Rōki Riches: Dodgers Expected to Use Entire Bonus Pool to…
The Los Angeles Dodgers are no strangers to the talent that comes out of Nippon Professional Baseball. Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto both came over from NPB and were a huge part of the Dodgers 2024 World Series title.
While outlining pitchers in free agency, Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer predicted the Dodgers to spend their entire 2025 international signing bonus pool to land Rōki Sasaki of the Chiba Lotte Mariners.
“Sasaki should appeal to every team, yet there’s also a very clear favorite to sign him,” wrote Rymer. “That would be the Dodgers. They’ve done plenty of scouting work on Sasaki and they can offer him what no other franchise can: A chance to play under a global brand that is already associated with fellow Japanese superstars in Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.”
Sasaki is an amateur free agent because he is not 25 years old yet. That means to sign him teams will only be able to use funds from their international signing bonus pool allotment. 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.
The Dodgers $5.1 million is the least money available in 2025, along with the San Francisco Giants. Rymer predicted the Dodgers to spend all $5.1 million to land Sasaki. They would have $1 million more had they not signed Ohtani who turned down a qualifying offer.
Every team has the money to sign Sasaki. However, the Dodgers can offer the opportunity to play with fellow countrymen Ohtani and Yamamoto. He still comes with injury concerns.
“Weird timing and financing aside, Sasaki is hugely appealing based on his talent. He throws 100 mph with a devastating splitter and a nasty slider,” wrote Rymer. “He does come with durability concerns, particularly after missing time with oblique and shoulder injuries in 2024. He nonetheless offers a golden opportunity to cultivate a No. 1 starter for pennies on the dollar.”
The Dodgers will also have to pay a posting fee of 20% to Chiba Lotte.
