The imminent arrival of Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki has already begun to generate a lot of expectations in the native of Rikuzentakata, especially because the Asian pitcher is looking for a team where he can develop and not be the center of attention in Major League Baseball.
Despite the fact that more than 20 teams were interested in signing the Japanese pitcher, the battle for Sasaki’s signature has come down to two California teams: the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The reigning Major League champions have struggled to shore up their team, and in recent weeks the Dodgers sent Gavin Lux to Cincinnati to make room for rookie Mike Sirota.
Dodgers already preparing millions for Sasaki
But according to reports from journalist Francis Romero, the Dodgers freed up more than $3 million to give the final blow and have Sasaki in their ranks.
“The Dodgers have brought back to market two of their highest bonuses for the upcoming 2024-25 international signing period: SS Darrell Morel (DR, $1.1M) and OF Orlando Patino (VEN, $400K)… They currently have around $3.6 million to bid for Japanese ace Roki Sasaki.”
The Dodgers proved that funds should not be a problem, as evidenced by the more than $680 million they will pay Shohei Ohtani, who became a key player for Los Angeles to win the World Series.
Andrew Friedman, Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, has made it a “major priority” to sign Sasaki, who excelled with Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, which Japan won.
The international amateur signing period begins on January 15 and the pitcher’s signing window closes on January 23. That only gives the Dodgers a week to land Sasaki, the object of international desire in Major League Baseball.
Read the full article here
