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Post by Blunashun on Nov 17, 2024 1:27:04 GMT
Dodgers land ex-Red Sox pitcher in free agency
Story by Joey Mistretta • 6h • 2 min read
The Los Angeles Dodgers have reportedly agreed to a contract with former Boston Red Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Joe Jacques, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
“Left-handed reliever Joe Jacques signs a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have given him an invite to their big-league camp next spring. He pitched in 25 games in the big leagues with the Boston Red Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks the past two years,” Nightengale wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Jacques, 29, made his MLB debut in 2023 with the Red Sox, posting a 5.06 ERA across 26.2 innings of work. He appeared in a total of two MLB games in 2024, one with the Red Sox and one with the Diamondbacks. Now he is set to head to the Dodgers on a minor league contract.
Dodgers making moves after World Series victory
Los Angeles is fresh off a World Series victory. The Dodgers are expected to be active in MLB free agency as they look to build a World Series contender once again. Of course, LA already features more than enough talent to make another Fall Classic run, but they have always been an organization that believes in having plenty of depth on the roster.
The Dodgers’ World Series victory was impressive, but they want to develop a true dynasty. Adding a player such as Jacques will not draw too much attention, but it is a move that could pay dividends in 2025.
Los Angeles excels at getting the most out of pitchers. They have helped a number of hurlers turn their careers around over the years. Whether it is as a starter or reliever, pitchers tend to find their footing after pitching for the Dodgers. Perhaps Joe Jacques will take a step forward in his career and emerge as a reliable bullpen option in Los Angeles.
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Post by Blunashun on Nov 17, 2024 13:46:15 GMT
How might the Dodgers construct a six-man rotation
November 15th, 2024
Juan Toribio
@juanctoribio
LOS ANGELES -- As the Dodgers map out their offseason decisions, one of the first things they’ll sort through is deciding whether they will go into the 2025 season with a six-man rotation.
At last week’s GM meetings in San Antonio, Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said it was a “fair bet” that L.A. would go with a six-man rotation. One of the biggest factors of that decision will be because of the pitching schedule that Yoshinobu Yamamoto has grown accustomed to and prefers. The same applies to Shohei Ohtani whenever he’s ready to pitch for the first time in a Dodgers uniform.
That plan would only become more of an option if the Dodgers end up landing Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, who is also used to pitching once a week as is the norm in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.
It goes without saying that if the Dodgers do end up going to a six-man rotation, they will need plenty of options to do so. What exactly could that look like? Do the Dodgers have enough options at the moment?
This early in the offseason, the answer is no. Right now, Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow -- assuming he’ll be healthy -- are the only certainties in the rotation. Tony Gonsolin finished the season healthy and could slide in. Dustin May’s status is in question and he could likely benefit from making a move to the bullpen.
Young pitchers such as Bobby Miller, Ben Casparius, Landon Knack and Justin Wrobleski will also be options. Clayton Kershaw, though currently a free agent, will also be in the mix once he re-signs, but that won’t happen for a while. There’s also the reality that some current options could be moved this offseason.
So in reality, in order for the Dodgers to make it all work, they will need to add either via free agency or trade this winter. On the free-agent front, adding Sasaki would be a huge win for the Dodgers. They would get another young power arm in the rotation.
Going after Blake Snell, Max Fried or, to a lesser cost, Nathan Eovaldi also makes sense. The Dodgers would really benefit from adding another top-level arm in the rotation. Snell definitely fits that description. Fried has been more than solid throughout his career. Both pitchers would be massive additions to the rotation.
Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler will also be options in the free-agent market, but both could be looking for more than the Dodgers are willing to give. That will all depend on how their respective markets shake out. Flaherty, of course, will likely get more interest than Buehler given how their regular seasons went.
On the trade front, the Dodgers could also dip their toes and check in on Garrett Crochet, who appears more than likely to get moved before the start of the season.
The positive development for the Dodgers is that there are plenty of options. They just need to decide which fits best to what appears to be a rotation heading toward needing six starters, at least to start the season.
Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler will also be options in the free-agent market, but both could be looking for more than the Dodgers are willing to give. That will all depend on how their respective markets shake out. Flaherty, of course, will likely get more interest than Buehler given how their regular seasons went.
On the trade front, the Dodgers could also dip their toes and check in on Garrett Crochet, who appears more than likely to get moved before the start of the season.
