Massive Roki Sasaki Update Bodes Well for Dodgers
The Major League Baseball offseason has officially begun, marking the start of the 2024-25 free agency period. Players across the league are now free to sign with any team they choose, setting up an exciting time for roster changes.
However, one of the biggest signings could come via international free agency.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel reports that Japanese star pitcher Roki Sasaki is anticipated to be posted this winter, opening the door for MLB teams to pursue him.
“With indications pointing to Sasaki joining this year’s class, we’ll include him here as he immediately would be among the most sought-after players available,” McDaniel wrote. “Given the rules in place for players coming over from Japan before they turn 25 years old, it doesn’t make any financial sense for him to get his club to post him this year because, like Shohei Ohtani, he would be limited to the international bonus pools that are all under $8 million; if he comes after Dec. 15, the pools reset and he could get as much as $7 million or so, but if he comes before he’ll be limited to roughly $2.5 million at most.”
The team with the most money in its pool happens to be the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Los Angeles is a heavy favorite to land Sasaki because it already has Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
However, because Sasaki is just 23, he would only qualify for a minor league contract with a signing bonus capped at under $10 million.
The Dodgers have shown interest in Sasaki, but as ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel pointed out, there are “complicating factors” that could prevent the World Series champs from securing him. Some believe Sasaki may prefer signing with a smaller-market team, and there are also concerns about a possible injury after a reported dip in his velocity this season.
Still, even in what was considered his “worst” season in 2024, Sasaki delivered a solid performance with a 2.35 ERA, striking out 129 batters and allowing only 83 hits over 111 innings. He finished with a 10-5 record across 18 games for the Marines, showing he remains one of the most promising arms in baseball.
Hopefully, there is nothing physically wrong with Sasaki because adding him to the rotation would mark another incredible signing for the World Series champs.
Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
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