With Roki Sasaki set to be posted as an MLB international free agent before the start of the 2025 season, all 30 teams will have an opportunity to sign one of the most talented pitchers to come out of Japan.
The right-hander is just 23 years old and didn’t reach six seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, meaning he will be subject to international signing rules as an amateur free agent rather than entering MLB free agency with no limitations on his contract.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are considered the heavy favorites to land Sasaki and could make him the largest offer with their remaining international bonus pool of $2.5 million for the 2024 international signing period.
However, it seems Sasaki will wait until the 2025 international signing period begins on Jan. 15, when every team’s bonus pool will reset, via Jim Bowden of The Athletic:
First, Sasaki won’t be signing until after Jan. 15, when MLB’s new international signing period begins and each team’s bonus pool will be replenished.
Teams’ individual bonus pools are capped at around $7 million, so even if a club commits their entire allotment to Sasaki, it won’t be much of a difference from other potential contract offers.
With money not expected to be a motivating factor for Sasaki, all 30 MLB teams are being urged to make their best pitch. For the Dodgers, they could attempt to sway Sasaki by highlighting their recent success and geographical location.
The star pitcher could also be intrigued by the idea of reuniting with Japanese teammates Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Sasaki is expected to be represented by agent Joel Wolfe of Wasserman, who has Yamamoto, Yu Darvish, Kodai Senga, Seiya Suzuki, Giancarlo Stanton and Nolan Arenado among his other clients.
Roki Sasaki’s NPB career
Sasaki was selected by the Chiba Lotte Marines with the first overall pick in the 2019 NPB Draft. He went 10-5 with a 2.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 10.5 strikeouts per nine in 18 starts for the team this past season.
Sasaki boasts a fastball that can reach 103 mph, which was on display when he pitched for Team Japan in the 2023 WBC.
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