Dodgers Notes: Andrew Friedman Gets Honest About Roki Sasaki Pursuit, Teoscar Hernandez Update, Max Fried Signs
Tuesday was another action-packed day at the MLB Winter Meetings and for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Roki Sasaki’s agent, Joel Wolfe, had a tell-all in front of over 100 reporters where he spoke about his client’s upcoming free agency, providing key details including when he’ll meet with teams, what his preferences are, and when he’ll sign.
Then, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman revealed Sasaki is a “major priority” for the team.
In other Dodgers news, Teoscar Hernández remains one of the most sought-after players on the free agent market, and we have the latest update on his free agency and potential return to Los Angeles.
Here’s all the latest Dodgers news and stories (click the headline for the full article):
Andrew Friedman Calls Roki Sasaki ‘Major Priority’ for Dodgers, Believes He Can Be The Best Pitcher in the World
Teoscar Hernández Update: Insider Reveals How Michael Conforto Signing Impacts Dodgers Chances
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Report that Phillies are a ‘favorite’ for Roki Sasaki feels like smoke and mirrors
The Phillies’ track record with signing players from Japan makes the prospect of signing Roki Sasaki feel like a long shot.
The most anticipated move of the offseason finally went down on Sunday night when outfielder Juan Soto and the rival New York Mets agreed to a 15-year, $765 million contract. The 26-year-old superstar’s market included a number of contenders, with the Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays all caught in a bidding war to land the four-time All-Star and 2019 World Series champion.
While Soto never seemed to be a legit target of the Philadelphia Phillies this offseason, the Phillies have recently been connected to the growing list of teams interested in signing Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki. After months of rumors and speculation, the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported that Sasaki’s NPB team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, had finally posted the hard-throwing 23-year-old right-hander on Monday, a procedural move that allows him to become an international free agent and eligible to sign with interested MLB teams this winter.
But unlike the markets for recently signed free agents like Juan Soto, Blake Snell and Willy Adames, it’s going to be a little while before we know exactly where Sasaki will sign. That has less to do with the potential for an all-out bidding war and more to do with MLB’s shifting business calendar. With the free agent pitching market thinning out at a rapid pace, the Phillies and other MLB teams could be in a waiting game heading into the New Year.
Phillies’ track record makes being a ‘favorite’ for Roki Sasaki feel like smoke and mirrors
Before we get into when and where Sasaki will sign after being posted on Monday, a recent report by Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic examined the teams considered most likely to sign Sasaki this offseason (subscription required). As we’ve seen with the trade market for coveted White Sox southpaw Garrett Crochet, new teams can jump into the mix at any time, but for now, Sammon and Rosenthal have the field of suitors for Sasaki down to seven teams.
“The Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs are viewed in the industry as among the early favorites to land Sasaki,” according to Sammon and Rosenthal.
Unsurprisingly, the Phillies have quite a bit of competition for Sasaki from six of MLB’s highest-salaried ball clubs. While a lot of money will certainly change hands when Sasaki and his representatives do make that choice, Sasaki’s age and designation as an amateur international free agent affect how much Sasaki can be paid and, more importantly, when he will make his free agent decision.
While Sasaki is free to sign with any ball club after being posted, his signing would fall under the 2024 international signing period, and despite the Los Angeles Dodgers (Sasaki’s rumored destination) having the highest remaining international bonus pool money, the 2025 international signing period resets next month on Jan. 15, with all 30 MLB teams having more bonus pool money to offer the Japanese superstar. According to Sammon and Rosenthal, other factors will influence where Sasaki signs this offseason.
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