little, but it’s probably going to come down to a executive chef, private plane. Ohtani had a list of demands that had to be met. I’m sure sasaki also wants a guaranteed rotation spot.
It’s 60%. It did used to be 75%, but there was step down language in the CBA. Currently it’s 60%.
Also he cannot be offered any of those perks. That used to be allowed, now its “He gets the bonus money and signs a Uniform Player Contract”
If he waited two years he could have had anything he wanted.
Its kind of refreshing to see a guy leave hundreds of millions on the table because he wants to compete, and competition means more to him than the money. All the big market teams are in play, but don’t sleep on Baltimore. A young, competitive team, made up of guys on a similar trajectory as him, that needs his services and can chase rings with him for years.
@roguesaw2. Got it. Yeah I’ve seen both numbers thrown out. Still think he going to ask for the max bonus for whatever team he selects.
Of course, it would be foolish not to. But huge drop from 300MM+ to 8ish. Just screams “i want to win at the highest level, now!” I think its great.
When he speaks with teams a lot of what they discuss will be projected endorsement earnings in different markets and how teams will help Roki capitalize on that. If teams can make that make sense then what he earns in salary will become secondary.
I want the Phillies involved here
They’re going to try, but generally speaking, Philadelphia doesn’t really have much appeal to Japanese players.
Ironically, the Phillies won the World Series the last time they had a Japanese player on the roster.
What is stopping a team from signing him and then giving him a contract extension immediately?
@metsin4. You can’t you have wait til arb years or that’s how it was for ohtani. That’s why he’s going to require a nice bonus somewhere from 8-12 million. Depending on the tiers.
Chourio signed an extension before he made it to the MLB.
@metsin4.i think there’s different rules for Japanese players, but ohtani was also the only example.
I think the Angels just screwed up not locking him up long term.
@metsin4. Could be. Like I said he’s the only example, but the reason why he’s coming early is for service time, and he hits free agency at a decent age. Plus he will get pay increases on his arb years.
@mets: as far as i know, it’s a bit of a nebulous grey area, but MLB reserves the right to nix any extension that is presumed to be an attempt to circumvent the international draft pool system. If MLB thinks you’re trying to cheat the system, they will not allow it. But i think that’s as official as it actually gets in this context.
Perfect fit for what the Cardinals are wanting!!However —— In John’s Mozeliak’s final season of “Destruction of the Cardinals”, this will never happen while Mozeliak is employed by the Cards!!!
He’s a perfect fit for all 30 teams. He can pick his spot.
I could expect him, but I wish…
If he wants to play on easy mode go with the Dodgers but if he wants to play on very hard mode sign with the Rockies
That’s not hard mode, that’s impossible mode!
It’s a near guarantee that he’s already picked his team. There isn’t much negotiating going on
Really? Where did you obtain this information? Near guarantee based on what? I like how you didn’t name any team with your guarantee so you can tell yourself you were right no matter who he joins.
The thinking is that no team has an order of magnitude advantage with international bonus pool money. If anything, the revenue sharing teams have an advantage, so it’s obviously not about money. He’d get more staying in Japan for the next couple years. It’s more about where he wants to play and getting the MLB experience. If he’s willing to go to a low payroll team with a good reputation for developing pitchers, the Rays may be his choice. The Guardians could fit that description too. For the bigger $ clubs, if he’s looking for a Japanese presence, the Dodgers and the Mets come to mind first.
@phenomenalajs. Yeah it’s not a advantage, but let’s say he picks Cleveland he most likely will say cap out the bonus money, and I’ll sign. Just a example, but whoever he picks will cap out the bonus.
Th thing no one is talking about is, whatever team he picks they will have him for 6 years. Like Ohtani, your stuck if this team is not good! Its a waste on your arm(pitcher)for those years!
I’d sell my soul and buy a jersey every year if he signed with the Giants but we all know he’s going to the Dodgers
Cmon Jed. Get it done.
This is the move Hoyer needs to get done. We need a power pitcher, and he’s got all the makings to be it.
Feel like it’s Dodgers or Padres but let’s be real every single team is gonna throw their hat in the ring
Maybe the Mariners will sign him and trade Castillo? Castillo is worth Bellinger and Hoerner at least. Though hesitant, I might be willing to throw in Ryan Bliss as well. As far as trade value goes, that’s a pretty good move for both the Mariners and the Cubs.
Advanced thinking. I like it. Traded pitching for some big bats. They’d still have a killer rotation.
Sounds like this might be an easy choice in the Dodgers or Padres..anything outside those 2 might be overthinking it
It would be cool if he signs with a team no one expects. Things are getting ugly for the non-big markets. My team is very guilty of all the big spending, and I’ve been lucky, but we need some excitement in the game. Spread the love.
It would at least be cool if the reds or pirates were being considered
The A’s will sign him – perfect fit for the up and coming team
Why not the Seattle Mariners? Pitchers ballpark. Keep their pitchers healthy and do a nice job of maximizing their potential….One of the closer cities to Japan.
That’s the darkhorse I’m pulling for, but Seattle has a ton of pitching.
Sign Sasaki then trade A) Castillo or B) Miller/Woo for some bats… I like it.
Yup. I love it.
At that point they could even dangle Gilbert or Kirby and potentially get a really good player in return. I wouldn’t trade either of them for lesser trade value of course but adding another starter would make that route to adding a good hitter easier to swallow.
