Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki has reportedly informed several Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, including the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, and San Francisco Giants, that he will not be signing with them during this offseason.
Sasaki, 23, has been a standout in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) with the Chiba Lotte Marines, boasting a 2.10 ERA and an impressive 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings over four seasons.
The Yankees, despite their interest, were considered longshots in the Sasaki sweepstakes. Their rotation, featuring Gerrit Cole and recent addition Max Fried, is already robust, which may have influenced Sasaki’s decision.
The Rangers, fresh off a World Series victory, also pursued Sasaki. However, with a rotation that includes Nathan Eovaldi and a healthy Jacob deGrom, their need for starting pitching is less pressing, possibly affecting Sasaki’s choice.
The Giants, under new president of baseball operations Buster Posey, were eager to bolster their pitching staff after missing out on other top free agents. Sasaki’s decision to exclude San Francisco is a setback for the Giants, who are now expected to shift focus to offensive acquisitions.
Sasaki’s admiration for Padres pitcher Yu Darvish has led to speculation that San Diego could be a favored destination. The Padres, in need of pitching depth following Joe Musgrove’s elbow surgery, would benefit significantly from Sasaki’s addition.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are also considered strong contenders. With fellow Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto already on their roster, the Dodgers present an appealing environment for Sasaki.
Sasaki has until January 23 to sign with an MLB team. Given his talent and the limited financial flexibility due to MLB’s international signing restrictions, his decision is highly anticipated and could significantly impact the balance of power in the league.