The Cubs have worked hard to establish their ballclub as a serious contender to reel in star players who come to the Major Leagues from Japan. Chicago will hope its efforts on that front in recent years can play a role in their pitch to free agent Roki Sasaki this winter.
On the final day of the Winter Meetings on Wednesday, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer made it known that his team has already submitted their initial presentation to Sasaki and his agent, Joel Wolfe. The Cubs have another Wolfe client, outfielder Seiya Suzuki, in the fold, along with Japanese lefty Shota Imanaga.
“Seiya and Shota have had really good experiences,” Hoyer said. “I think we’re an appealing destination for any Japanese player.”
Wolfe held court with media at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas on Tuesday and laid out the upcoming schedule for Sasaki, who has been posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines and has a signing period that runs through Jan. 23. Wolfe said he had already received a handful of initial presentations and hoped to begin meetings with teams by next week.
After Sasaki spends time back home in Japan over the holidays, Wolfe said he plans on meeting with the pitcher to discuss how to proceed. There would be in-person meetings with teams based on Sasaki’s feedback and potentially trips to visit cities under consideration. One thing Wolfe made clear is that he is also still learning Sasaki’s preferences in the process.
“He does watch a lot of Major League Baseball,” Wolfe said. “He asks a lot of questions about weather, about comfortability, about pitching development, and just watching what other Japanese players in the Major Leagues are doing and how they are doing.”
The Cubs put together a detailed presentation for Suzuki and Wolfe ahead of the 2022 season, helping convince the outfielder to sign a five-year, $85 million contract with the team. He is now one of Chicago’s top hitters.
Last winter, Imanaga was won over by the Cubs and agreed to a four-year, $53 million pact. In his rookie season, the lefty was an All-Star, pitched in a combined no-hitter and finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in voting for the National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award.
Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins said it is helpful to get insight from Suzuki and Imanaga from their experience in Chicago for pitching the ballclub to other players from Japan. That said, he does not expect the players to play a large part in the recruiting process.
“That’s not their job, right?” Hawkins said. “We certainly ask for input and want to get feedback on that, but it’s not an area that we are trying to utilize them for more than a quick conversation on their opinion on those things.”
Prior to Suzuki and Imanaga, the Cubs signed Yu Darvish to a six-year, $126 million deal in Major League free agency before the 2018 season. Darvish played a role in selling Suzuki on playing for the Cubs, and the veteran pitcher is also a mentor for Sasaki.
Wolfe was asked if it would be a priority for Sasaki to have at least one other Japanese player on his new team.
“I think it could be [beneficial],” Wolfe said, “it could be, to have an older player to help him, show him the ropes. But anyone that knows Roki Sasaki, this is one of the most driven, intense players I've ever known and been around. Incredibly hard-working. I wouldn't say that he would necessarily need it to succeed.”
The 23-year-old Sasaki will be part of the 2025 international signing class and will be under club control through at least 2030. As far as the international bonus pools, the Cubs sit in the third tier with $6,261,600. There are 14 teams above Chicago in terms of available pool money and Wolfe said Sasaki is open-minded to different market sizes.
Hoyer makes trips overseas each year to Japan to see players in person, along with scouts and other front-office members, and also to help strengthen the Cubs’ place in that market.
“That’s something we’ve emphasized over the last few years,” Hawkins said. “I think that allows us to not only have conversations with players, but it allows players to understand who the Cubs are and it facilitates that initial conversation when a player does get posted or he does become a free agent.”
