Roki Sasaki News: Dodgers Land Star Japanese Righthander

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Image credit: Roki Sasaki (Photo by Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Roki Sasaki has picked his destination.

After plenty of intrigue, the star Japanese righthander announced on his Instagram that he intends to sign with the Dodgers. Sasaki had narrowed his list of finalists to the Dodgers, Padres and Blue Jays. Los Angeles was long considered the favorite to land Sasaki.

The deadline for MLB teams to sign the star Japanese righthander was Jan. 23, just over a week after the international signing period opened on Jan. 15. Sasaki will immediately become one of baseball’s top prospects upon signing. The 23-year-old is subject to international bonus pool restrictions and will likely command Los Angeles’ entire bonus pool.

Baseball America’s Latest On Roki Sasaki

Dodgers, Padres & Blue Jays Emerge As Finalists

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Monday afternoon that Sasaki has narrowed his list of finalists to three teams: The Dodgers, Padres and Blue Jays.

The Dodgers and Padres have long been considered the favorites to sign Sasaki. The Blue Jays have emerged as a fairly late addition to the Sasaki derby. Toronto hosted Sasaki for an in-person meeting last week, according to The Athletic.

Rangers, Giants Out Of Sasaki Running

Other MLB organizations believed the Rangers were a sleeper in the Sasaki sweepstakes. Despite their aggressiveness on the international market and their bonus pool space in 2025, Texas appears to have fallen short. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reported Monday afternoon that Sasaki informed the Rangers he will not sign with them.

The Giants, another team long linked to Sasaki, are also out of the running, according to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser.

Sasaki Isn’t Destined For New York, Either

Both the Mets and Yankees landed meetings with Sasaki. Neither successfully wooed him to the Big Apple, though.

Which Teams Did Sasaki Visit With?

Eight teams reportedly landed initial meetings with Sasaki:

  • Blue Jays
  • Cubs
  • Dodgers
  • Giants
  • Mets
  • Padres
  • Rangers
  • Yankees

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