Dodgers to Have Second Meeting With Roki Sasaki Tuesday in Massive Development
The Los Angeles Dodgers are getting their second meeting with Roki Sasaki on Tuesday, according to The Athletic.
The Dodgers, who are one of three finalists for Sasaki along with the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays, will seemingly get the last word in the Sasaki sweepstakes as his Jan. 23 deadline to sign nears.
More news: Dodgers, Padres ‘Heavy, Heavy’ Favorites to Sign Roki Sasaki as Decision Nears
According to The Athletic, the Dodgers’ pitch is “expected to feature several of their stars.”
Read more: Several Dodgers Stars Expected to Be In Attendance for Roki Sasaki Meeting on Tuesday
It’s likely the Dodgers will pull out all the stops, which could mean Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are in attendance to talk with their Team Japan teammate. Additionally, the likes of Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman could be in attendance to sell Sasaki on joining the reigning World Series champions.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman made it known at the Winter Meetings that Sasaki was a “major priority” for Los Angeles this winter. He also said the team would do just about anything they could to sell him on joining the organization.
“He is someone that, obviously, is a major priority for us,” Friedman said.
“We are going to do whatever we can and know that there are a lot of other teams that are going to do the exact same thing. … We’re gonna put our best foot forward about what we feel like we can provide short-term, long-term, with our pitching group, veteran players, and do everything we can to put our best foot forward.”
While the Dodgers’ first meeting with Sasaki was on his terms — meaning other players could not join and it was only around two hours at Wasserman offices — this one will be on the Dodgers’ terms.
They can sell him on the history of the organization. They can sell him on Dodger Stadium. They can sell him on the fanbase. They can sell him on the city of Los Angeles. They can sell him on winning.
The Dodgers have made it known that they want to be “Japan’s team” in MLB.
“I think the passion for the game of baseball there is as strong or stronger than any other country in the world,” Friedman said back in February. “And so in an ideal world, in the next five to 10 years, we’re going to have kids growing up as Dodger fans.”
Adding Sasaki would pretty much solidify that for the present and future.
Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
