The countdown for Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki to announce his determination on which Main League Baseball group he’ll make his debut with subsequent season is already underway and might be made as quickly because the worldwide signing interval opens from January 15-23.
Sasaki is thought to not need to waste a lot time in reporting to his new group as quickly as spring coaching begins, so it’s doable that as early as January 15 he’ll announce his subsequent vacation spot.
In the meantime, over the following few days there are a number of groups on alert, together with the Dodgers, who’ve proven confidence in being among the many favorites, which in accordance with a X put up by baseball reporter Marcos Grunfeld, has led them to halt their worldwide signings till they know Sasaki’s determination.
“The Dodgers appear to be ready to signal right-handed pitcher Roki Sasaki, as they’re placing their worldwide newbie signings on maintain. A supply says they’re proposing to their 2025 class to sign up 2026,” Grunfeld posted on his X account, because the Japanese’s determination leaves any group unable to signal one other worldwide prospect.
The Dodgers might be in for a shock
In keeping with Sasaki’s agent, Joel Wolfe, his consumer would do effectively to decide on a small market, as a result of he didn’t have nice experiences with the Japanese media, which might lead him to go for one thing extra discreet, which is the place the Chicago Cubs achieve power, competing in recognition in Japan, for having Japanese gamers Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga on their roster.
Moreover, Jon Heyman revealed in Bleacher Report that he has info that Sasaki is pals with Shota Imanaga, which might tip the steadiness in Chicago’s favor.
“I heard he is pals with Imanaga, so possibly the Cubs have an opportunity… Anyway, who would not need to be a Cub? So I feel Sasaki would possibly go to the Cubs,” Heyman mentioned.
