Just In: Los Angeles Dodger finalises deal to sign a Japanese-born pitcher from rivals in a blockbuster deal worth……Read more

Another Japanese-born celebrity is about to make it big. Despite rumors to the contrary, the Dodgers are not yet under contract with rookie starting pitcher Roki Sasaki, even though they appear to be the front-runners for the prospect. Since his posting is still pending, the Dodgers are not even authorized to negotiate with him.

The New York Post’s Jon Heyman claims that Saskai’s main rivals on the Dodgers’ roster are the San Diego Padres. Sasaki would have an easier time adjusting to the new league if he joined one of the two Southern California teams that have players born in Japan.

Padres pitcher Yu Darvish faces Dodgers teammates Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. All three of these players were born in Japan, and they’ve all made the jump from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball to the Major Leagues. Consequently, Sasaki would probably be interested in signing with one of these teams due to their track records of producing international players and the presence of current Japanese stars who may act as role models.

The relationship between Darvish and Sasaki gives the Padres an edge against the Dodgers. The two are pals, says ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

But the Dodgers just won the World Series, so Yamamoto and Ohtani became first-time champions in their first season with the team. Also, Sasaki’s decision-making process over where to sign could be impacted by Yamamoto and Ohtani’s increased enthusiasm for the Dodgers in Japan.

“I would also want to be a Dodger if I were a famous Japanese player,” a source told Heyman.

Yusei Kikuchi, a left-handed starting pitcher for the Houston Astros, is supposedly also linked to the Dodgers. If both pitchers signed with Los Angeles, Kikuchi—who was born and bred in Japan—would be an extra source of encouragement and guidance for Sasaki.

After playing for the Chiba Lotte Marines for four years in NPB, Sasaki will make his Major League Baseball debut. He debuted in the major leagues in 2021 at the tender age of nineteen. He threw 111 innings this season, striking out 129 batters and walking 32. His earned run average was 2.35. He had a 10-5 record.

The Dodgers’ rotation was severely impacted by injuries last season; adding Sasaki would strengthen that part of the team. Blake Snell of the San Francisco Giants, Max Fried of the Atlanta Braves, Corbin Burnes of the Baltimore Orioles, and southpaw Garrett Crochet, who is a trade target for the Chicago White Sox, are all free agents with ties to the Los Angeles front office.

Walker Buehler, who was outstanding in the playoffs but is now officially a free agent, is another player the Dodgers might retain. It is believed that Dustin May, Emmet Sheehan, Tyler Glasnow, Landon Knack, Tony Gonsolin, and Ohtani will be representing Los Angeles.