The New York Yankees are hoping to get lucky this week. After years of scouting Roki Sasaki, the Japanese ace's decision is coming within days. The first day of MLB's 2025 International Signing class is Jan. 15, and that is the first day the right-hander can announce which team he will sign with. He has just eight days after that to sign or return to his team in Japan, the Chiba Lotte Marines.
Sasaki's talent, age and relatively low cost make him attractive to every team in baseball. Here is what you need to know about his unusual free agency.
Over four seasons with the Marines, Sasaki has recorded a 2.02 ERA with 524 strikeouts and 91 walks in 414 2/3 innings. He has a fastball that has touched 102 miles an hour and a devastating splitter. He just turned 23 in November and is still growing as a pitcher.
Sasaki Won't Break the Bank
Sasaki falls under the international bonus pool money restrictions that MLB implemented for players under 25 who have less than six seasons of service time in a foreign league. That means Sasaki will sign a minor league contract, and his signing bonus will be dictated by how much of the team's international signing bonus pool is available. This is similar to what Shohei Ohtani did in 2017 when he received a $2.3 million bonus with the Angels.
It's an Eight-Team Race
The Yankees scouted Saski for years. So have most teams in baseball.
But only a few teams have a chance.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and Toronto Blue Jays have actually met with Sasaki.
The Yankees Are Underdogs
The Dodgers are considered the favorites to land Sasaki, especially since they have shown no limit to their spending after signing Shohei Ohtani ($700 million) and Yoshinobu Yamamoto ($325) last season. The Padres, who have Saski's mentor, Yu Darvish, also have a good chance.
Sasaki, however, grew up a fan of former Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. So, the Yankees have hope.
Sasaki Is On A Deadline
Sasaki was posted by his Nippon Professional Baseball team, Chiba Lotte, on December 9. That means MLB teams have 45 days to negotiate with Sasaki, who chose to sign as part of the 2025 class. He decided to do so because the signing bonus pool resets on Jan. 15, so he could get the highest available bonus.
That also means Sasaki's deal must be completed in just eight days. His posting ends on Jan. 23 at 5 p.m.
