Buzz in Japan Hints the Dodgers may have already sealed the deal for Star Pitcher

Buzz in Japan Hints the Dodgers may have already sealed the deal for Star Pitcher

If it weren’t for Juan Soto dominating the headlines, Roki Sasaki would be the clear-cut prize of this year’s free-agent frenzy. But Sasaki’s market has a unique twist that Soto’s doesn’t: While Soto is all but guaranteed to land with a big-market team for a record-breaking deal, Sasaki’s free agency isn’t driven solely by money.

 

 

 

 

 

As an amateur free agent, Sasaki can only sign for the league minimum, plus a few million from a team’s international free agent pool—certainly not a game-changing sum in the short term. But that limitation could actually broaden his appeal, allowing all 30 teams to vie for his services, assuming he’s open to exploring his options. While some teams may have more money left to spend in this international signing period (which runs from Jan. 15 to Dec. 15), Sasaki might not be overly concerned with the difference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After all, it’s nothing compared to what he could earn if he waits until he’s 25 and posts for a full free agent payday. He could even opt to wait until January 2025, when all MLB teams will have an equal budget to compete for his signature.

 

 

 

 

 

Speculation about Roki Sasaki’s MLB future has taken a number of twists and turns. While some still believe the Dodgers are the frontrunners to land the Japanese star, others suggest he could lean toward a smaller-market team with a strong pitching development system to help him ease into the majors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

However, a fresh rumor out of Japan now claims that Sasaki has already set his sights on Los Angeles—and that a deal may already be in place.