Roki Sasaki has narrowed his choices, leaving the Yankees and Mets out of the race for the talented pitcher
The Yankees and Mets were hoping to land him, but they’ve been told they’re out of the running. Sasaki has been a hot topic this season, and other teams he’s ruled out include the Cubs, Rangers, and Giants.
With the international free agent signing period starting soon, the pressure is on. Many thought the Yankees and Mets were long shots for Sasaki, who was posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan.
Since he’s under 25, he’s considered an international amateur by MLB, which limits what teams can offer him. They can only use their international bonus pool, typically around $6 million, similar to Shohei Ohtani’s situation back in 2018.
The Dodgers and Padres have been seen as the frontrunners for Sasaki. He grew up idolizing Yu Darvish from San Diego and could join a strong rotation in Los Angeles that might include Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto this season.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman praised Sasaki’s talent but acknowledged that the choice is ultimately up to him. The Yankees will have to focus on their current rotation, which includes Gerrit Cole and Max Fried, among others.
Meanwhile, the Mets will move forward with their own rotation, featuring Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea. Without Sasaki, the Yankees can now look at other prospects, like 16-year-old shortstop Manny Cedeno from the Dominican Republic. The Mets are eyeing 17-year-old Elian Pena, who could command a $5 million signing bonus.
Looking ahead, teams scouting Japan might soon turn their attention to Munetaka Murakami, a corner infielder who plans to leave NPB after the 2025 season. He’ll be 25 when he comes to the majors, making him a true free agent.