The positive development for the Dodgers is that there are plenty of options. They just need to decide which fits best to what appears to be a rotation heading toward needing six starters, at least to start the season.
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Post by Blunashun on Nov 17, 2024 13:50:44 GMT
That would be a great idea. Snell would be a coup. But he had a $30,000,000 player option for 2025, which he declined. He pitched in 20 games this year. He'll be 32 in a few weeks.
I might prefer Buehler over Flaherty.
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20DodgerMiracle24
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Post by 20DodgerMiracle24 on Nov 17, 2024 17:04:11 GMT
That would be a great idea. Snell would be a coup. But he had a $30,000,000 player option for 2025, which he declined. He pitched in 20 games this year. He'll be 32 in a few weeks. I might prefer Buehler over Flaherty. If Dodgers import any pitcher, it has to be a lefty like Max Fried, unless Justin Wrobloeski makes the rotation next spring. I've already made my stance on Roki Sasaki. Gonsolin, May and Sheehan will all be ready by spring. One of them should go into the rotation and the other 2 to the pen. We'll worry about Showtime in the rotation around the all star break, if and almost when a starter goes on the IL.. These things tend to work themselves out anyhow. Walkman over Flaherty? Maybe. Walkman seems to have reinvented himself. Maybe the closer? We need to dig up Tom Lasorda, who saw the potential in Eric Gagne. Gagne struggled as a starter, but Lasorda, having been a MLB pitcher, knew what to look for. |
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Post by Blunashun on Nov 17, 2024 22:58:38 GMT
That would be a great idea. Snell would be a coup. But he had a $30,000,000 player option for 2025, which he declined. He pitched in 20 games this year. He'll be 32 in a few weeks. I might prefer Buehler over Flaherty. If Dodgers import any pitcher, it has to be a lefty like Max Fried, unless Justin Wrobloeski makes the rotation next spring. I've already made my stance on Roki Sasaki. Gonsolin, May and Sheehan will all be ready by spring. One of them should go into the rotation and the other 2 to the pen. We'll worry about Showtime in the rotation around the all star break, if and almost when a starter goes on the IL.. These things tend to work themselves out anyhow. Walkman over Flaherty? Maybe. Walkman seems to have reinvented himself. Maybe the closer? We need to dig up Tom Lasorda, who saw the potential in Eric Gagne. Gagne struggled as a starter, but Lasorda, having been a MLB pitcher, knew what to look for. One thing about Fried is his abysmal playoff record. 5.10 ERA & 1.49 WHIP in 67.0 innings. He's trending in the wrong direction too. His last three postseason starts he's gone 3.1, 4.0 & 2.0 innings pitched. Three separate seasons. 22 hits allowed, 5 walks, 1 wild pitch, 12 earned runs. That's an 11.57 ERA & 2.89 WHIP. That's Kershaw's job. Snell is lefthanded too. It really depends on what he expects. |
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Post by Blunashun on Nov 19, 2024 4:16:11 GMT
Just read an article on sweepers. Everyone remembers that video game slider Blake Treinen threw. It's break was unreal. Had to contribute to a lot of his injuries. I noticed when he came back this past season he wasn't throwing it. He was throwing sweepers. Sweepers are a combination of sliders & cutters. They've been confused as "slurves." Slider-curve. Sweepers have more horizontal movement. When the Dodgers got some use out of Andrew Heaney a few years back, it was due in large part to sweepers. I wonder if that's what they had Tyler Andrson throwing. www.nytimes.com/athletic/4410264/2023/04/18/sweeper-pitch-problems-fixes/ |
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Post by Blunashun on Nov 19, 2024 19:34:43 GMT
Juan Soto to the Dodgers? How star free agent fits payroll structure and why they need him more than you think
The Dodgers' pursuit of Soto is nowhere as preposterous as it may sound
By Mike Axisa
4 hrs ago
•
3 min read
The defending World Series champions will soon meet with the offseason's top free agent. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Juan Soto will have a meeting early this week, perhaps as soon as Tuesday, reports MLB.com. The Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and New York Yankees have already had their meetings and more could be in the works too.
Soto, our top-ranked free agent, is an AL MVP finalist after hitting .288/.419/.569 with a career-high 41 home runs and a career-high 7.9 WAR with the Yankees in 2024. The Dodgers of course beat Soto and the Yankees in the World Series. Now they have a chance to beat him and get him to join them. Does the Dodgers pursuing Soto make sense though? Can they even fit him into their payroll? Here's what you need to know about a possible fit between the Dodgers and Soto.
