The Los Angeles Dodgers secured a final meeting with 23-year-old right-hander Roki Sasaki on Tuesday, following city tours to San Diego and Toronto. This pitch would allow the Dodgers to showcase their stars and potentially offer Sasaki a lucrative deal.
Sasaki has narrowed his list of suitors to three finalists – the Dodgers, Padres, and Blue Jays. Despite being one of the first clubs to meet with him in Los Angeles last month, Sasaki completed city tours to Toronto and San Diego. The Dodgers’ meeting is expected to feature several of their top players, including stars from the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
The Dodgers have long been seen as favorites to sign Sasaki, who would be limited by his posting window’s international signing period, which opens on Wednesday. This means at least the Dodgers and Padres will put their 2025 international signing class on hold. The Dodgers’ ability to offer a star-studded team could serve as a major draw for Sasaki.
The organization has been seen as a top destination for Sasaki, with his agent pushing back on the idea of a handshake agreement being in place. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman called pursuing Sasaki a “major priority” at last month’s Winter Meetings. The Dodgers’ ability to offer endorsement opportunities and showcase their star power could appeal to Sasaki as he navigates his posting window, which closes on January 23.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6061768/2025/01/14/dodgers-roki-sasaki-second-meeting