The Giants made headlines with a major signing on Saturday, but could another blockbuster move be on the horizon for San Francisco?
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, coveted free agent pitcher Roki Sasaki, a star in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league, is expected to be posted during the upcoming MLB Winter Meetings. Passan reported that while many teams will be vying for the flamethrowing right-hander, the Giants are among a select few clubs expected to be “significant players” in the sweepstakes.
San Francisco will face stiff competition within the NL West, as the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are also serious contenders for Sasaki, according to Passan. Other notable teams in the mix include the New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, and Texas Rangers.
Once the Chiba Lotte Marines officially post Sasaki, teams will have a 45-day window to persuade the 23-year-old pitcher to join their roster. Due to his age, Sasaki can only sign as an international amateur under financial restrictions, as opposed to landing a massive deal through standard free agency.
Sasaki is coming off an outstanding 2024 season with the Marines, boasting a 10-5 record, a 2.35 ERA, and 129 strikeouts over 111 innings.
With the reported addition of Willy Adames bolstering their lineup, could the Giants now turn their attention to strengthening a rotation anchored by perennial Cy Young contender Logan Webb?
Will Sasaki choose to join his Samurai Japan teammates Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto with the Dodgers, or could he embrace the chance to compete against them while thriving in the pitcher-friendly atmosphere of Oracle Park?
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