Los Angeles – Could the Dodgers be set to bring another high-profile Japanese free agent to Los Angeles?
Rōki Sasaki, the flamethrowing right-hander, might be the next international star to join the Dodgers, according to ongoing MLB rumors.
Sports journalist Francys Romero reported that Sasaki turned down an offer from the Chiba Lotte Marines, the Japanese team he’s been with for four seasons. However, Sasaki’s future is still unclear, as the Marines have not yet officially addressed his contract status. Romero suggested two possibilities: Sasaki could either be posted for MLB teams to sign, or he could continue talks with the Marines.
If Sasaki becomes available through the posting system, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal has named the Dodgers as “heavy, heavy favorites” to sign the 23-year-old ace. Rosenthal said on his Fair Territory podcast, “The general expectation is that if Sasaki is posted, the Dodgers will be the frontrunners to land him. Imagine what that would mean for their presence in Japan.”
Should Sasaki join the Dodgers, he would be reunited with fellow Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani, a likely MVP, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. All three were part of Japan’s gold-medal-winning team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Sasaki gained international attention for his blazing fastballs, routinely reaching 102 mph, particularly during the WBC. In the tournament semifinals, he struck out Mexico’s Randy Arozarena with a 102-mph fastball. Known as “The Monster of the Reiwa Era” in Japan, Sasaki also dominated in the 2024 season, recording 129 strikeouts in 111 innings for the Marines with a 3.52 ERA.
Notably, Sasaki threw a perfect game for the Marines in 2022 at just 20 years old.
If he were to join the Dodgers for the 2025 MLB season, his debut could happen at the Tokyo Dome, where the Dodgers will face the Chicago Cubs – including former Samurai Japan teammates Shōta Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki – during a series in March.
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