If he wants to play half his games in a minor league stadium, Rays have the funds available!
Mariners…Closest to Tokyo they have one of the longest history of signing japanese players and their pitching lab is one of the best in MLB…
Dodgers. They’ve got the infrastructure for smoothly welcoming Japanese players in place.
I think he only needs a week to decide since money is not really a factor here (although I’ll need someone to tell me how signing bonuses work and if they are in play for international amateur players entering the league). We can boil it down to 5-6 teams.
Dodgers, Padres, Giants, Cubs, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees. They all have money, Japanese presence (except the Giants), and allure for Japanese players. I’d love to see him go elsewhere, but Japan as a country is easily influenced by the big boys in the yard (Dodgers/Yankees/Red Sox) and that trickles down to players when they start baseball in junior high school.
Red Sox will never get him
Let hom be face of franchise for Sacramento, las vegas A’s. Stay in west coast region. Add to an up and coming team. Nice to dream lol
‘…It has been suggested by some observers that the Dodgers are a favorite, given that the franchise has had success in general but also especially with pitchers..”
The Dodgers (and Rays) blow through arms like George Burns blew through cigars and birthday candles.
Congrats Dodgers, you earned it !
West coast pop. I’ll be surprised otherwise, but sometimes these guys have dreams of playing for certain teams. Not everyone is a LAD guy.
True, but sasaki was growing up as reported.
Huh?
Buster Posey: we need a miracle.
Red Sox, don’t even waste your time
Roki def gonna be dodger
BUT
FA at age 29
Then he’ll join mets with soto who will have 9 yr left on contract
I would love for LAD to sign him, but his velocity being down this past season has me worried that it’s just a matter of time before he needs Tommy John.
Perfect timing to be signed first day of 2025 signing period
LAD, SF, SD. Don’t see much chance he makes it past the California ports.
All we have is reports of his shyness, but Asian culture is so much more relevant on the West Coast than the Midwest while the potentially callous media and fans of BOS or the NY teams seems like a stretch for a young guy without a reportedly strong personality.
@Mynameisnoname I’ve also heard he is a bit quiet and measured, and that he’s very intelligent with an interesting life-path. He’s a survivor of the 2011 Tohoku tsunami where he lost his home and many family members (incl. his fatherand grandparents). This guy has a unique perspective on life and $ definitely isn’t his primary focus.
Interesting backstory. Maybe the reports have misconstrued his quiet fortitude for an inability to handle the bright lights.
I guess we’ll find out if his intelligent, meek nature is leans more anxious Zack Grienke or bulldog Mike Mussina.
so he is soft and wants to go to lala land to the WS winner? good riddance then lol
That would be the least exciting landing spot for sure.
With that level of arm talent though, I’d welcome the gamble between SSRI shy or quiet assassin.
I will sell what’s left of my soul if he signs with my beloved Friars
OK Roki, we’ve collected one half-season Balboa Park ticket, one barely used surfboard, 10 VIP passes to Cheetahs, a used Lexus and one sorta half-ish soul from Fins to bring it home… deal?
I can offer the rest of Finley’s soul, which I won in a 1996 poker game in Solana Beach, to complete the soul-deal
Boom train! Sounds solid to me
I’m glad I lost it fair and square. It was that, or sell it for $5 to Milhouse Van Houten
Most of us know he’s going to the Dodgers right? lol
Go to the dodgers 100% guarantee pitcher injury rate
yankees please
LA Dodger blue bound
Welcome to the Los Angeles Dodgers young man!
what better choice than to join senga and the Mets to take down the two superstars yammamoto and ohtani. best value for him
Dodgers, Padres, Mets or Yankees. I think he goes to the West Coast, but if he comes East it doesn’t hurt that the Mets already have Senga, just signed Soto, and have the wealthiest owner when it comes time to be a free agent..
Mariners are a great fit… They should be in a similar tier as the Dodgers and Padres. Yu Darvish is so old and will be retired in Japan before Sasaki hits his prime, that Seattle might be the best fit if he wants to go it alone and be part of a great young pitching staff.
Why go it alone? When we left home for college most of us left with a buddy. You got 2 former teammates in LA and another in SD. This is why.I believe those 2 teams are favorites.
I wish the Os had a shot but it looks like SD is the obvious destination
Hoping against hope that he goes to one of the smaller market Central teams just to make things more interesting
He’s signing with the Mariners, who go with a 6-man staff until May to keep arms healthy.
Let’s go Padres. Please sign him!
can’t sasaki just identify as an american and cross the border to get a full deal? no borders, right?
C’mon Sasaki, don’t you want to play in Chicago w Seiya and Shota?! Since Cubs refuse to swim in the deep end of the FA pool, this would be a fantastic get for them… and 29 other teams, ha
Roki’s dogs name is Dodger. He’s giving up alota initial money to come here to US. He’s had a dream n it is playing for LA. Ppl getn mad cause he may have strong preference. Why wouldn’t someone want to play for Dodgers ? They throw$ around like it’s nothing, been winning for over decade straight, n coming off a fresh WS victory. Plus weather is bitchin. Oh yea n SoCal has most beautiful women on planet. Haters gonna hate.
right up the braves ally for cheap team friendly contract of 5-6million international money