The New York Yankees aren’t done making moves after missing out on Juan Soto, as they met with highly touted Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki on Thursday. While the Yankees aren’t the only team interested in the 23-year-old right-hander, the New York Mets are also pursuing him, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The Yankees’ efforts come as part of their “Plan B” following their Soto setback, having already made a series of acquisitions, including trading for versatile outfielder Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs, landing elite closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers, and signing former All-Stars Paul Goldschmidt and Max Fried, with Fried’s signing likely showcasing owner Hal Steinbrenner’s financial power.
This spree of additions, however, raises questions about how the roster will fit together, particularly in the starting rotation. The Yankees recently traded Nestor Cortes and Cody Poteet, leaving them with six full-time starting pitchers: Gerrit Cole, Fried, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt, and Marcus Stroman. Adding Sasaki would likely mean moving either Stroman or Schmidt out of the rotation, further complicating an already fluid situation. Another major roster addition would force even more changes to a team already undergoing a significant transformation heading into the 2025 season.
Despite these challenges, the Yankees have strong reasons to pursue Sasaki. Adding him would strengthen an already impressive rotation that includes Fried, and while the Yankees’ big-spending ways won’t directly benefit them in this case (as Sasaki can only receive money from each team’s international pool), the team still has some advantages. Historically, Japanese players have had successful transitions to Major League Baseball with the Yankees, with notable examples like Hideki Matsui and Masahiro Tanaka. In fact, the Yankees reportedly used Tanaka in their pitch to Sasaki, knowing that Sasaki is a fan of the former star pitcher.
Brian Cashman spoke highly of Sasaki, calling him a “tremendous talent” and expressing the hope that Yankee Stadium could become his new home. While the decision ultimately rests with Sasaki, the Yankees’ rich history of success and their ability to develop pitching talent could play a significant role in their pursuit. If they are able to sign Sasaki and maximize his potential, particularly with the help of pitching coach Matt Blake, the Yankees could have one of the most dominant pitching staffs in baseball for the 2025 season.
