The Major League Baseball international signing period begins today and will run through January 23, during which time Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaski is expected to announce his decision on the team that managed to convince him to begin his stint in MLB.
The New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, and NY Mets were the first teams ruled out of the list of finalists, leaving the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres as the favorites to be chosen, but there could still be a surprise with the Chicago Cubs or the Toronto Blue Jays.
Since he is under 25 years old, Sasaki is classified as an international amateur and limited to a minor league contract subject to international signing bonus funds, ranging from $7,555,500 to $5,146,200, which limits him to reaching the MLB with a multi-million dollar contract, despite being one of the most sought-after free agents of the offseason.
Competition for sponsorship in Japan could sway Sasaki’s decision
According to MLB expert Steve Phillips, although the Dodgers have been touted as favorites, the 23-year-old could lean toward the Padres because of his closeness to Yu Darvish, whom he has recognized on other occasions as his “godfather.”
“It seems hard to believe that he would choose the Dodgers rather than be with Darvish,” Phillips told MLB Network Radio, adding that by arriving on a Minor League contract, he will offset the earnings with sponsorships in Japan, and in the Dodgers he would have very strong competition with the most high-profile Japanese star: “If you stay with Ohtani and Yamamoto, you’re the third of the three. How much are you going to get compared to going with Darvish in San Diego?”
For Phillips, the comparisons between what it means on the one hand to have the support and little competition that Darvish represents, against what he would face with the Ohtani-Yamamoto duo, Sasaki’s decision should lean towards the Padres instead of the Dodgers.
“It seems that if you have to separate the Dodgers from the Padres, there are reasons to point to the Padres. With Darvish already there, Sasaki would not have to compete with the Ohtani brand in Los Angeles,” said Phillips, in a theory that could still have one more surprise with the Cubs and the Blue Jays, who meet the predictions of being small market teams that his agent Joel Wolfe is looking for.
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