Who are the Dodgers’ Biggest Competitors if Roki Sasaki Leaves Japan?
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ biggest competitors in acquiring Roki Sasaki hang on the timing of the Japanese pitching sensation’s jump to MLB. Neither Sasaki, nor his current team, the Chiba Lotte Marines have revealed the intentions of the right-handed pitcher.
Competitors on the hunt for Sasaki likely depends on when he is declared a free agent. If the 23-year-old were to make his arrival to MLB this winter, he would be limited to the international bonus pools since the posting process is only for age-eligible players. Sasaki would be considered an international amateur.
It would be a similar route that Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani took to the big leagues. Ohtani is the only player ever to receive permission from his NPB club to go to MLB without having hit the required six years of professional experience a player under 25 needs to gain international free agency.
In 2018, Ohtani signed for $2.3 million ahead of the season. This year, the most Sasaki could receive depends on which club Sasaki signs with and how much money that organization has already committed to international free agents.
Another important factor is whether Sasaki will be posted before or after Dec. 15, when the international signing period closes. The Dodgers have the most bonus money remaining, at around $3 million. The Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees are reportedly second and third following the trades both clubs made in July for more pool space, according to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel.
If Sasaki were to wait until the next international signing period on Jan. 15, any MLB team could essentially strike a deal with Japanese phenom. It wouldn’t be a surprise if clubs offered Sasaki their entire international bonus pool.
Nevertheless, the Japanese sensation will likely remain in Nippon Professional Baseball for another year, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The pitcher is battling a struggle with his control on the mound. Sasaki has a 6-3 record for the Marines, with a 2.20 ERA.
Once Sasaki reveals his plans to come to MLB, the process to snag the pitcher is bound to get chaotic. The Dodgers will likely have several big-name teams as competitors in the recruiting process for Sasaki.
However, the Los Angeles Dodgers are still the favorite to land the Japanese pitcher — and they have the money to back up that status.
Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
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