Although we’ve already seen a myriad of big free agent signings like Juan Soto, Willy Adames, Blake Snell, and Max Fried, there are numerous big-name players still available.
Does your favorite team need pitching? Corbin Burnes could be your guy.
Does your team need a slugger? How about Anthony Santander or Pete Alonso.
What about a reliable infielder? Look no further than Alex Bregman.
Okay, but are they any lefty bullpen specialists? Meet Tanner Scott.
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No matter what your team needs, there’s a potential game-changer out there, waiting to be picked up. However, the most exciting free agent still available might be the one that has never played in an MLB game.
Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki is the latest superstar arm to journey over to MLB from Nippon Professional Baseball. Given the success of guys like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Shota Imanaga, it makes sense that so many teams would be foaming at the mouth hoping to get their paws on the next player down that pipeline. Obviously though, only one team will earn the honor, and given Sasaki’s comments during free agency regarding his willingness to play for a smaller market, there are far more teams in the running than there normally would be for a player of this caliber.
Here are the latest rumors surrounding Roki Sasaki.
Sasaki meeting with Yankees ‘soon’
Per Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, Sasaki has a meeting scheduled with the Yankees ‘soon.’ He did not offer a specific date for said meeting, but given that Sasaki’s agent Joel Wolfe has expressed interest in starting meetings with teams the week before and after the holidays, we can expect it to happen at some point over the next week.
Dodgers, Padres favorites to land Sasaki?
MLB’s Jonathan Mayo expects either the Dodgers or Padres to land Sasaki, despite the Dodgers having one of the lowest international signing pools.
While all 30 MLB teams could be in the running, as Sasaki cannot earn more than $7.5 million this year, the Dodgers are still a team that often spends big on their players if they translate to wins. They have a history of great pitching, and already have two of Sasaki’s teammates from the Japanese team during the World Baseball Classic.
MLB has reportedly been polling general managers, asking them what they believe will happen, and the Dodgers received 11 of 20 votes.
The Padres received seven votes of their own. Most of the GMs point to Sasaki’s friendship with Yu Darvish and the presence of Hideo Nomo within the organization as a special assistant as factors that could play into Sasaki’s decision.
Mets have met with Sasaki
SNY’s Andy Martino reports that the Mets held a meeting with Sasaki on Thursday, Dec. 19.
Nothing was mentioned in regard to the meeting. We don’t know if it went well or poorly, but given the Mets’ willingness to pay big for star players, the Mets could have had a chance to convince Sasaki that he would earn such a contract if he signed with their team.
Of course, given the Mets just signed Juan Soto to a massive 15-year, $765 million deal, Sasaki’s affordability for at least the 2025 season would be a massive help to a Mets team looking to compete for a World Series again.
The Mets also just need pitching in general. Kodai Senga is coming off an injury-riddled 2024 campaign. Frankie Montas, Clay Holmes, and Griffin Canning are all unproven or inconsistent. Sean Manaea is a free agent. Altogether, the Mets just need an ace, and Sasaki would certainly fit the bill.
Could the Mariners be in the running?
A rotation of Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller, and Sasaki would be near unstoppable, and the Mariners would still have the money available to go after a big free-agent bat.
Mayo also notes that the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox could make compelling cases for Sasaki. Both teams have histories with Japanese players. The Cubs currently have Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki on their roster. The Red Sox have historically done very well with Japanese pitchers with athletes like Daisuke Matsuzaka, Koji Uehara, and Junichi Tazawa, each experiencing success at Fenway.