Padres Are ‘New Choice’ Among Executives to Land Roki Sasaki Over Dodgers
The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes have been dynamic, everchanging, and even unprecedented, at times.
For Los Angeles Dodgers fans, it can feel painstakingly slow, despite being an early favorite to land the right-hander.
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The Dodgers were early favorites for a few reasons. Having two Japanese legends not just on the roster, but the same pitching rotation in Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto was seen as a huge plus.
Not to mention, the trio had won a world championship together for team Japan at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, taking down Team USA in the finals.
However, a free agent process such as this one, being the favorite doesn’t mean much when there is rarely any new information on where Sasaki, or his agent Joel Wolfe, may be leaning.
The only other outlet of where the phenom will land is by way of MLB executives.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the executives claim a new, non-Dodgers, team has stepped up as the favorites to land Sasaki.
That team plays about 124 miles south of Dodger Stadium, the San Diego Padres.
The World Baseball Classic connection is also linked to why Sasaki would potentially choose a team that the defending World Series champs beat in the NLDS.
Yu Darvish, a veteran pitcher for the Friars, was openly upset when Ohtani and Yamamoto came to the Dodgers in 2024, and that his own team — in the midst of clearing as much roster payroll as they could— was barely considered.
“Frankly speaking, it would have been nice if they came here, if they were my teammates,” Darvish said during 2024 Spring Training. “But I’m happy for them. They’re in a very good organization.”
The Athletic’s Dennis Lin reported last month that Darvish is “a godfather-like figure among active Japanese players”, and also said that the veteran pitcher, “is said to badly want the young right-hander as his teammate.”
It is worth noting that Wolfe, Sasaki’s agent, is also Darvish’s MLB representation.
Another point that Nightengale describes is money, which the Dodgers have a great deal of.
No matter how much money a team has, because Sasaki is under-25, his signing will be limited to a number between $5.1 million and $7.5 million which is the international signing bonus pool allotment.
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Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
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Sasaki wants to be with an organization that can help him get better and is a winner. One Padres owner, Peter Siedler’s widow, is suing two other Padres owners, two of her brothers-in-law, over control of the Padres. The lawsuit mentions Sasaki. The organization has a $170 million budget but has a $244 million payroll. The organization has not added anyone in free agency this offseason. Why, other than Darvish (38 years old), would anyone want to commit the first 6 years of his major league career to that organization? Is this like Ohtani being on a plane to Toronto? Let us recall who predicted what, once Sasaki makes his decision known.
Also is the fact that Manny brings drama. Most Japanese players don’t want drama. The Dodgers have chemistry that the Padres will never have for at least as long as they have Machado.
KEY Point: Since Yu Darvish is repped by Joel Wolfe, of Wasseman, look for Roki Sasaki to sign with the San Diego Padres.
With ALL speculation aside, THE VECCHIO FACTOR SAYS…DODGER have the MOST to offer Sasaki!
I agree with Roger and Bryan’s points. I think a majority of players would prefer no drama. Also based on what limited information Sasaki’s agent has shared, the unsure future of Padre management doesn’t seem to align well with Sasaki’s desires. With that said, I have no clue what Sasaki might decide, but I hope it’s with the Dodgers.
The plan for Flaherty is coming full circle. If Sasasaki goes to The Pods I think the Dodgers will resign Flaherty who can’t wait to return to the Dodgers.
Trading Lux was a nice move , he was and is an overrated ball player. Harold Reynolds talked about Lux like he was future Hall of Famer l