Sasaki Not a Target: Dodgers Not Pursuing Sasaki Despite Ohtani’s…

The Chiba Lotte Marines announced their intention to post phenom pitcher Roki Saski for MLB free agency, making him one of the most intriguing and coveted players available leading into the 2025 season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the strong favorite to sign Sasaki, but every MLB team will make their pitch as his contract will be heavily limited as an amateur international prospect.

While many assume the Dodgers have the edge due to their relationship with Japan and already having Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and others already suggesting there’s an under-the-table agreement, Sasaki’s agency has highly downplayed that notion.

Sasaki may ultimately want to join Yamamoto and the 2024 National League MVP, but Ohtani said he has not been making a recruiting pith on behalf of the Dodgers in the meantime, via Beth Harris of the Associated Press:

“No, I haven’t really been recruiting him in any way,” Ohtani said. “I consider him a friend, so we’ll talk every so often about baseball in general and life. I’ll respect his decision wherever he wants to sign and I think he’ll do well wherever he goes.”

Ohtani, Yamamoto and Sasaki were all Team Japan teammates during the 2023 World Baseball Classic, so there is familiarity between them as they went on to win the championship game. If Sasaki wants to recreate that, the Dodgers are the only destination possible.

However, some believe he may prefer a small market, and there’s a thought playing in the shadow of Ohtani and Yamamoto could potentially limit some of Sasaki’s sponsorship deals.

Still, it may be tough for Sasaki to pass up on signing with the Dodgers given their development system, roster, distance from Japan and stronghold over their media market.

At just 23 years old, Sasaki far and away is going to be the youngest starting pitcher available in free agency, giving him a much higher ceiling and making him a more attractive option for every team. Over his four seasons in the NPB, Sasaki had a career 2.10 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 505 strikeouts over 394.2 innings pitched.

Roki Sasaki posting timeline

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said he expects Sasaki to be part of the 2025 international signing period.

With Sasaki’s timeline seemingly extending into the 2025 signing period, it should allow more teams to become involved as bonus pools are due to be replenished. However, with that figures to also come teams possibly backing away on verbal agreements with international prospects.

The Dodgers had the largest amount of bonus pool money remaining for the 2024 period at $2.5 million. That was widely perceived to be earmarked for Sasaki in the event he suddenly became available.

But with Sasaki now not joining a team until the 2025 international signing period begins Jan. 15, the Dodgers will no longer hold that advantage. Their bonus pool will nevertheless increase to $5.1 million.