Japanese pitching star Roki Sasaki has been posted by his team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, opening up a 45-day window for him to sign with an MLB team. The posting fee will be 20% of his signing bonus, which could increase his earnings significantly. With many teams already drained their international bonus pools, the Los Angeles Dodgers are favored to land Sasaki, who has been touted as one of the best pitchers in Japan’s top league.
Sasaki, 23, was drafted first overall by the Marines in 2019 and made a name for himself with impressive performances in NPB. He threw a perfect game and dominated in the 2023 World Baseball Classic before struggling to stay healthy due to an arm issue that affected his velocity. Despite this, he still logged 111 innings last season with a 2.35 ERA.
Sasaki’s pitching style has changed slightly in recent seasons, with him throwing the fastball less often and increasing the usage of his slider. However, his stuff is still highly regarded, and he projects to be an even more effective weapon against right-handed hitters once he joins the Dodgers. The international bonus pools will reset in 2025, but Sasaki’s team will receive a higher posting fee for waiting, making him a highly sought-after free agent.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/roki-sasaki-japanese-pitching-star-posted-during-mlb-winter-meetings-163740596.html