Yankees Out of Roki Sasaki Race (Source)
The Yankees have been informed that Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki will not be signing with them, as confirmed to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. Sasaki, 23, has attracted interest from several teams, including the Blue Jays, Cubs, Dodgers, Giants, Mets, Padres, and Rangers. The Giants have also been eliminated from contention for the right-hander.
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A Yankees delegation recently met with Sasaki and his agent, Joel Wolfe, in Los Angeles. The Yankees were among eight teams invited for in-person meetings. Sasaki has since returned to Japan to evaluate his options.
The Athletic noted that Sasaki recently visited the Blue Jays and Padres. As an international amateur free agent, Sasaki can officially sign with a team starting Wednesday, with his posting window closing on Jan. 23.
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Sasaki, known for his fastball reaching speeds up to 100 mph, has a 30-15 record with a 2.02 ERA over four seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan.
A Detailed Look at Roki Sasaki’s Pitches
General Manager Brian Cashman praised Sasaki’s talent in December, calling him “a tremendous talent” with the potential to be one of the world’s great pitchers. The Yankees’ pitch to Sasaki emphasized transparency and detailed how the team could help him refine his skills.
Cashman on the Yankees’ Pitch
Cashman emphasized the need to distinguish the Yankees’ offer, addressing potential concerns such as West Coast bias, and stressed their commitment to supporting Sasaki’s development.
However, New York’s intense media environment may have been a factor against the Yankees. Sasaki’s agent, Wolfe, previously mentioned that Sasaki struggled with media scrutiny in Japan and might benefit from a smaller market, though he later stated that Sasaki could handle New York.
With an international bonus pool of $6,261,600, the Yankees can now redirect those resources to other prospects. Their current rotation includes Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt, and Marcus Stroman, all set to report to Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 11.
