The baseball world became more exciting just days before the official start of the Winter Meetings as news broke that Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki is expected to be posted this week. This will open a 45-day window for MLB teams to recruit Sasaki, who is widely regarded as one of the best young pitchers globally. The process of securing him will be more complicated than simply offering the highest salary, as he is classified as an international amateur, meaning his contract will be limited to the funds allocated by teams for international free agents.
Sasaki, 23, has been a standout in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), posting a remarkable 2.10 ERA with 505 strikeouts in 394 2/3 innings over four seasons. As he enters the MLB market, his arrival is expected to be a major coup for whichever team lands him. Given his potential and skill set, Sasaki represents an incredible value, similar to the bargain the Angels got when they signed Shohei Ohtani in 2018. His combination of a 100 mph fastball and devastating splitter makes him a top-tier arm for any team in need of pitching depth.
For teams like the Yankees and Mets, the challenge is finding ways to meet Sasaki’s contractual requirements within their international free agent (IFA) pool. The Yankees and Mets currently have around $6.26 million to allocate to international amateurs for the 2025 season. However, the Mets have already committed a significant portion of their budget to a $5 million deal with 17-year-old Dominican infielder Elian Peña. While this contract is nonbinding, backing out would hurt the Mets’ reputation and cost them a top prospect.
The Mets could look into trading for additional IFA funds to bolster their bid for Sasaki. The team is likely to make efforts to secure the necessary financial resources if they believe they have a genuine shot at landing him. Meanwhile, the defending champion Dodgers, who have notable Japanese players like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, are considered the front-runners for Sasaki’s services. Additionally, the Padres, with pitcher Yu Darvish being a close acquaintance of Sasaki, are also seen as a strong contender.
Sasaki is expected to be posted on Tuesday, and once he is posted, teams will be able to officially begin their recruitment process. Starting January 15, when the 2025 IFA market opens, Sasaki will be eligible to sign with a team. In the meantime, teams may be unsure whether to keep an extra rotation spot open, but any team that lands Sasaki will be thrilled to add a top-of-the-rotation arm with immense upside, all while potentially spending far less than expected.
