Roki Sasaki Joins MLB Free Agent Market

The 23-year-old Japanese pitching sensation will be posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines, opening opportunities for all 30 MLB teams.

Roki Sasaki, a top international pitching prospect from Japan, will be posted for MLB teams by the Chiba Lotte Marines, allowing him to sign as an international amateur free agent.
Sasaki, known for his 100-mph fastball and impressive splitter, has a career 2.02 ERA in Nippon Professional Baseball and is considered one of the best pitchers in the world.
Due to MLB's international signing rules, Sasaki can only sign a minor league contract with a capped signing bonus, similar to Shohei Ohtani's entry into MLB in 2017.
The Dodgers are seen as frontrunners to sign Sasaki, given their remaining international bonus pool and history of signing Japanese players, though all 30 teams are in contention.
Sasaki's posting adds a significant dynamic to the MLB free agent market, which already features top players like Juan Soto seeking record-breaking contracts.