Cody Snavely
Leading up to the 2024 Major League Baseball Winter Meetings in Dallas, Texas, many teams, executives, and their fans wondered when the Chiba Lotte Marines would offically post star 23-year-old Japanese right-handed pitcher Rōki Sasaki.
That question would be answered early as Sasaki was offically posted on day one of the meetings and would now have a forty-five-day window to sign with a Major League Baseball team.
While Sasaki is free on the open market and allowed to sign with anyone as of right now, it is widely agreed that the righty will wait until the 2025 Major League Baseball International Signing period opens, which is on January 15th, 2025. The reason is that all teams’ international pool money will reset, maximizing his value.
Money is not the be-all and end-all for Sasaki since he is classified as an amateur international free agent and limited to signing a minor league deal with the international pool money, not a massive deal like fellow Japan teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto got last winter, any little bit helps as he looks to establish himself in the United States.
Since his posting three weeks ago, various sources confirmed earlier this week that at least five teams have met with Sasaki: the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, San Francisco Giants, and Chicago Cubs.
However, even just two days ago, the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers were still considered the heavy favorites despite not offically meeting with Sasaki and his agent, Joel Wolfe.
However, according to Los Angeles Dodgers insider Bill Plunkett of the Orange Country Register, Sasaki has indeed met with the Dodgers, making it the sixth confirmed team the young right-hander has met so far.
As already mentioned, the Dodgers are considered the overwhelming favorite for Saski due to their location, winning culture, and the presence of Japanese culture in Los Angeles. They also have the best opportunity for off-field sponsorships and will play next with two Japanese baseball icons, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
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