Japanese ace Roki Sasaki to become available to MLB teams this offseason
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Japanese ace Roki Sasaki to become available to MLB teams this offseason

Associated Press  

CHIBA, Japan — Japanese ace Roki Sasaki will be available to Major League Baseball teams this offseason. The Los Angeles Dodgers have kept the most available space left in their 2024 signing bonus pool, $2,502,500. After the Dodgers signed Ohtani to a $700 million, 10-year contract and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a $325 million, 12-year deal last December, Los Angeles won the World Series and drew a Japan-record 12.9 million average television viewers for the five games against the Yankees. Asked during the NL Championship Series whether the success of the team’s brand in Japan could help recruit Sasaki if he became available, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said: “I hope so, absolutely.

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History of this topic

With Roki Sasaki looming, Orioles left $2.1 million unspent from allotment and Dodgers $1.9 million
2 days, 23 hours ago

With Roki Sasaki looming, Orioles left $2.1 million unspent from allotment and Dodgers $1.9 million

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The Baltimore Orioles left about $2.1 million unspent from their 2024 international signing bonus pool allotment and the Los Angeles Dodgers around $1.9 million in a year there was speculation Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki would be available. Major League Baseball’s international amateur signing period runs from Jan. 15 to Dec. 15, and Sasaki was not posted until …

Roki Sasaki: Meet MLB’s next free agent superstar
1 week ago

Roki Sasaki: Meet MLB’s next free agent superstar

CNN  

CNN — The ink is barely dry on Juan Soto’s record-breaking contract with the New York Mets, but already MLB franchises are again looking for a shiny new toy. Sasaki’s career stats make for even better reading, with the so-called “Monster of the Reiwa Era” recording an ERA of just 2.02, picking up 524 strikeouts in 414 2/3 innings. Sasaki …

Column: Roki Sasaki and Shohei Ohtani together on the Dodgers? It depends on what Sasaki wants
1 week, 5 days ago

Column: Roki Sasaki and Shohei Ohtani together on the Dodgers? It depends on what Sasaki wants

LA Times  

Roki Sasaki pitches during a WBC semifinal game between Japan and Mexico in 2023 as people watch during a viewing event in Tokyo. There’s no way Sasaki hasn’t already contemplated whether he wants to share a clubhouse with the greatest player ever to come out of his country — or perhaps any country. Agent details posting process for star Japanese …

MLB investigated to ensure no early Sasaki deal in place, pitcher likely to pick team mid-January
Trending News
1 week, 5 days ago

MLB investigated to ensure no early Sasaki deal in place, pitcher likely to pick team mid-January

Associated Press  

DALLAS — Major League Baseball investigated to ensure no team had an advance deal in place for Roki Sasaki, and the agent for the Japanese pitcher said picking a club will be “like the draft in reverse.” On the first day of Sasaki’s 45-day window to sign with an MLB team, agent Joel Wolfe said the 23-year-old right-hander likely will …

Will Dodgers sign Roki Sasaki? Agent details posting process for star Japanese pitcher
1 week, 6 days ago

Will Dodgers sign Roki Sasaki? Agent details posting process for star Japanese pitcher

LA Times  

Like the rest of Major League Baseball, the Dodgers have closely monitored Japanese star pitcher Roki Sasaki over the last couple of years, anxiously waiting for the hard-throwing phenom to come to MLB. It was such an uncommon move that, as rumors about Sasaki’s interest in leaving Japan for MLB early circulated over the last couple of years, Wolfe said …

Roki Sasaki’s posting likely will extend into 2025 signing period, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred says
1 month ago

Roki Sasaki’s posting likely will extend into 2025 signing period, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred says

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Roki Sasaki’s posting will likely extend into the 2025 international signing period, baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Wednesday, allowing teams as much as $7,555,500 to sign the prized Japanese pitcher. “It kind of looks like the way it’s going to shake out, that the signing there, just because the timing, will happen in the new pool period,” …

The Roki Sasaki MLB sweepstakes: Teams to watch and what could influence his decision
1 month, 2 weeks ago

The Roki Sasaki MLB sweepstakes: Teams to watch and what could influence his decision

New York Times  

Roki Sasaki’s first contract to play in the big leagues won’t be about just money. But once the sweepstakes begin for his services, Sasaki will likely prioritize stability, lifestyle, comfort and, according to league sources, a team’s track record with player development. “To be honest, he still has a lot to learn,” Chiba Lotta Marines manager Masato Yoshii said early …

Japanese ace Roki Sasaki to be posted, becoming a top Dodgers free-agency target
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Japanese ace Roki Sasaki to be posted, becoming a top Dodgers free-agency target

LA Times  

Roki Sasaki of Japan pitches during the World Baseball Classic in March 2023. The Chiba Lotte Marines, Sasaki’s team in the Nippon Professional Baseball league, announced they will be posting the 23-year-old star for Major League Baseball teams to sign this winter. Now that Sasaki’s team will begin the process of posting him — his maximum singing bonus reportedly will …

MLB front office check-in: Key offseason needs and goals for all 30 teams
1 month, 2 weeks ago

MLB front office check-in: Key offseason needs and goals for all 30 teams

New York Times  

One of the many things front office executives accomplish at the general managers’ meetings is to meet with their counterparts and learn each team’s needs and goals for the offseason. Astros GM Dana Brown: Keeping Alex Bregman is their “biggest priority.” Houston Astros Re-sign Alex Bregman, add a left-handed-hitting outfielder and a depth starter and improve the bullpen It will …

Roki Sasaki and Major League Baseball: How effective would his pitching arsenal be?
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Roki Sasaki and Major League Baseball: How effective would his pitching arsenal be?

