Dave Roberts Believes Dodgers’ Elevated Brand in Japan Could Lure Roki Sasaki to LA
If Nippon Professional Baseball star Roki Sasaki leaves Japan for Major League Baseball this offseason, would he sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers?
Sasaki, who helped Team Japan win gold at the World Baseball Classic in 2023, is one of the most sought after international prospects. The right-hander has drawn the attention of MLB thanks to his phenomenal fastball, which has reached 102.5 mph.
The Dodgers potentially could have an advantage in luring Sasaki thanks to the popularity of the team in Japan. The Dodgers have two of the biggest Japanese superstars on their team in Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, helping the team’s popularity in Japan. This popularity has especially shown in the 2024 MLB postseason, with the Dodgers drawing millions of viewers from Japan despite the time zone difference.
Read more: Shohei Ohtani Acknowledges Fans in Japan Watching Dodgers Postseason
The Dodgers are also set to play in Japan next season, with the team scheduled to take on the Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome to open the season.
Earlier this week, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was asked if he believes the Dodgers’ brand in Japan will give them an advantage in signing Sasaki.
“I hope so. Absolutely,” Roberts said. “We’re thinking alike now. Good for you.”
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale told Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain in September that the Dodgers should have an advantage in bringing in Sasaki.
“Even though he’s kind of a country kid from the farm, I think having Ohtani there, Yamamoto there would make him comfortable, say ‘you know what? I’d rather go where I have some friends,'” Nightengale said.
Nightengale added: “I think all 30 teams will be on him, like Ohtani. … All the teams on the West Coast have an advantage because it’s a lot closer to home. You’re not adding another 4-5 hour trip. … Particularly having Ohtani and Yamamoto on the team can help (the Dodgers) out.”
The lone concern for the Dodgers could be Sasaki’s injury history. Sasaki missed time during the 2024 season because of an arm injury, and the Dodgers already have a rotation susceptible to injuries. The injury risk might not scare the Dodgers away from signing Sasaki — they did trade for and extend Tyler Glasnow last December — but the Dodgers will have to be weary of managing him well.
Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
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Tag team Sasaki with Glasnow, 4-5 innings each. Keep 6-8 starters on the team (one can be Ohtani, classified as DH rather than pitcher).
injury prone…he will fit right in!!
After Ohtani plays 20 innings in April 2025, he will be classified as a 2-way player and he will not count against the 13-man pitcher limit. This is very helpful. They can have 5 starters [choose 5 from the following 10 — 1. Glasnow, 2. Yamamoto, 3. Kershaw, 4. Gonsolin, 5. May, 6. Sheehan, 7. Casperius, 8. Knack, 9. Miller, 10. Wrobleski] and anyone they might trade for (Crochet?, someone from Seattle?) and any free agent they might sign (choose 1 from Burnes, Fried) (and maybe free agent Buehler?), and 8 relievers, including two or more from the 10 listed above and 1. Treinen, 2. Phillips, 3. Vesia, 4. Kopeck, 5. Banda, 6. Graterol, maybe a prominent free agent [Tanner Scott] or free agents we don’t even know exist (like Banda this year), and Ohtani as the 6th starter. Six starters and 8 relievers gives them an advantage over all other teams who do not have a qualified two-way player, under the MLB rules, such as Ohtani. In 2026, they might also have Stone, Hurt, Frasso, River Ryan, Jackson Ferris available. Some of these folks are going to have to be traded; they can’t keep all of them. There will be Rule V losses if they don’t trade some of them.