The Dodgers need Soto more than you may think
With Mookie Betts expected to move back to the infield next year, the Dodgers are short on outfielders. Tommy Edman will shift back to center field, his best position, and right now James Outman and Andy Pages are the leading in-house candidates to man the corners. Betts and utility man Chris Taylor are the only other outfielders on the 40-man roster.
Teoscar Hernández slugged 33 home runs in 2024 after signing a one-year contract, and is now a free agent. He wants to return to the Dodgers, though the team would be doing themselves a disservice if they didn't at least meet with Soto. Soto is on the very short list of the game's best hitters. The defending World Series champs should always be in on a player like that.
Mostly though, the Dodgers need outfielders, and while Soto isn't much of a defender, his bat more than makes up for his glove. If the Dodgers manage to land Soto, their regular lineup could look like this:
DH Shohei Ohtani, LHB
2B Mookie Betts, RHB
RF Juan Soto, LHB
1B Freddie Freeman, LHB
C Will Smith, RHB
3B Max Muncy, LHB<<<
CF Tommy Edman, SHB
LF James Outman, LHB and Andy Pages, RHB
SS Miguel Rojas, RHB
Pretty left-handed heavy at the top, though those aren't your run of the mill lefty hitters. Ohtani, Soto, and Freeman are all Hall of Fame bound and they all hit lefties well. Point is, it doesn't matter what your lineup looks like. When you have a chance to get a player like Soto, you do it, and you figure out the rest later. The Dodgers just so happen to need an outfielder. It's an easy fit.
Adding Soto should not be an issue payroll-wise
The Dodgers finished 2024 with a $351.7 million payroll for competitive balance tax (CBT) purposes, per Cot's Baseball Contracts. That is a franchise record, rather easily too, though their estimated 2025 CBT payroll commitments total $272.3 million. There is no reason -- zero -- payroll should come down next year. Winning the World Series comes with a massive windfall, and it seems like every week the Dodgers announce a new sponsorship agreement with a Japanese company. Ohtani is a license to print money.
CBT payroll is based on average annual value and even a $50 million per year commitment for Soto would leave the Dodgers about $30 million shy of their 2024 payroll. They need to re-sign Clayton Kershaw, re-sign or replace Blake Treinen, perhaps bring in another outfielder in addition to Soto, and add depth pieces, so they would put that remaining $30 million or so to good use. Bottom line, the Dodgers have plenty of spending room based on their 2024 CBT payroll. Affording Soto will not be an issue.
Ohtani took all those deferrals for this reason
So the Dodgers could surround him with top tier talent like Soto. Ohtani's 10-year, $700 million contract pays him only $2 million per year with the other $68 million deferred well down the line. For CBT purposes, Ohtani counts as roughly $46 million per year rather than the full $70 million. That is still the highest individual CBT hit in the sport, but it is well south of Ohtani's true value.
Ohtani reportedly offered to take those deferrals -- the Dodgers did not bring the idea to him -- because he wants them to be able to build the best possible roster around him. Well, Soto is a recently turned 26-year-old who is close to the perfect hitter. Elite power, elite bat-to-ball skills, elite plate discipline, rises to the occasion. When Ohtani took those deferrals, he did so with the idea the Dodgers would add players like Soto, or at least make a push to sign him. The Dodgers owe it to Ohtani to do this.
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Post by Blunashun on Nov 19, 2024 19:39:36 GMT
I would try like hell to unload Muncy & keep Teoscar. FIND a third baseman. He doesn't have to be an elite hitter. Just good with a glove. Max is neither. Use that money saved to pursue Soto AND Hernandez.
If they can do all that, plus sign Sasaki, Mark Walter jumps to the top of my all-time LA sports owner list. Ahead of even Walter O'Malley & Jerry Buss.
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Post by Blunashun on Nov 20, 2024 5:57:13 GMT
Dodgers' Jack Dreyer: Shielded from Rule 5 Draft
Rotowire 5 hrs ago
The Dodgers added Dreyer to the 40-man roster Tuesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Dreyer appeared in 37 games with Triple-A Oklahoma in 2024, producing a 2.74 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with 52 strikeouts over 42.2 innings. The left-hander is just one step short of being a major-leaguer and he'll have a chance to prove himself with Los Angeles this spring in an attempt to crack the Opening Day roster.