New York Times  

Roki Sasaki is a stud. But Sasaki, 23, has been putting up some bonkers numbers in Japan, with a 2.02 career ERA, and there’s a chance he comes over to Major League Baseball through the posting process this offseason. Even with a mid-career position player who has played Major League Baseball for his entire professional career, there are things the …

MLB GM meetings: What we’re hearing about star Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki
1 month, 2 weeks ago

MLB GM meetings: What we’re hearing about star Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki

New York Times  

SAN ANTONIO — Roki Sasaki is so enormously talented that teams have to prepare for the possibility that the Japanese pitcher is about to become an international free agent, even though club officials still don’t know whether that will actually happen this winter. Amid the uncertainty, Sasaki has been a popular name this week at MLB’s general managers’ meetings, where …

Japanese star Roki Sasaki pitches seven strong innings as his future in MLB comes into focus.
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Japanese star Roki Sasaki pitches seven strong innings as his future in MLB comes into focus.

Associated Press  

TOKYO — It’s not clear if pitcher Roki Sasaki — the next big thing out of Japanese baseball — will move to Major League Baseball next season. But on Friday, despite arm issues earlier in the year and a slight drop in velocity and strikeouts this season, he’s showed he’s ready to follow Japanese stars like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu …

One Sasaki throws hard, another hits homers. Will Rōki or Rintaro be MLB’s next Japanese star?
6 months ago

One Sasaki throws hard, another hits homers. Will Rōki or Rintaro be MLB’s next Japanese star?

LA Times  

Rintaro Sasaki homered in the second at-bat of his U.S. amateur debut last week, the blast grabbing headlines because the 19-year-old might be the next big bat export from Japan to Major League Baseball. The best of the best play on The Farm 😤 Welcome to Stanford, Rintaro Sasaki!#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/5p4JGZzoQT — Stanford Baseball February 14, 2024 Rōki made history in …

Rōki Sasaki says he wants to play in MLB but Japanese pitcher won’t say when that might be
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Rōki Sasaki says he wants to play in MLB but Japanese pitcher won’t say when that might be

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Pitcher Rōki Sasaki is the next big thing out of Japanese baseball. I believe the club understands it too.” Sasaki has watched Shohei Ohtani sign a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last month. Asked when he would play in MLB, Kyodo reported Sasaki saying very little: “I believe it’s important to play well …

Japan’s Sasaki likely to be coveted when available for MLB
1 year, 9 months ago

Japan’s Sasaki likely to be coveted when available for MLB

Associated Press  

MIAMI — If Rōki Sasaki knows the perfect time for him to switch to the major leagues, he’s good at keeping a secret. The 21-year-old right-hander pitches in a U.S. ballpark for the first time Monday night, when he’ll start for Japan in a World Baseball Classic semifinal against Mexico. “He’s going to be a tremendous star in the big …

Pitcher Roki Sasaki next ‘big thing’ from Japanese baseball
1 year, 9 months ago

Pitcher Roki Sasaki next ‘big thing’ from Japanese baseball

Associated Press  

TOKYO — In Japan they call pitcher Roki Sasaki the “Monster of the Reiwa Era,” which translates roughly into a “once-in-a-generation superstar.” In simple English, Sasaki is likely to be the next big thing out of Japan following Shohei Ohtani, who debuted five years ago with the Los Angeles Angels. He is something special,” San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish …

Leave Japanese phenom Rōki Sasaki out of international draft
2 years, 5 months ago

Leave Japanese phenom Rōki Sasaki out of international draft

LA Times  

Rōki Sasaki, of the Lotte Marines, pitches against the Rakuten Eagles during a Pacific League baseball game in Chiba on July 1. Just 20 years old, Rōki Sasaki could be the best pitcher who won’t be at Dodger Stadium for the All-Star Game on July 19. However, the already modest chances of Sasaki pitching in the major leagues in the …

Roki Sasaki throws 16th perfect game in Japanese big leagues
2 years, 8 months ago

Roki Sasaki throws 16th perfect game in Japanese big leagues

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Roki Sasaki pitched a perfect game with 19 strikeouts, leading the Chiba Lotte Marines over the Orix Buffaloes 6-0 on Sunday in Japan’s Pacific League. “Honestly, I wasn’t thinking about the possibility,” he said of the perfect game. “I figured it would be OK if I gave up a hit, so I just pitched and put my trust …

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