Overview

• Rōki Sasaki, a 23-year-old Japanese pitcher known for his 100 mph fastball and a historic perfect game, is entering MLB as an international free agent.
• Due to MLB's international signing rules, Sasaki's contract will be limited to a signing bonus of $5 to $8 million, far below his market value as a top pitching prospect.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are considered the frontrunners to sign Sasaki, with the Dodgers seen as the likely destination by many analysts.
• Sasaki's decision has disrupted the international free agent market, with teams reallocating their entire bonus pools to compete for his signature, impacting other prospects' signings.
• An official announcement of Sasaki's MLB team is anticipated within the week, just ahead of the January 23 deadline for his signing window.