The Los Angeles Dodgers rumors tying the club to Japanese starting pitcher Roki Sasaki started last offseason with many MLB teams believing he would wind up in Los Angeles. One year later, MLB rumors have been less clear on where he’ll land.
Sasaki, age 23, is one of the best pitchers in baseball outside the United States. A two-time Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star with the NPB single-game strikeout record, the right-handed pitcher has drawn interest from a majority of MLB teams.
- Roki Sasaki stats 2024 (Baseball Reference): 2.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 4.03 K/BB, 10.5 K/9, 6.7 H/9, 0.2 HR/9 in 111 innings pitched
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Even after an injury-plagued 2024 season, more than 2 teams made pitches to Sasaki after he was officially posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines. There have also been persistent MLB rumors about the narrowed field of suitors, with the Dodgers joined by the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays. Now that field has reportedly narrowed.
Baseball writer Francys Romero of the BBWAA first reported that the San Diego Padres are moving forward with their signings of international free agents Jhoan De La Cruz and Carlos Alvarez. Because of MLB’s international free agency restrictions for players under the age of 25, these signings would leave San Diego without the bonus-pool money to sign Sasaki.
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Will Sammon of The Athletic also reported on Friday that Alvarez is signing with the Padres. The left-handed pitcher was waiting to sign with San Diego until the club had clarity on Sasaki. With the Padres reportedly agreeing to a deal today with Alvarez, Sasaki is seemingly headed elsewhere.
- Roki Sasaki career stats (NPB): 2.45 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 5.74 K/BB, 11.5 K/9, 6.0 H/9, 0.3 HR/9 in 394.2 innings pitched
That would leave just the Dodgers and Blue Jays standing as Sasaki’s preferred options. Given his reported preference to play on the West Coast paired with the Dodgers’ ability to compete for championships every year, there’s a very real possibility Sasaki is signing with Los Angeles.