Dodgers Reportedly made proper arrangement to sign the Japanese Sensational Pitcher ‘No Matter What’
The Los Angeles Dodgers are stopping at nothing to improve their team for the present and future. L.A. is getting greedy, and although their focus is to win this season, they are also focused on another upcoming Japanese ace who could be posted as early as next off-season. According to Japanese baseball outlet, “ShoTime News,” the Dodgers will make a serious push to sign Japanese right-handed ace Roki Sasaki whenever he is posted.
The report says the Dodgers want the young Japanese pitcher “no matter what,” and that they’ve been scouting him since high school. The Dodgers also scouted Ohtani since his high school days.
Sasaki is just 22 years old and is in line to be the next great Japanese pitcher. If the report is true and the Dodgers are lucky enough to get him, Los Angeles will have three of arguably the best Japanese pitchers in baseball history.
Rosi Sasaki Scouting Report
Sasaki is currently with the Chiba Lotte Marines, a part of Nippon Professional Baseball, and has spent the last three seasons with them. In those three seasons, Sasaki has recorded incredible numbers, putting up a 2.00 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 376 strikeouts while only allowing 182 hits in 283.2 innings pitched and 36 games.
He also showed off his abilities in last year’s World Baseball Classic, recording a 102 mph strikeout against Randy Arozarena while facing Team Mexico. He allowed three earned runs in 7.2 innings while striking out 11 across two WBC starts.
When Will Roki Sasaki Be Posted?
Sasaki has tons of talent and the numbers to back it up, but right now, he is in a bit of a pickle. The 22-year-old has reportedly pushed his current team from the NPB to post him next off-season. However, if Sasaki is posted after the 2024 season, he will be considered an amateur free agent, and will have drastic financial limitations due to his age and lack of service time.
Ohtani had limitations when he entered MLB in 2017. Conversely, Yamamoto had no limitations, and was able to sign the largest deal in MLB history for a pitcher.
Sasaki will have to balance the financial limitations with the desire to play in MLB, and if he chooses to be posted after the 2024 off-season, the Dodgers are a perfect landing spot.
Sasaki would get to play in a rotation with his fellow Team Japan superstars Ohtani and Yamamoto, while the Dodgers would have a rotation with those three, Tyler Glasnow and Bobby Miller — imagine trying to get a hit against those guys.
Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
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