MLB Information: Rōki Sasaki Reportedly Meets With Dodgers in Free Company amid Padres Rumors

The Los Angeles Dodgers have met with Japanese ace Rōki Sasaki throughout his posting window, in line with Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.

Ardaya famous that the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants have additionally performed conferences with the right-hander.

The San Diego Padres are among the many groups in pursuit of Sasaki, as Padres supervisor Mike Shildt mentioned that they are “very optimistic” about their possibilities to land the 23-year-old (by way of MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell).

Sasaki is coming off one other sturdy season with Nippon Skilled Baseball’s Chiba Lotte Marines in 2024, compiling a 10-5 report to go together with a 2.35 ERA and 1.036 WHIP in 18 appearances. He additionally racked up 129 strikeouts in comparison with 32 walks in 111 innings of labor.

In 4 NPB seasons, Sasaki owned a 2.10 ERA in addition to a median of 11.5 strikeouts per 9 innings.

ESPN’s Buster Olney reported on Dec. 5 that there’s “widespread business perception” the pitcher has already picked a group, and that it’s “almost certainly” the Dodgers.

Los Angeles signed two-way famous person Shohei Ohtani in addition to starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto in free company following its 2023 marketing campaign, giving them contracts with a mixed whole worth exceeding $1 billion.

Each gamers have a reference to Sasaki, as all three had been members of the identical Group Japan roster throughout its 2023 World Baseball Basic victory.

The Dodgers will not have the ability to supply Sasaki something they need, as all of his potential suitors can solely use worldwide signing bonus pool cash to signal him since he is a global novice free agent beneath 25 years previous.

Nonetheless, Los Angeles’ 2024 World Collection title and the group’s roster full of acquainted faces could also be sufficient to sway Sasaki following the reported assembly between either side.