Japanese Pitching Star Roki Sasaki Set to Enter MLB Posting Process

The 23-year-old phenom will open a 45-day negotiation window with MLB teams this week, aiming to sign during the 2025 international signing period.

Roki Sasaki, considered one of the best young pitchers globally, will be posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines during the MLB Winter Meetings in Dallas, starting this week.
The posting triggers a 45-day window for MLB teams to negotiate with Sasaki, who is expected to finalize a deal after the 2025 international signing period opens on January 15.
Due to MLB's international amateur free agent rules, Sasaki's signing bonus will be capped within teams' international bonus pool limits, likely between $5-8 million.
Sasaki's decision to move to MLB at 23, rather than waiting until he turns 25, means he will be under team control for six years but could reach free agency by age 29, similar to Shohei Ohtani's career path.
The financial constraints of Sasaki's posting could disrupt prearranged deals with other international amateur free agents, particularly young Latin American prospects.