TL;DR - Scouting Report
Dodgers woo Roki Sasaki with stars in a final meeting to secure the Japanese phenom. With Shohei Ohtani likely involved, LA aims to edge out the Padres and Blue Jays before Sasaki's January 23 decision. Will the Dodgers succeed?
Start the Rally: Tweet This Now!In a high-stakes race to secure Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki, the Dodgers hosted a star-studded meeting, making their final pitch to sway the 23-year-old fireballer as he narrows his MLB choices to the Dodgers, Padres or Blue Jays.
Dodgers Host a Star-Studded Meeting with Roki Sasaki
Sasaki has a deadline of Jan. 23 to select from one of three reported finalists. This comes a day after Sasaki informed representatives from the Yankees, Giants, Mets, Rangers and Cubs that he would not be signing with their franchise.
A team with the wealth of talent like that which the Dodgers possess, could pick from a pool of players that includes Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. Sasaki is close friends with Ohtani, so it should be assumed that Ohtani was likely a part of that meeting.
It is reported that this meeting with the Dodgers was Sasaki’s final meeting prior to selecting which MLB team he will pitch for in 2025 and beyond. It is believed that Sasaki’s decision could come as early as this week.
However, it is likely that the decision will come closer to the end of the posting window, though.
The Padres’ Compelling Pitch Featuring Yu Darvish and Manny Machado
The Padres gave a tour to Sasaki that included a presentation given by Yu Darvish, Manny Machado and Joe Musgrove, all of which, no doubt, gave Sasaki a preview of what it would be like to be a part of the Dodgers-Padres rivalry from the San Diego-end of things.
What Makes Roki Sasaki a Coveted MLB Prospect?
Being that Sasaki is under the age of 25 and has pitched in fewer than six seasons in the NPB, he is classified as an international amateur, limited to a minor-league contract subject to international signing bonus pools, ranging from $5.15 to $7.56 million.
Teams can begin to make trades to increase their signing bonus allotment by up to 60 percent on Wednesday.
Sasaki went 10-5 with a 2.35 ERA and 1.036 WHIP. He posted a 10.5 K/9 in 18 starts for the Chiba Lotte Marines. He was slowed down last season by shoulder inflammation.
Key Takeaways from article
- Dodgers’ final meeting likely included Shohei Ohtani
- Roki Sasaki is could demand anywhere from $5.15 to $7.56 million as an international amateur
- The Padres’ pitch to Sasaki featured Yu Darvish and Manny Machado
Your Turn: Who do you think the Dodgers included in their meeting with Roki Sasaki? Tell us below in the comments!
