Roki Sasaki is now officially up for posting to Major League Baseball this offseason.
The announcement came from the Chiba Lotte Marines, revealing that the process of posting Sasaki has begun.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the clear frontrunners to sign him in the upcoming season.
“We’d like to inform you that we have decided to initiate the process of transferring pitcher Roki Sasaki to a Major League Baseball team via posting,” the team confirmed.
Sasaki also shared a message: “Since I became part of the team, I constantly communicated my aspirations of a future challenge in the MLB. I am truly grateful to the team for officially allowing me to post now. Despite challenges over the past five years with the Marines, the support from teammates, staff, front office, and fans has been unwavering, enabling me to focus solely on baseball and come this far. I am committed to striving from a minor contract to become the best player globally, fulfilling my one and only baseball career with no regrets, meeting the expectations of those who have supported me.”
At 23 years old, Sasaki can only sign a minor league contract with international bonus pool money as a signing bonus. With Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on their roster, the Dodgers are prime candidates to secure the pitching sensation.
The Marines’ general manager, Matsumoto, showed his support for Sasaki: “Since joining the team, he expressed his dream of playing in America. After careful consideration over five years, we decided to honor his wish. We wish for his success as a representative of Japan and wholeheartedly support him.”
Manager Yoshii added, “While it’s a significant loss for the team, I understand his desire to take on this challenge at a young age. He still has much to learn, but I believe he can elevate his game in America. The first time I saw him pitch at the Ishigakijima camp in 2020, it was as impactful as when I first witnessed Hideo Nomo. I have faith he will shine there. Best of luck to him.”
