Roki Sasaki, the hard-throwing right-handed pitcher from Japan, is set to enter the Major League Baseball free agency market starting Tuesday, with the window closing at 5 p.m. ET on January 23.
On November 9, the Chiba Lotte Marines announced their decision to make the 23-year-old Sasaki available for MLB teams, though they waited until just days before the posting period ended to finalize this move.
Due to his age, Sasaki is classified as an international amateur by MLB regulations, meaning he will be limited to a minor league contract that falls under the international signing bonus pools typically reserved for younger Latin American players. The current signing period concludes on Sunday, while the next one will commence on January 15, with team pools ranging from $7,555,500 to $5,146,200.
Beginning January 15, teams can trade for additional signing bonus pool allotments in increments of $250,000, but they can only add up to 60% of their initial pool amount.
Chiba will benefit from a posting fee from the MLB team that signs Sasaki, amounting to 25% of the player’s signing bonus.
When Shohei Ohtani joined the Los Angeles Angels in December 2016 at the same age, he secured a signing bonus of $2,315,000. Ohtani’s subsequent contracts included salaries of $545,000, $650,000, and $259,259 during his first three seasons, followed by earnings of $3 million, $5.5 million, and $30 million during his arbitration years. He later signed a historic 10-year contract worth $700 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of the 2024 season.
Sasaki, represented by Joel Wolfe from Wasserman Media Group, is anticipated to be one of the most coveted pitchers in the upcoming market. In the recently concluded season, he posted a record of 10-5 with a 2.35 ERA across 18 games, achieving 129 strikeouts in 111 innings.
Sasaki played a pivotal role in Japan’s triumph at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. His fastball, clocked at an impressive 102.5 mph, complements a career record of 29-15 and a 2.10 ERA over four seasons with the Marines, which were marred by injuries. Notably, he pitched a perfect game against the Orix Buffaloes in April 2022, striking out 13 consecutive batters and finishing with a total of 19 strikeouts.
Expressing gratitude, Sasaki stated, “Since I joined the team, they have listened to my thoughts about my future MLB challenge, and I am very thankful for their support in allowing me to post.” This comment was shared in a statement from the Marines on the social platform X.
He further reflected on his journey, saying, “There were many challenges during my five years with the Marines, but I focused solely on baseball, supported by my teammates, staff, front office, and fans. I aim to rise from my minor contract to become the best player in the world, living up to the expectations of everyone who has supported me.”
As the international signing period approaches, teams like the Athletics, Cincinnati, Detroit, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Seattle, and Tampa Bay each have $7,555,500 available to pursue Sasaki.
Meanwhile, the Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals possess $5,646,200, while the Dodgers and San Francisco Giants have $5,146,200 at their disposal.
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