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Post by Blunashun on Nov 20, 2024 6:03:29 GMT
MLB rumors: Yankees brass 'gung ho' after meeting with Juan Soto, while Phillies want in on free agency hunt
Here are your hot stove rumors for Tuesday, Nov. 19
By R.J. Anderson & Matt Snyder
8 hrs ago
•
3 min read
Each passing day brings us deeper and deeper into Major League Baseball's offseason. The hot stove seems certain to pick up beginning this week, with a number of important deadlines (including the Rule 5 protection and contract tenders) forcing activity. Below, CBS Sports has collected all of Tuesday's news, notes, and moves.
Steinbrenner, Yankees 'gung-ho' about Soto
Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner and an organizational contingent that included general manager Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone met with free-agent outfielder Juan Soto on Monday afternoon in an attempt to woo him back into the fold for the foreseeable future. Steinbrenner and company are reportedly "gung-ho" about Soto, according to the New York Post.
Soto, 26, is the top free agent available this winter thanks to his combination of youth and production. In fact, only one other player in MLB history has accumulated more Wins Above Replacement thru their age-25 season than Soto has while reaching free agency in their mid-20s. That individual? Alex Rodriguez, who established a new record for the richest contract in the league's history when he signed a 10-year pact worth $252 million with the Texas Rangers back during the 2000-01 offseason.
Where, precisely, the bidding for Soto will lead is up to everyone's imagination, but it's fair to assume that he's going to sign a massive contract between now and the start of spring training.
The Yankees are considered to be one of the favorites to sign Soto. They're also the fourth known team to have met with Soto this winter, joining the Mets, Red Sox, and Blue Jays. The Dodgers, the defending World Series champions, are expected to hold their own meeting with him this week.
Phillies hope to meet with Soto, too
Speaking of Soto, the Post reports that the Phillies also hope to meet with Soto. Philadelphia will free up some budget space come next winter, when the contracts of catcher J.T. Realmuto and outfielder/DH Kyle Schwarber expire. The Phillies have reliably fielded a top-five payroll dating back to the start of the 2021 season, and it doesn't seem like Dave Dombrowski and crew are going to stop poring resources into a team that remains one of the best in the National League.
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Post by Blunashun on Nov 20, 2024 20:56:01 GMT
Yankees' $660 Million Superstar Juan Soto Projected To Cut Ties For Bigger Deal With Mets
Story by Zach Pressnell • 2h • 2 min read
The "Juan Soto sweepstakes" are taking over the baseball world this winter. The New York Yankees' superstar outfielder is a free agent at the ripe age of 26 while being in the prime of his career.
He's expected to see a contract worth well north of $550 million. Some projections see him earning in the $650 million range.
FanSided's Nick Villano recently projected where each of MLB's top 20 free agents would land this winter. When he got to Soto, the decision came down to two teams: the Yankees and their cross-town rivals, the New York Mets. Eventually, Villano predicted Soto to sign with the Mets over the Yankees for one big reason: money.
"$50 million. That is the price Steve Cohen is willing to pay more than any other team in the Soto Sweepstakes," Villano wrote. "The latest report states that the Mets are not letting Soto out of their sites and want to make sure it's not money that makes his decision. They will outspend literally everyone."
To put it simply, if this report about Cohen upping each offer by $50 million is accurate, then it's a done deal. Soto will go to the Mets.
But let's pump the brakes. That statement comes from a secondary source rather than from Cohen's own mouth, so it's very hard to trust the validity of such an outlandish statement.
Still, it could be true. Cohen is just so rich that he could offer Soto $50 million more than any other team. But, as the number approaches $700 million, I find it hard to imagine this idea continues.
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Post by Blunashun on Nov 20, 2024 21:03:09 GMT
That's getting pretty lofty. Things the Dodgers MIGHT be able to do to partially counter that are frontload the contract & give Soto an out-clause. Ohtani is obviously heavily backloaded. Give Soto a unilateral out-clause after four or five years. He can test the market again at the age of 30-31.
If the Dodgers are stuck with Taylor & Muncy, they each have one year remaining. That's $25,000,000 in combined savings.
After Sasaki, I wouldn't invest too heavily in starting pitchers. The wave of the future seems to be bullpen games. With starters on IL for large stretches of the season.
