Roki Sasaki is officially making his move to Major League Baseball, as his team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, have agreed to post the 23-year-old ace, allowing him to transition to the States as an amateur free agent. This marks the culmination of what has been a lengthy and complex battle for Sasaki, who has long expressed a desire to join MLB despite the relatively small amount of money he will earn by making the move now rather than waiting until he turns 25, when he would have been eligible for a larger contract.
While Sasaki’s decision to leave the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) ranks has been anticipated for some time, the spotlight now shifts toward the teams that will vie for his services. Sasaki’s situation differs from that of Corbin Burnes, who was the most sought-after free-agent pitcher earlier. Given the posting system in place, Sasaki’s decision won’t revolve around money alone, which has changed the dynamics of the free-agent market for him.
The Los Angeles Dodgers immediately became the frontrunner to sign Sasaki, largely due to their established relationship with him. With Shohei Ohtani already in place and the addition of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers have an impressive roster of Japanese talent, and they just won a World Series, giving them an appealing proposition. Former Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel, who played alongside Sasaki in Japan this season, suggested that if he were betting, he’d place the Dodgers as the favorites.
However, there is reason to believe that Sasaki might lean towards starting his career with a smaller-market team. According to a Japanese baseball insider with connections to Sasaki’s camp, there is a possibility that Sasaki’s preferences might not align with the big-market allure of teams like the Dodgers. In this case, money may not be the deciding factor for Sasaki, similar to Ohtani’s experience with the Los Angeles Angels, who were the only team willing to let him play both as a pitcher and a hitter.
While the Dodgers will undoubtedly put forth their strongest case, including their ties to other Japanese stars and their World Series victory, they can’t solely rely on money or marquee names to lure Sasaki. Other teams across the league will be competing for his services, so it remains to be seen if the Dodgers’ emotional appeal, backed by their winning culture, will be enough to secure Sasaki’s commitment. The competition for Sasaki’s signature is likely to be fierce, and every team has a chance to make their pitch, regardless of market size. The pursuit of Sasaki will be one of the most closely followed stories in the MLB offseason.
