Exciting news from the world of baseball! Roki Sasaki, a talented right-handed pitcher from Japan, has announced on Instagram that he will sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
This move makes the Dodgers even stronger. Interestingly, signing Sasaki will cost them significantly less than the $700 million deal they gave to fellow Japanese star, Shohei Ohtani, last winter.
Sasaki, 24 years old, could be one of the most valuable pitchers available this winter. His impressive fastball, which can reach 100 mph, paired with a strong understanding of the game, sets him apart. Scouts who watched him pitch for the Chiba Lotte Marines have high hopes for his success in Major League Baseball.
Because he was posted by Chiba Lotte before turning 25, Sasaki is considered an international free agent. This means the Dodgers will have six years of control over him, similar to any player selected in the MLB draft. He is also subject to a pay scale that keeps salaries lower for young players, making him a great investment for the team.
Sasaki’s signing bonus is $6.5 million, while he’ll likely earn the league minimum salary in 2025, which was $740,000 last season and is set to rise to $760,000 this year. He can enter salary arbitration in his fourth, fifth, and sixth years, which could lead to substantial pay increases. By Year 7, he may hit free agency.
He’s not just a fastball pitcher; Sasaki has a variety of pitches, including a split-finger fastball. His recent success in the World Baseball Classic alongside Ohtani and other players influenced his decision to join the Dodgers. His agent, Joel Wolfe, mentioned that seeing other Japanese players excel in the MLB encouraged Sasaki to take this step to compete against the best talent.
Sasaki is following a path similar to Ohtani, who came to the USA at 23 and has since made waves in the league. Now, he joins a Dodgers rotation that includes Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and potentially Clayton Kershaw, who might re-sign after offseason surgery.
Even though Ohtani is recovering from an elbow surgery and won’t be ready to pitch at the start of the 2025 season, he’s expected to return soon after. Last year, he had a historic season, becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.
During the offseason, the San Diego Padres had hoped to sign Sasaki but must now look for other options. The Toronto Blue Jays were also interested, but ultimately, the Dodgers won this bidding war.
Earlier this offseason, the Dodgers made headlines by signing Blake Snell, a former Cy Young winner, for five years and $182 million. The Diamondbacks secured Corbin Burnes for six years at $210 million, making him the highest-paid pitcher this winter.
Sasaki has proven to be a dominant force in Japan, boasting a record of 26-13 with a 2.13 ERA over the past three seasons and striking out 437 batters in just over 321 innings. Last season, he went 10-5 with a 2.35 ERA. With his skills and ambition, he’s set to make a significant impact in the MLB.
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Roki Sasaki,Los Angeles Dodgers,MLB,Shohei Ohtani,Blake Snell,Joel Wolfe,Scott Boras,Yoshinobu Yamamoto,Yu Darvish,Shota Imanaga
