The Los Angeles Dodgers are turning into a real nightmare. The current MLB champion took home the biggest offseason prize, signing one of the hottest prospects in the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization (NPB), pitcher Roki Sasaki.
The Dodgers are putting together an unstoppable rotation for the 2025 MLB season. With Shohei Ohtani on his way to recovering from the shoulder injury that prevented him from pitching last season and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in full swing, very few teams will be able to stand up to the Los Angeles bullpen.
Since the Chiba Lotte Marines posted Sasaki on December 9, at least 20 teams have tried to win his services. However, in the end, it was the Dodgers who offered him the best deal, although the details of the agreement have not been revealed.
It was a tough decision for Sasaki
The pitcher himself announced the news in a post on his Instagram account saying, “I have signed a minor contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was a tough decision, but I will do my best to make it the right decision when I look back on my baseball career.”
Sasaki is eager to join his new team officially. “I want to put on my sleeve in the Dodgers uniform at the opening conference, thanking everyone who has supported me so far,” said the former Marine.
According to agent Joe Wolfe, before signing with the Dodgers, the pitcher had formal meetings with the Mets, Yankees, Padres, Cubs, Giants, Rangers, and Blue Jays. Since he was subject to the international bonus pool rules for being under 25 years old, Sasaki was a bargain that no team wanted to miss out on.
The Monster of the Reiwa Era
Just four years into his career with the Marines, Sasaki is already considered one of the best pitchers in history. His 29-15 record, 2.10 ERA, 505 strikeouts, and 394.2 innings pitched earned him the nickname The Monster of the Reiwa Era.
With a 100.3 mph fastball on average and a 90.9 mph splitter, Sasaki will be a real challenge for MLB hitters. If he, Yamamoto, and Ohtani stay healthy, the Dodgers’ back-to-back championship seems assured.
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