Ahead of the international signing period, the Dodgers are finalizing a deal with Roki Sasaki, a young Japanese pitching prospect, to further bolster their already Japanese-heavy roster.
A little more than a year ago, the Dodgers saw an opportunity on the horizon. They knew Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani was entering a historic free agency. They knew decorated Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto was planning to come from Japan to the majors. And they knew another potential generational Japanese arm, Roki Sasaki, wouldn’t be far behind.
It was a chance, as some with the team have termed it, to “paint Japan blue” and enhance both the Dodgers’ roster and their international brand. This week the team is hoping it can turn the last part of that dream into reality. The Dodgers signed Ohtani and Yamamoto last offseason. And now they reportedly are finalists for Sasaki, who could sign as soon as Wednesday when the international signing period officially opens. “He’s someone that is obviously a major priority for us,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said this winter. “We’re going to do whatever we can, and know that there are a lot of other teams that are going to do the exact same thing.” Now though, the number of finalists for his services is down to three, ESPN reported Monday night, with the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays also still in the running. When the Dodgers embarked on this pursuit last year and targeted each member of the Japanese trifecta as a potential cornerstone of their future, it initially seemed doubtful they would land all three — let alone more than one. Back then, there was a belief around the industry that Japanese players preferred to play on different major league teams. And while Dodgers decision-makers didn’t necessarily subscribe to the theory, they were unsure if the dynamic would impede their trans-Pacific triple play. There also were financial dynamics that added complexity to the pursuits. It was clear Ohtani would command a record-breaking contract. Yamamoto’s young age (he was just 25 when he signed) made him another candidate for a big-money deal. And though Sasaki is limited to signing only a minor-league contract with a modest signing bonus, since he is coming to the majors before turning 25, the Dodgers faced obstacles there as well. Thanks to MLB penalties against teams that exceed the luxury tax threshold, the club owned the smallest international signing bonus pools in the 2025 class. Nonetheless, the Dodgers were undeterred. They made an all-out push for Ohtani, then celebrated when he agreed to a 10-year, $700-million contract in which almost all of his salary would be deferred. That created a domino effect with Yamamoto, who credited Ohtani’s presence — and recruiting efforts — as a key reason for signing his 12-year, $325-million contract a few weeks later. And now, it’s looking increasingly likely that Sasaki could follow in their footsteps this week, as he embarks upon an eight-day period to sign before his posting window closes Jan. 23. The Dodgers have long been seen as a top contender for Sasaki, a hard-throwing 23-year-old right-hander who had a 2.10 earned-run average in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league. First and foremost, they are World Series champions and consensus betting favorites to defend their title; the kind of instant contender that could aid Sasaki’s personal goal of becoming “the No. 1 player in the world,” a goal that his agent relayed to reporters this offseason. Their lengthy history of pitching injuries aside, the Dodgers also are seen as one of the more pitching-savvy franchises in baseball; the kind of place Sasaki, who topped 100 innings only twice in his four-year Japanese career, could continue to develop as a young starter. Endorsement dollars also could factor in. Thanks to Ohtani and Yamamoto, the Dodgers are considered the most prominent MLB brand in Japan, where they will open their season in March with two games against the Chicago Cubs. And since Sasaki’s signing bonus will be limited to $5 million to $10 million, the Dodgers could present robust opportunities for him to maximize his earnings off the field. Then there is the Ohtani-Yamamoto effect. Both played with Sasaki on Japan’s title-winning team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Both have relationships with the pitcher, something that could work in the Dodgers’ favor the way it did with Yamamoto last offseason. Of course, the Dodgers are not alone in the Sasaki sweepstakes. Both the Padres and Blue Jays have their own appeals, as well as histories with other star Japanese players. Yu Darvish, another friend and former WBC teammate of Sasaki’s, headlines the Padres’ rotation. Still, the Dodgers have been optimistic about their chances. This past week, speculation of Sasaki coming to L.A. was further fueled when one of the top players in the Dodgers’ 2025 international class, Dominican shortstop Darrell Morel, reportedly flipped his commitment to the Pittsburgh Pirates — a move that theoretically would open up more of the $
DODGERS SHOHEI OHTANI YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO ROKI SASAKI JAPANESE PLAYERS MLB
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Dodgers Enter the Fray for Japanese Superstar Roki SasakiThe Los Angeles Dodgers have joined the race to sign Roki Sasaki, Japan's highly sought-after pitcher, becoming the sixth MLB team to make a pitch for his services.
Read more »
LeBron James on Retirement and Dodgers Pitch to Roki SasakiLeBron James discusses his potential retirement timeline and desire to finish his career with the Lakers. The Dodgers' pursuit of Roki Sasaki without Shohei Ohtani or Yoshinobu Yamamoto is also covered.
Read more »
Meet Roki Sasaki, MLB's next free agent superstar sought by DodgersRoki Sasaki, the 23-year-old star who has torn it up in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), is ready to make the journey across the Pacific.
Read more »
Dodgers Predicted To Beat Padres In Free Agency Battle For Roki SasakiThe Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are currently engaged in quite a competitive free agency battle for international ace Roki Sasaki.
Read more »
Padres Predicted To Win $6 Million Bidding War With Dodgers For Roki SasakiThe Roki Sasaki sweepstakes will likely come down to the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason.
Read more »
With Roki Sasaki looming, Orioles left $2.1 million unspent from allotment and Dodgers $1.9 millionThe Baltimore Orioles left about $2.1 million unspent from their 2024 international signing bonus pool allotment and the Los Angeles Dodgers around $1.9 million in a year there was speculation Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki would be available. Major League Baseball’s international amateur signing period runs from Jan. 15 to Dec.
Read more »