Japanese star Sasaki to sign with Dodgers
Roki Sasaki has made his decision.
The star Japanese right-hander announced Friday that he's signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"It was a very difficult decision, but I will do my best," Sasaki said.
He added: "At my news conference for joining the club, I hope to wear my Dodgers uniform, feeling gratitude for all those who have supported me."
The San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays were reportedly the other two finalists for Sasaki, who narrowed his decision down to three franchises after his agent Joel Wolfe said as many as 20 MLB teams showed interest earlier in the offseason.
The 23-year-old will only be eligible to receive a modest contract as a foreign pro under the age of 25 with less than six years of experience.
The former Chiba Lotte Marines star is moving to North America after a terrific four-season stint in Japan's top professional league. He owns a career 2.10 ERA with 11.5 K/9 across 64 appearances. He also posted a 3.52 ERA with 11 strikeouts across 7 2/3 innings for Japan at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Sasaki's signing bonus will be $6.5 million, a source told Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.
The Dodgers traded outfield prospect Dylan Campbell to the Philadelphia Phillies for international bonus pool space.
Sasaki will join what could be the most talented rotation in baseball in 2025. The Dodgers can roll out a group comprised of Sasaki, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani. Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May are also capable of starting games for Los Angeles.