"It's no secret Andrew Friedman wants Roki Sasaki" - MLB insider breaks down why Dodgers have best odds to sign Shohei Ohtani's countryman
The Los Angeles Dodgers have two of the most prominent Japanese players on their roster, and they may add a third in Roki Sasaki. All reports indicate that he is likely to post soon, opening up the bidding war for his services. Thanks to his age, he will cost less than Yoshinobu Yamamoto, thus making it easier for the Dodgers to sign him.
ESPN insider Jorge Castillo believes the Dodgers are the heavy favorites to land the Japanese ace should he post. He said on Baseball Tonight (37:00):
"It's no secret that Andrew Friedman wants Roki Sasaki. ... You saw them shell out big money for a guy in Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Why? Not just because of the ceiling but because of his age. ... Roki Sasaki, the combination that he's going to be that young, that good, that cheap, the Dodgers will be all over him."
He continued, explaining how he learned last year that Japanese players aren't opposed to playing on the same MLB team with one another. Castillo believes that the Japanese WBC win helped break down that barrier, and he thinks they are all more open to teaming up in the United States.
That proved to be true last offseason when both Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani joined the Dodgers, and it could be true again this year if Sasaki follows suit.
Roki Sasaki declined Japanese offer
Roki Sasaki was offered a contract by his Japanese team, the Chiba Lotte Marines. He turned them down, signaling a potential move to the MLB. His age would restrict his potential earnings as he is only 23.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, for example, was 25 when he posted. He signed a $325 million contract with the Dodgers over 12 years. Sasaki will be ineligible for that sort of contract, thus restricting himself.
It will be much more similar to Shohei Ohtani's initial contract with the Los Angeles Angels, which was much more affordable. Whether or not he posts remains to be seen, but the signs indicate that the young ace is ready to make the leap and isn't as worried about the potential lost earnings for coming over early.