Roki Sasaki’s agent DENIES being part of any ‘nefarious agreement’ with Dodgers as free agency heats up
Japanese ace Roki Sasaki will sign with MLB team before January 15, and no calls or deals from any team have been made.
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Roki Sasaki [Image Credit: Japan Forward]
Japanese ace Roki Sasaki’s agent has denied having any contact with any MLB teams on his signing. He rather stated that he had never been part of any such contract before the signing period started and feels rumors like these are unsportsmanlike.
Apart from superstar free agent Juan Soto, Sasaki is the second most sought-after free agent currently. However, as he’s entering MLB prior to age 25, he faces restrictions on deals from MLB teams.
Since the announcement of Chiba Lotte Marines posting Roki Sasaki as an international amateur free agent, teams have lined up for the signing. However, the Los Angeles Dodgers have time and again been linked as “heavy favorites” to pen the pitcher.
23-year-old Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki is not expected to sign with an MLB team before January 15th.@jonmorosi with more on #MLBNHotStove ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/YvOHEieo2c
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 21, 2024
The team also has spoken on how pitchers are important and there’s nothing like having too many. Currently, the top pitchers in their lineup are – Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow. They may be interested in signing Sasaki but for now, no official or unofficial contact has been made on any deals.
While a bunch of executives who should know me better and do a lot of business with me insult my integrity by insinuating that I would be a part of some type of nefarious agreement, in reality, this is just poor sportsmanship.
Roki Sasaki’s agent as per Evan Drellich of The Athletic.
.@JimBowdenGM says there's an 85-90% chance that Roki Sasaki signs somewhere OTHER than with the @Dodgers pic.twitter.com/mtLXLN0Mfq
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) November 20, 2024
MLB insider Jim Bowden commented how there’s an “85-90%” chance for Sasaki to sign somewhere other than the Dodgers in free agency. He is not expected to sign with any MLB teams before the January 15 deadline.
Shohei Ohtani speaks on Roki Sasaki’s free agency buzz
Just like Shohei Ohtani, Roki Sasaki has also decided to enter Major League Baseball before 25. He’ll be restricted from signing high-end long-term contracts with the teams for the next two seasons. If he waited out, he would have made a grand entrance in MLB like Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Regardless, speaking on Sasaki’s free agency rumor, Ohtani commented that he has not recruited him for the Los Angeles Dodgers or anything. Although he and Sasaki have been in touch, there have been no discussions on signing with teams.
I’ll respect his decision wherever he wants to sign.
Shohei Ohtani as per MLB insider Fabian Ardaya.
Shohei Ohtani said he hasn’t actively tried to recruit Roki Sasaki to the Dodgers yet, but said they stay in contact as former Samurai Japan teammates.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) November 22, 2024
“I’ll respect his decision wherever he wants to sign.”
Apart from the Dodgers, the New York Mets and the New York Yankees have been mentioned as potential landing posts for the pitcher. The decision will finally be known in January as he pens up a minor-league contract with an MLB team.
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Kaushani Chatterjee
(2140 Articles Published)