Monday was a busy day in Roki Sasaki’s offseason.
Five teams have been eliminated from consideration for the 23-year-old pitcher: the San Francisco Giants, New York Mets and Yankees, Chicago Cubs, and Texas Rangers.
While many teams have dropped out, the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and Toronto Blue Jays are still in the running.
Despite the updates on Monday, Bob Nightengale from USA Today reports that the Dodgers and Padres are still the “overwhelming favorites” to sign Sasaki.
This is positive news for the Dodgers as they aim to build on their 2024 World Series win and strive for a lasting dynasty.
Los Angeles already has two prominent Japanese players, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, in their pitching rotation, making it an attractive destination for Sasaki in 2025.
Sasaki, Ohtani, and Yamamoto were part of the 2023 World Baseball Classic championship team for Japan, defeating the USA to claim the title.
As a free agent, Sasaki faces a unique signing process due to his age.
The Dodgers have limited funds in their international bonus pool to secure Sasaki’s signing, with the Padres having slightly more resources available for him.
While money may not be his primary motivation, Sasaki is looking to advance his pitching skills in MLB after playing in Nippon Professional Baseball.
His agent, Joel Wolfe, believes that the MLB offers the best platform for Sasaki to reach his full potential as a pitcher.
Mark Prior, the pitching coach for the Dodgers, is known for his expertise in developing pitchers, which could be a key factor in Sasaki’s decision.
Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
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