Japanese Pitching Star Rōki Sasaki Expected to Join MLB in 2025

Speculation grows over Sasaki's likely destination, with the Dodgers seen as favorites and concerns raised about impacts on Latin American prospects.

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.