Several clubs have reportedly met with right-hander Roki Sasaki in recent weeks, as his unique free agency unfolds. Among the teams confirmed to have held in-person meetings with the 23-year-old are the Mets, Yankees, Cubs, Giants, Rangers, and now the Dodgers, according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
It’s no surprise the Dodgers have engaged with Sasaki, who is widely considered the top international player available this offseason. L.A. and San Diego have long been seen as frontrunners to land him, though speculation about a potential “handshake” agreement between Sasaki and the Dodgers prompted his agent, Joel Wolfe, to issue a firm denial.
Wolfe previously indicated at the Winter Meetings that an initial round of in-person meetings would occur shortly after the event, followed by Sasaki’s return to Japan for the holidays before additional team visits ahead of the posting window’s closure next month.
So far, meetings appear to have been preliminary, allowing Sasaki to familiarize himself with interested organizations. While six teams are known to have met with him, it’s possible others, such as the Padres, have done so without public reports.
Sasaki, at just 23, boasts a stellar 2.10 ERA across 394 2/3 innings in Japan’s NPB and is widely regarded as one of the most coveted players this offseason.
However, MLB rules classify him as an international amateur since he is under 25, meaning he’ll sign a minor league contract with a bonus limited by international pool restrictions. This is the same process Shohei Ohtani navigated when he joined MLB and surprised many by signing with the Angels.
The Dodgers could undoubtedly benefit from adding Sasaki to their rotation. Despite signing Blake Snell to a five-year deal and likely retaining Clayton Kershaw, their rotation is riddled with uncertainty due to injuries among key players like Snell, Kershaw, Ohtani, Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin, and Dustin May. Sasaki’s addition would offer another elite option while allowing the team to carefully manage his workload following his own injury history in Japan with the Chiba Lotte Marines.
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