The most sought-after player among the available free agents is Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, who is in the final stretch to announce the team chosen for his debut in Major League Baseball. According to forecasts, the decision is between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, although he could still surprise with the Toronto Blue Jays.
There is nothing else in the pipeline, Sasaki aims to play in California with a team from the National League East, and his choice will be whether he prefers to be backed by Yu Darvish in San Diego or by the duo of Shohei Ohtani-Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Los Angeles.
Dodgers and Padres fight to offer Sasaki more money
In the face of this uncertainty, the Dodgers have halted their international signings until they know Sasaki’s decision. Meanwhile, according to MLB expert Mark Feinsand, the two California teams are working hard to negotiate with other teams in order to expand their prospect budgets and have a better offer to make to the Japanese pitcher.
“Both the Dodgers and Padres have been calling teams about trading for international bonus money in hopes of increasing the amount they can offer Roki Sasaki,” Feinsand reported.
The Dodgers have around $5.1 million in international signing funds, the Padres have $6.3 million, while other teams have around $7.6 million in their bonus pool.
Feinsand added that an executive said, “There are a number of teams asking for international money, some you would assume and some you wouldn’t. [L.A. and San Diego] are certainly getting close, but they’re not alone. Other teams are recognizing opportunities.”
Since Sasaki was placed in MLB free agency by the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball on Dec. 9, his 45-day window to have a deal will close at the end of the international signing period next Thursday.
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