Roki Sasaki joined the group of available starting pitchers in MLB free agency when the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) posted him in December.
Sasaki is expected to make his decision during the 2025 international signing period, which began on Wednesday. The right-hander officially has until Thursday, Jan. 23, to reach a deal with an MLB team or he will return to the Marines for the upcoming season.
Sasaki drew interest from several teams before the field of suitors was narrowed down this week. The 23-year-old reportedly informed the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs that he will not sign with them.
The three known finalists for Sasaki are the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays. He visited the Padres and Blue Jays last week before taking one final meeting with the Dodgers on Tuesday.
It is presumed Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto were part of the Dodgers’ contingent. Ohtani and Yamamoto played with Sasaki on Team Japan during the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove and Manny Machado were among the players reportedly on hand for the Padres’ meeting with Sasaki.
2025 bonus pool money for Roki Sasaki
Dodgers ($5,146,200)
The Dodgers have the lowest international bonus pool among the three finalists at $5,146,200. However, teams are permitted to acquire up to an additional 60% of their original bonus pool total via trade.
Bonus pool money must be traded in increments of $250,000 unless a team is parting with its entire total.
The Dodgers’ pursuit of Sasaki ultimately cost them other top commits from the 2025 international signing period as Darrell Morel and Orlando Patiño reached deals elsewhere.
The Dodgers also lost Teilon Serrano as the top teenaged international free agent went on to sign with the Minnesota Twins.
As the Dodgers pursue Sasaki, they reportedly have asked players to consider waiting for the 2026 international signing period when their funds will replenish.
Padres ($6,261,600)
The Padres and Blue Jays are tied with $6,261,600 in international bonus pool space. It is also believed that the Padres have asked commits to considering waiting for the next signing period if they are unable to sign them this year.
Blue Jays ($6,261,600)
The Blue Jays emerging as a finalist for Sasaki was surprising considering the belief that he will sign with a West Coast team.
However, Toronto has a lot to offer players and it is worth noting they were finalists to sign Ohtani last offseason as well.
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