Who Are the Frontrunners For Roki Sasaki?

When the Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani to his $700 million contract within the 2023 offseason, they’d their sights set on a World Sequence victory in 2024. The Dodgers received their want, taking down the New York Yankees in 5 dominant video games. Their lone blunder within the Fall Traditional got here with an exhausted bullpen attempting to string collectively a full slate of innings on the highway with Ben Casparius as their beginning pitcher. It’s this lack of beginning pitching that had so many individuals, myself included, write the 2024 Dodgers off earlier than the postseason even began. Their pitching workers, nonetheless, went on to set scoreless-inning information within the postseason with dominant performances from primarily everybody concerned. The scary half is, their pitching could also be getting even higher in 2025.

Roki Sasaki, a 23-year-old celebrity righty from Japan, has dominated his competitors ever since he began pitching. When he was 19, he pitched to a 1.84 ERA in 16 begins. The baseball world final noticed him carry out on an enormous stage in 2023’s World Baseball Traditional. It was not too long ago confirmed that Sasaki can be posted by the NPB and make his MLB debut within the 2025 common season. The consensus amongst baseball followers is that the Dodgers will land this proficient RHP. I really feel prefer it was typically assumed that Roki would head to LA (not the Angels) within the offseason final yr, too. It’s exhausting to disclaim the attraction, contemplating they’ve Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and a recent World Sequence for Roki to gawk at. 

Nonetheless, each group will get their crack at Roki. He’s below the identical signing circumstances as Ohtani was as a result of he was posted earlier than the age of 25. This implies his cash will come from groups’ worldwide signing bonuses as an alternative of a contract like a regular free agent. This reality does make issues extra fascinating by way of who will signal Sasaki. Sadly, the Dodgers have the biggest sum of money of their worldwide signing bonus pool, so that is one more signal pointing to Los Angeles signing him. What would his stuff appear like, and the way would he match into the rotation of different beginning pitchers on a brand new group? This text will dive into 3 potential suitors for probably the most Japanese pitching prospects and what contribution from Sasaki would imply for every of them.

However first, it’s value familiarizing oneself with Roki’s arsenal on the mound. His fastball touches 102 MPH and has the flexibility to generate swing and miss at a decent clip. Nevertheless, it’s value noting that an harm to his throwing arm took off some velocity, as he went from averaging 98.8 MPH in 2023 to 96.8 MPH in 2024. Scouts on MLB.com have mentioned that, so long as there are not any severe harm issues in his close to future, this fastball regression shouldn’t be of concern. Sasaki, like many different pitchers out of Japan, throws a splitter. Nevertheless, his shouldn’t be like anybody else’s on the earth. MLB’s common whiff fee on splitters was 34.5% in 2024. Sasaki’s was 57.1%. This pitch is what made Roki well-known, as he usually throws it at 90+ MPH and makes opposing hitters buckle on the plate. He additionally throws a slider-type of breaking ball however has been largely a two-pitch pitcher within the eyes of baseball followers.

A profitable signing of Roki Sasaki by the Dodgers would ship the baseball world into a sort of despair, principally as a result of they know that this franchise has the prospect to win the World Sequence 5+ instances within the subsequent 10 seasons. In concept, their beginning rotation may appear like this: Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, Tyler Glasnow, and certainly one of both Dustin Could, Clayton Kershaw, or Bobby Miller. The Dodgers realized firsthand final season which you could by no means have an excessive amount of pitching. Their wholesome pitching depth chart is terrifying for the remainder of the league. You already know there’s a problem when it’s exhausting to determine the 4th finest pitcher in a rotation of 5 individuals. Any a type of prime 4 guys has the upside to be the ace of the workers. Plus, they could exit and signal Max Fried for the hell of it. Be looking out for this Dodgers group to show into one thing insane within the offseason this yr. They received a style of an actual World Sequence win for the primary time since 1988, and so they haven’t any plans on slowing down. 

The Giants have was the obvious little brother to the Dodgers in the previous couple of years. It’s unhappy to say, however I can assure that the majority Dodger followers view the Padres as their larger rivals as of late over the Giants. The Giants have been energetic within the offseason already, however not within the player-signing market. They lastly parted methods with Farhan Zaidi after years of fan outcry. They put in one Buster Posey on the head of the group in a transfer that comes off as determined for a brand new route. Nonetheless, as a Giants fan, I’m excited concerning the try at a recent begin with out utterly nuking the franchise by bringing in somebody exterior to proper the ship. Signing Roki Sasaki would characterize Posey’s first enormous transfer because the captain of this ship. The Large’s pitching workers has the potential to compete with one of the best rotations throughout the league. Their rotation would appear like this: Logan Webb, Roki Sasaki, Robbie Ray, Kyle Harrison, and Hayden Birdsong/Jordan Hicks (so long as his arm doesn’t hand over within the second half once more). Just like the Dodgers, the Giants have a ton of depth for pitching. If their bullpen is ready to dominate video games because it did in 2023, their pitching workers would have an opportunity to propel them to their first playoff look since 2021.

Sorry, American League. On this author’s opinion, I see Sasaki ending up within the NL. The Phillies current an fascinating case for signing Roki this offseason. Their consistency in the previous couple of seasons is definitely a plus. Coming so shut in 2022 after which shedding the NLCS in 2023 has left Philly baseball followers wanting extra. Signing Sasaki, though an unorthodox transfer, can be a incredible choice for this group. It feels just like the Phillies have been lacking one thing from their beginning rotation as of late. Everybody is aware of of the dominance of Zack Wheeler and the consistency of Aaron Nola. Exterior of these guys, it’s exhausting to call one other noteworthy contributing arm. Guys like Cristopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez present distinctive depth as lefties, however guys like Taijuan Walker have been there final season to convey everybody down a step. Signing Sasaki would create a rotation near this: Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Roki Sasaki, Ranger Suarez, and Cristopher Sanchez. This group of men paired with the always-powerful bullpen in Philly creates depth on the mound that has been lacking for them. The Phillies’ bats are at all times going to indicate up, particularly in October. Including somebody like Sasaki would give Bryce Harper a incredible shot at his first ring.

The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes can be a very powerful of the offseason on the pitching facet. For now, all eyes are turned to Juan Soto. His choice has the prospect to set a file for a contract given to an outfielder. There’s a world the place the Dodgers get each Soto and Sasaki. Coping with that for the foreseeable future would completely spiral the baseball world into insanity. Nonetheless, look ahead to Sasaki to influence no matter group lands him in a profound manner in 2025 and past.