Roki Sasaki Visits Yankees, Mets, Cubs. Dodgers still favorites.

Roki Sasaki, the Japanese pitching phenom often called “the Monster of the Reiwa Era,” has officially begun his Major League Baseball journey. This past Thursday, the 23-year-old reportedly met with representatives from both the New York Yankees and the New York Mets and expected to meet with the Chicago Cubs as part of his ongoing negotiations with MLB teams.

Sasaki’s visit to New York highlights the intrigue surrounding his potential MLB destination. The Yankees, known for their star-studded history and international appeal, are rumored to be making a strong pitch to the young ace. Meanwhile, the Mets, under owner Steve Cohen, have been aggressive in bolstering their roster and could offer Sasaki a leading role in their pitching rotation.

The excitement comes after Sasaki’s stellar career with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Nippon Professional Baseball. Over four seasons, he posted a 2.02 ERA and dazzled fans with a perfect game in 2022, striking out 19 batters. His 100-mph fastball and devastating splitter have drawn comparisons to MLB legends, and scouts believe he could be a franchise-altering player.

While Sasaki is set to meet with multiple teams, his signing is constrained by MLB’s international bonus pool rules. This could give an edge to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who boast an elite pitching development system. The Dodgers have a history of transforming talented arms into superstars, and their ability to maximize player potential could be a significant draw.

Also, Los Angeles offers Sasaki a lucrative market through endorsement opportunities and long-term earning potential surpassing many other destinations. With their track record of success with Japanese players (see Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Hideo Nomo, Kenta Maeda, etc), the Dodgers remain the clear favorites to land Sasaki. Now, the question is whether the charm of New York or the stability and opportunity in Los Angeles will shape this generational talent’s MLB future.