What would the Dodgers pitching rotation look like at the top if they manage to get Roki Sasaki?
The Los Angeles Dodgers are coming off a World Series win, but that does not mean they cannot get better, right? Well, that is what would happen if they were able to sign Roki Sasaki this winter.
Sasaki, for those unfamiliar, is the best pitcher in Japan. He pitched a perfect game in 2022 and holds the NPB record for most strikeouts during a single game with 19. He also holds the world record for most consecutive strikeouts with 13.
It was recently announced that his club, the Chiba Lotte Marines began the process of posting him. This means he will be made available to sign a deal with any big-league club with the cash to shell out.
As news dropped that he would be posted, Sasaki instantly became a top name in the free agency pool. There are multiple reports that he has now become the Dodgers' top priority this offseason, which is not good news for the rest of the league.
L.A. would have the best rotation in the entire league if they were to sign Sasaki. He would pair nicely alongside Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani when he returns to the mound in 2025.
Taking a closer look at Dodgers' FA target Roki Sasaki
Dodgers' FA target Roki Sasaki has generated a ton of hype throughout his short career thus far and for good reason. He is a lights-out pitcher with multiple pitches to put opposing batters away.
His fastball is nothing to laugh at as he can ramp it up to 102 mph. To compliment his fastball, he throws a mean splitter to keep the hitters on their toes. It is a swing-and-miss pitch, generating a 57 percent whiff rate last year.
Sasaki also throws a slider that compliments his fastball and splitter. This, like his splitter, also generates a ton of swings and misses. He has the chance to be one of the best pitchers who ever came out of Japan.
All 30 MLB teams will have 45 days to negotiate with the hard-throwing righty. If no deals are made within that 45-day window, he will return to the Marines for the coming season.
With the news that Sasaski will be posted, this is one player you will want to keep an eye on. He has the talent to completely turn around a team.