The Dodgers meeting with Japanese star RHP Rōki Sasaki is generating significant excitement in the baseball community.
As reported by ESPN, the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and Toronto Blue Jays are the final contenders for Sasaki’s talent. His representatives have informed the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, and Texas Rangers that the young pitching sensation will not be joining their ranks, according to multiple sources including the San Francisco Chronicle and the Dallas Morning News.
The New York Mets are also not seen as a potential landing spot for Sasaki, as noted by SNY. The Chicago Cubs, while in the mix, have also met with the promising pitcher.
On Tuesday, the Dodgers are set to host Sasaki, with FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reporting that some of Los Angeles’ star players will be present during this pivotal meeting.
Before the Dodgers’ meeting, the Padres had their opportunity to impress Sasaki over the weekend, while the Blue Jays hosted him the previous week. According to reports, all three teams initially met with Sasaki and his representatives at Wasserman’s office in December.
The Dodgers have engaged with Sasaki at least once during this recruitment process. General manager Brandon Gomes expressed optimism about securing a second meeting with Sasaki as of January 7.
Considered front-runners throughout the offseason, the Dodgers, alongside the Padres, have reportedly encouraged other international prospects to consider reclassifying to join their team as part of the international class of 2026. Sasaki is expected to command a significant portion of the international bonus pool money for whichever team he ultimately signs with.
Due to his age and experience in Japan, Sasaki qualifies as an international amateur, which limits him to a minor league contract governed by international signing bonus pools, ranging from $7,555,500 to $5,146,200. Starting Wednesday, teams can engage in trades to boost their signing bonus allotment by as much as 60% from their original figures.
Sasaki was posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines on December 9, initiating a 45-day window for him to finalize an MLB contract. He must decide on his future in Major League Baseball by January 23.
This offseason, the Dodgers have already made strides to strengthen their rotation by signing Blake Snell to a six-year contract. Although they lost Walker Buehler to free agency, they anticipate the return of Shohei Ohtani in 2025 and expect Clayton Kershaw to make a comeback during the season.
If Los Angeles secures Sasaki, they could potentially form one of the most impressive pitching rotations seen in recent years. Sasaki boasts a fastball that exceeds 100 mph, and last season he recorded a 10-5 record with a 2.35 ERA over 18 games, striking out 129 batters in 111 innings despite dealing with shoulder inflammation. His career record stands at 29-15 with a 2.10 ERA across four seasons with the Marines, which have been marred by injuries.
On the other hand, the Padres have yet to make significant moves this offseason. Bringing Sasaki into their rotation would enhance their standing, complementing pitchers like Dylan Cease, Joe Musgrove, Michael King, and Yu Darvish.
The Blue Jays remain active in the market for high-profile free agents, although they have missed out on several key players. They have secured reliever Jeff Hoffman and traded for standout second baseman Andrés Giménez this offseason.
As for teams now out of contention for Sasaki, the Yankees have already acquired another prominent pitcher, signing Max Fried to a seven-year, $218 million contract in December. The Mets have re-signed Sean Manaea and added Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes to enhance their pitching lineup. The Giants acquired Justin Verlander earlier in January after losing Blake Snell, while the Rangers re-signed Nathan Eovaldi in December.