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Post by Blunashun on Nov 21, 2024 4:58:24 GMT
MLB Cy Young Award 2024: Chris Sale, Tarik Skubal Win NL, AL Awards; Voting Results Scott PolacekX.com November 20, 2024 Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers and Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves were the best pitchers in Major League Baseball during the 2024 season, and they were rewarded accordingly Wednesday. Skubal took home the American League Cy Young award over fellow finalists Seth Lugo of the Kansas City Royals and Emmanuel Clase of the Cleveland Guardians, while Sale won the National League Cy Young over finalists Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies. Skubal won his in unanimous fashion. x.com/BNightengale/status/1859379447238898004x.com/MLBONFOX/status/1859385477067046949There was an American League Central theme in the AL Cy Young race, which was fitting since three of the final four teams in the AL playoffs came from the division. Skubal's individual brilliance was a major reason the Tigers reached the postseason for the first time in a decade, as he finished with the AL Triple Crown for pitching with 18 wins, a 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts. He also posted a sparkling 0.92 WHIP and led the league with a 2.50 FIP and 170 ERA+, per Baseball Reference. His ability to mix-and-match a fastball that hits triple digits with a collection of pitches that includes a changeup, slider and knuckle-curve made him nearly unhittable and propelled the Tigers into October. Skubal wasn't the only one who was nearly unhittable in the division, as Clase finished with an 0.61 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, 66 strikeouts and a league-best 47 saves in 74.1 innings this season for the Guardians. While he struggled in the American League Championship Series loss to the New York Yankees, this is a regular-season award. It is a testament to his individual performance that he became the first reliever to be named a Cy Young finalist since Francisco Rodríguez was in 2008. Clase's Guardians and Skubal's Tigers were joined in the postseason by Lugo and the Royals thanks in large part to the veteran right-hander's ability to anchor Kansas City's staff. He tallied a 3.00 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 181 strikeouts in 206.2 innings in his age-34 season while making his first career All-Star Game. After previously pitching for the New York Mets and San Diego Padres, he joined the Royals ahead of the 2024 campaign and immediately delivered in the American League even if he didn't put up Triple Crown numbers like Skubal. Sale did, though, on the National League side of things. The Braves' ace led the NL in wins (18), ERA (2.38) and strikeouts (225) while also putting up a league-best 2.09 FIP and 174 ERA+ in 177.2 innings, per Baseball Reference. The eight-time All-Star was at his best in his first season in the NL after previously suiting up for the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox. Unfortunately for Atlanta, a back injury sidelined him for the final week of the regular-season and the team's NL Wild Card Series loss to the Padres, but he still exceeded all realistic expectations for 2024. He wasn't the only NL pitcher to make headlines, as Skenes lived up to and exceeded the overwhelming hype in his rookie campaign for the Pirates. While he didn't make his debut until May 11 and pitched just 133 innings, the flamethrower posted an 11-3 record with a 1.96 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 170 strikeouts. Skenes figures to be the face of the franchise in Pittsburgh for years to come and started off his career in impressive fashion, finishing third while earning a second-place vote in the final results. Wheeler has been under the spotlight for much longer and finished second in Cy Young voting in 2021 and sixth in 20223 during previous seasons for the Phillies. All he did in 2024 was tally a 2.57 ERA, league-best 0.96 WHIP and 224 strikeouts in 200 innings while helping guide his team to a division title. All six finalists were standouts throughout the season, but only two could take home the awards. And that is exactly what Skubal and Sale did. |
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Post by Blunashun on Nov 21, 2024 5:06:34 GMT
Roki Sasaki Included in MLB's 2025 International Signing Period, Rob Manfred Says Paul Kasabian November 20, 2024 MLB commissioner Rob Manfred told reporters that he expects Japanese star pitcher Roki Sasaki to be part of the 2025 international signing class. As noted by ESPN's Jorge Castillo, that means Sasaki won't sign with an MLB team before January 15, when the league's international signing period begins. The 23-year-old Sasaki played for Nippon Professional Baseball's Chiba Lotte Marines, who already announced on Nov. 9 that they would begin the process of posting the right-hander. Over four seasons, Sasaki went 30-15 with a 2.02 ERA (0.88 WHIP) and 524 strikeouts over 414.2 innings (69 games). He most notably threw a perfect game in April 2022, striking out 19 in a 6-0 win over the Orix Buffaloes.This is a unique situation to say the least. Sasaki has the potential to be a superstar someday, but he won't be getting superstar money, at least not yet. As Fox Sports MLB Analyst Ben Verlander noted, Sasaki can only sign a minor league deal, although he can receive an MLB team's entire bonus money pool. x.com/BenVerlander/status/1859375595957911737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1859375595957911737%7Ctwgr%5E037c2fed09f2669821adfad5f090c67dcae59b6a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F10144245-roki-sasaki-included-in-mlbs-2025-international-signing-period-rob-manfred-saysHowever, no team has more than $7,555,500. Those teams are as follows, per Baseball America: the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays.
