MLB Teams Vie for Japanese Pitching Star Roki Sasaki

The 23-year-old phenom is drawing widespread interest as teams leverage cultural ties, financial strategies, and player development records to secure his signature.

Roki Sasaki, a 23-year-old Japanese pitcher with a 100-mph fastball and elite splitter, has been posted by Nippon Professional Baseball's Chiba Lotte Marines, opening a 45-day window for MLB teams to sign him before January 23.
The Seattle Mariners are emerging as a strong contender due to their robust international signing pool, history with Japanese players like Ichiro Suzuki, and competitive AL West ambitions.
The New York Mets were the first team to meet Sasaki in person, highlighting their need for an ace and their recent efforts to build a competitive roster following their NLCS appearance and Juan Soto signing.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are considered frontrunners, with the Dodgers leveraging their winning culture and Japanese stars like Shohei Ohtani, while the Padres may benefit from Sasaki's close relationship with Yu Darvish.
Sasaki's decision may hinge on factors beyond finances, including team culture, development opportunities, and market size, as his agent has suggested a preference for smaller or mid-market teams due to Sasaki's past media experiences in Japan.