Dodgers Delight: Team in Pole Position to Sign…
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series in 2024. At the center of it all were Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Dodgers are expected to pursue another Japanese phenom in Rōki Sasaki.
During a Bleacher Report livestream, Major League Baseball insider, Jon Heyman revealed that the Dodgers are a “heavy favorite” to land the star being posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines.
“I think the Dodgers are the heavy favorite for Rōki Sasaki,” said Heyman. “Fantastic pitcher and the belief is he wants to go to the Dodgers. We heard west coast for Yamamoto. Other teams didn’t believe it and it turned out to be true. He ended up going to the Dodgers. Dodgers have a great thing going, certainly with Ohtani and Yamamoto. Sasaki has seen how well they’ve done.”
Sasaki is an amateur free agent because he is not 25 years old yet. That means teams will only be able to use funds from their international signing bonus pool allotment to get him. The 2024 period ends on December 15 and the Dodgers have $2.5 million remaining. However, when the 2025 window opens on January 15, the Dodgers will have $5.1 million at their disposal.
Sasaki had 129 strikeouts in 18 games in Nippon Professional Baseball in 2024. He is a two-time NPB All-Star. His skills were on full display during the World Baseball Classic where his 100 mph fastball and splitter mowed through lineups.
Sasaki has the potential to be a No. 1 starter and the Dodgers could get him without spending huge like they did to add Yamamoto last offseason.ffseason.