So money really isn't going to be an overriding factor here. As for where he'll land, the wide expectation is the Los Angeles Dodgers, home already to Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
This is what ESPN's Buster Olney had to say recently on the Baseball Tonight podcast (h/t Maren Angus of Dodger Nation). "In theory, he could play for any one of the 30 teams because he's not going to get a big free agent deal the way (Yoshinobu) Yamamoto did last winter. He's going to wind up taking a very minimal deal the way Shohei Ohtani did. I had a conversation with executives about this. Thirty out of 30 teams believe he's going to the Dodgers. That's the reality, right? But we don't really know what's in his heart. You won't really know until he actually is having these conversations." Jon Heyman of the New York Post also reported that "insiders are assuming LA is the heavy favorite."
L.A. does have the least amount of bonus pool money to offer (a league-low $5,146,200, matching only the San Francisco Giants), but that clearly doesn't matter here based on MLB insiders' intuitions. Ultimately, Sasaki won't be able to sign anywhere for a couple months, but he's clearly one of the biggest names to watch this offseason regardless. |
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Post by jrgreene6 on Nov 21, 2024 6:31:22 GMT
Roki Sasaki Included in MLB's 2025 International Signing Period, Rob Manfred Says Paul Kasabian November 20, 2024 MLB commissioner Rob Manfred told reporters that he expects Japanese star pitcher Roki Sasaki to be part of the 2025 international signing class. As noted by ESPN's Jorge Castillo, that means Sasaki won't sign with an MLB team before January 15, when the league's international signing period begins. The 23-year-old Sasaki played for Nippon Professional Baseball's Chiba Lotte Marines, who already announced on Nov. 9 that they would begin the process of posting the right-hander. Over four seasons, Sasaki went 30-15 with a 2.02 ERA (0.88 WHIP) and 524 strikeouts over 414.2 innings (69 games). He most notably threw a perfect game in April 2022, striking out 19 in a 6-0 win over the Orix Buffaloes.This is a unique situation to say the least. Sasaki has the potential to be a superstar someday, but he won't be getting superstar money, at least not yet. As Fox Sports MLB Analyst Ben Verlander noted, Sasaki can only sign a minor league deal, although he can receive an MLB team's entire bonus money pool. x.com/BenVerlander/status/1859375595957911737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1859375595957911737%7Ctwgr%5E037c2fed09f2669821adfad5f090c67dcae59b6a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F10144245-roki-sasaki-included-in-mlbs-2025-international-signing-period-rob-manfred-saysHowever, no team has more than $7,555,500. Those teams are as follows, per Baseball America: the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays.
So money really isn't going to be an overriding factor here. As for where he'll land, the wide expectation is the Los Angeles Dodgers, home already to Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
This is what ESPN's Buster Olney had to say recently on the Baseball Tonight podcast (h/t Maren Angus of Dodger Nation). "In theory, he could play for any one of the 30 teams because he's not going to get a big free agent deal the way (Yoshinobu) Yamamoto did last winter. He's going to wind up taking a very minimal deal the way Shohei Ohtani did. I had a conversation with executives about this. Thirty out of 30 teams believe he's going to the Dodgers. That's the reality, right? But we don't really know what's in his heart. You won't really know until he actually is having these conversations." Jon Heyman of the New York Post also reported that "insiders are assuming LA is the heavy favorite."
L.A. does have the least amount of bonus pool money to offer (a league-low $5,146,200, matching only the San Francisco Giants), but that clearly doesn't matter here based on MLB insiders' intuitions. Ultimately, Sasaki won't be able to sign anywhere for a couple months, but he's clearly one of the biggest names to watch this offseason regardless. Hopefully he comes with his own personal pitching coach, trainer and nutritionalist. Keep him away from LA’s misfits. I don’t want to see him on the IL before the All Star break. GO DODGERS!!! |
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