Prized Japanese free agent Roki Sasaki is in the process of deciding which team he wants to sign with in Major League Baseball. His agent, Joel Wolfe, mentioned that Sasaki has received information from 20 MLB clubs and recently listened to presentations in Los Angeles with his supporters. Sasaki is now back in Japan, discussing his options with family and advisers before his signing window from Jan. 15-23. Wolfe stated that Sasaki is likely to narrow down his choices and might meet with one or two more clubs or visit certain cities.
During a virtual session with reporters, Wolfe emphasized that Sasaki is determined and focused on achieving greatness in MLB rather than just seeking a lucrative contract. He has reportedly met with several teams including the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Texas, and San Francisco. Wolfe hinted that San Diego is also under consideration by Sasaki.
Meetings with teams involved general managers, coaches, and staff focusing on pitching development, training, and long-term career success. Sasaki, who is limited to a minor league contract due to his age, is viewed as a talented player with room for growth. Teams are preparing their offers within the international signing bonus pool, with the ability to trade allocations starting Jan. 15.
Wolfe mentioned that teams put significant effort into their presentations, showcasing their commitment to Sasaki through detailed PowerPoint presentations, short films, and even custom-made books. The process has been likened to a “Roki Film Festival,” reflecting the thorough research and dedication of the MLB clubs in pursuit of signing the promising Japanese talent.
Personal background, professional background.” Each team Sasaki met with was assigned what Wasserman described as an identical “homework assignment.” “It was a valuable opportunity for the teams to showcase their specialties,” Wolfe remarked. “It demonstrated their ability to analyze and effectively communicate information with him, shedding light on his thought process in evaluating and establishing his selection criteria when considering different teams.” Wolfe elaborated that Sasaki decided to depart from the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball’s Pacific League following his experience playing alongside Ohtani, Yu Darvish, and Shota Imanaga during Japan’s victorious 2023 World Baseball Classic campaign and witnessing Imanaga’s standout performances for the Chicago Cubs in the first half of the 2024 season. Should Sasaki delay signing with a Major League Baseball (MLB) team until after the 2026 season, he would have the opportunity to secure a major league contract as a free agent, potentially commanding a contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars. “Speaking from my perspective,” Wolfe stated, “He came to the realization that in order to elevate his game to the next level, he needed to compete against the world’s best players on a daily basis here and leverage the vast resources that major league teams offer to assist him in becoming one of the premier pitchers.”
