Baseball: World Baseball Classic – Semifinal Japan vs Mexico – Source: Imagn
Roki Sasaki is a right-handed starting pitcher from Japan, and he is looking to make the jump to Major League Baseball. Teams all across MLB have been lining up to get a chance to meet with the 23-year-old. The Los Angeles Dodgers have plenty of Japanese talent on their roster already, but they are looking to add more.
Roki Sasaki was posted by his team in Japan, Chiba Lotte Marines, and he can sing with an MLB team as an international amateur free agent, with a budget limited to the international bonus pool. The Dodgers have already been given a chance to meet with Sasaki and his representatives, but they were hoping for another opportunity.
A decision is coming soon, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are not sure another meeting is going to happen.
The Dodger Blue YouTube channel was able to capture some comments from GM Brandon Gomes on January 3. Gomes doesn’t provide a ton of clarity to the situation, and also gives a bit of a sarcastic smile while making the comments.
“I’m not able to say at this time,” Brandon Gomes responded when asked about another meeting with Sasaki. Gomes then added, “I hope so.” (8:00-minute mark)
The Los Angeles Dodgers are not the only team hoping for another meeting, but agent Joel Wolfe has hinted that Sasaki’s mind is nearly made up.
Roki Sasaki looking to become an MLB legend
Roki Sasaki could have stayed in Japan for a few more years, and then signed with a MLB team as an international free agent. That is the route that Shohei Ohtani and Shota Imanaga took, and it landed them massive MLB contracts.
“Roki Sasaki wants to be one of the greatest, ever,” said Wolfe on Sasaki. “He’s not coming here just to get rich.”
If Roki Sasaki does join the Los Angeles Dodgers, he will be joining the best team in baseball. Sasaki will be able to earn a big contract after his initial deal ends if he lives up to the hype surrounding him.
