Dodgers Rumors: Rob Manfred Reveals Roki Sasaki’s Expected Signing Date.
On Wednesday, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred shared with reporters that he anticipates Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki will be part of the 2025 international signing class.
With the 2024 signing period nearing its end, Sasaki’s decision to wait until the 2025 class opens on January 15th will provide him with more lucrative financial opportunities.
This timeline has seemingly been Sasaki’s intention all along, and Manfred’s confirmation solidifies that plan.
Sasaki is widely projected to join the Los Angeles Dodgers once he is officially posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines. Since Sasaki remains an amateur free agent, he will only be able to sign within a team’s international bonus pool. As a result, all 30 teams will have equal financial opportunities, eliminating any advantages for larger-market clubs.
Nevertheless, the Dodgers provide significant appeal to Sasaki, who is reportedly seeking a team with strong player development. Known for their exceptional ability to develop talent, the Dodgers are also home to two of MLB’s top Japanese stars, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Additionally, the Dodgers are fresh off a World Series win and will be contenders again in 2025. If Sasaki is looking to play for a winning team, alongside fellow Japanese stars, and with one of the best organizations for nurturing talent, the Dodgers seem like the perfect fit.
While the Dodgers remain the frontrunners, the San Diego Padres, also from the National League West, have been linked to Sasaki due to their solid player development system and the reported mentorship of Sasaki by the Padres’ ace, Yu Darvish.
However, it looks like teams will have to wait a few more months before they can begin finalizing their plans with Sasaki.