Overview

• Rōki Sasaki, a 23-year-old Japanese pitcher, is expected to be posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines by December 15 and sign with an MLB team after January 15, 2025.
• Sasaki is subject to international bonus pool restrictions due to his age, making him part of the 2025 international amateur signing class.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers are widely viewed as the frontrunners to sign Sasaki, given his ties to Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto from the 2023 World Baseball Classic team.
• Other teams, including the Padres, Mariners, Red Sox, and Nationals, are also speculated as potential destinations, with varying levels of confidence and appeal.
• Critics warn that Sasaki's signing could lead to MLB teams breaking verbal commitments with Latin American amateur players, potentially depriving them of life-changing opportunities.