Japanese free agent Roki Sasaki is one of the most intriguing players available this offseason. Unlike many top free agents, Sasaki isn’t in line for a nine-figure contract. His decision will likely depend more on which team he feels is the best fit for him, rather than which one offers the most money. Two major contenders in the pursuit of Sasaki are National League West rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. FanSided’s Michael Brakebill recently predicted that Sasaki would choose the Dodgers over the Padres.
“In about a month, Roki Sasaki will be the biggest name left and will draw the most attention of any remaining free agent. Sasaki has elite talent, and at just 23 years old, all 30 teams should be putting in their best efforts to try and recruit him. A West Coast team like the Dodgers makes sense given their marketability and recent success with Japanese players,” Brakebill wrote. “While Sasaki may not become the face of the franchise in L.A., he would still have an excellent start to his career. The Dodgers are built for long-term success.”
Predicting Sasaki’s destination is challenging as all teams are on similar financial footing. While the Dodgers have ties to Japanese stars like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, which could divert some attention from Sasaki, San Diego has a strong connection as well, with Yu Darvish, a former teammate of Sasaki’s. Ultimately, it’s unclear where Sasaki will land, but numerous teams are vying for his signature.
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