In recent weeks, reports have emerged about several teams meeting with right-hander Roki Sasaki as his unconventional free agency unfolds. The Mets, Yankees, Cubs, Giants, and Rangers have all reportedly had in-person meetings with the young phenom. Now, the Dodgers have joined the list, as Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports that they’ve also met with Sasaki.
The Dodgers’ meeting with the 23-year-old star comes as little surprise. Both Los Angeles and San Diego have long been considered frontrunners for Sasaki, even before it was confirmed that he would be posted this winter. The buzz surrounding Sasaki’s potential move to the Dodgers became so loud that his agent, Joel Wolfe, had to strongly deny reports of a “handshake” agreement between the two parties. At the Winter Meetings in Dallas, Wolfe confirmed that Sasaki would meet with several teams after the meetings, before taking a brief holiday in Japan before resuming talks.
Given this timeline, the meetings between Sasaki and teams so far have likely been preliminary, allowing him to get to know the organizations he’s interested in. The group of six teams meeting with him isn’t necessarily complete, and other clubs, like the Padres, may have met with Sasaki privately before the holidays.
Sasaki’s incredible talent and unique situation make him one of the most highly sought-after players this winter. At just 23 years old, his 2.10 ERA over 394 2/3 NPB innings places him in line for a substantial contract. However, unlike other high-profile players like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Sasaki is under 25, meaning he is considered an international amateur. This restricts him to a minor league contract with a bonus based on a team’s international bonus pool, removing the typical financial competition that free-agent contracts usually involve.
Adding Sasaki to any team’s rotation would be a major boost, and the Dodgers are no exception. While they’ve bolstered their rotation with Blake Snell’s five-year deal and expect Clayton Kershaw to return, the group still lacks certainty. With Snell, Kershaw, Tyler Glasnow, and others facing injury concerns, Sasaki’s addition would provide another elite option, and the Dodgers’ depth would allow them to carefully manage his innings, especially after he dealt with shoulder and oblique injuries in Japan.
