Roki Sasaki’s serious approach to free agency has teams speculating about his ideal market and potential mentors.
ESPN’s Buster Olney mentioned that teams are reading his serious personality as a hint he might prefer a smaller market or a team with veteran players.
In past meetings, Sasaki has come off as quiet and serious, which some teams think means he doesn’t want to be in the spotlight. One user on X pointed out the irony of him meeting with the Dodgers, suggesting it’s all about the money. But Olney countered that if it were just about cash, Sasaki could have waited longer.
Since he’s not yet 25, he’s seen as an international amateur, limiting what teams can offer him to around $6 million, similar to Shohei Ohtani’s path to the Angels.
If he really prefers to avoid the limelight, it makes sense why he’s ruled out the Yankees and Mets. As the signing period for international free agents approaches, his remaining options include the Dodgers, Padres, and Blue Jays.
Sasaki has looked up to Yu Darvish for years and would love to play alongside him in San Diego. Darvish, a five-time All-Star, could be a great mentor, especially after a solid season last year.
Joining the Dodgers would also put him in a rotation with stars like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, which could be exciting for him.
