Roki Sasaki’s contract situation, signing process and suitors, explained
New York TimesThe first bombshell of Major League Baseball’s offseason landed Saturday when the Chiba Lotte Marines announced 23-year-old pitching phenom Roki Sasaki will be able to sign with an MLB club this winter. When The Washington Post’s Chelsea Janes visited Japan earlier this year, Chiba Lotte outfielder and former Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect Gregory Polanco said of Sasaki, “He asks me about every day. Club executive Naoki Matsumoto told reporters, including baseball writer Jim Allen, that the financial implications were not part of their conversations with Sasaki: “He’s a representative of Japan and Lotte, so I want him to do his best on the world stage.” As Allen wrote Thursday in a detailed explanation of Sasaki’s unprecedented situation, some believe Sasaki, the No. Sammon named several candidates for Sasaki’s services — the Dodgers, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Cubs — and more will surely surface soon.
History of this topic
MLB investigated to ensure no early Sasaki deal in place, pitcher likely to pick team mid-January
Associated PressRoki Sasaki’s posting likely will extend into 2025 signing period, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred says
Associated Press
The Roki Sasaki MLB sweepstakes: Teams to watch and what could influence his decision
New York TimesRōki Sasaki says he wants to play in MLB but Japanese pitcher won’t say when that might be
Associated Press
Japan’s Sasaki likely to be coveted when available for MLB
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