Reports on the San Diego Padres’ chances of signing Japanese star this offseason appear conflicting, suggesting their odds might not be as strong as initially thought.
Padres given dim chances to land Him
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale assigned the San Diego Padres a slim 2% chance of landing the 23-year-old rookie sensation, while giving the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers a commanding 98% probability. Speaking on the matter (via Patrick McAvoy of *The Sporting News*), Nightengale said:
“I would say right now there’s a 98 percent chance he goes to the Dodgers and a two percent chance he goes to the Padres.”
Padres: Sasaki has ace potential written all over him
The Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league announced earlier this fall that Sasaki would be made available for MLB teams to pursue. The standout right-hander concluded his four-year tenure in Japan’s top league with an impressive 2.02 career ERA and a 0.883 WHIP. His 2022 season was a highlight, featuring 173 strikeouts and a perfect game on April 10.
Projected to become a future ace in the majors, Sasaki would be a strong addition to the Padres’ rotation, complementing current ace Dylan Cease and All-MLB Second-Team honoree Michael King. However, San Diego’s chances of signing him appear slim.
Sasaki will have to decide between NL rivals & the field this offseason
The Dodgers already have two of Sasaki’s fellow countrymen, superstar hitter Shohei Ohtani and ace pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, which could draw the young talent to Los Angeles. On the other hand, the Padres feature his compatriot Yu Darvish, aiming to create a similar appeal.
Ultimately, Sasaki will need to weigh whether San Diego’s lifestyle, team culture, and potential for success outweigh those of L.A. and their reigning World Series team.
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