The Phillies appear to be out of contention for Japanese star pitcher Roki Sasaki.
During a Zoom session with reporters, Phillies president Dave Dombrowski shared updates on the team’s pursuit of Sasaki. He revealed that the Phillies likely haven’t made Sasaki’s shortlist of teams for in-person meetings. Reports indicate that Sasaki, represented by the Los Angeles-based agency CAA, is currently meeting with teams like the Yankees, Cubs, and Mets, while the Dodgers and Padres are considered front-runners to sign him.
“We have not been invited to talk to him at this point,” Dombrowski said. “I’m not making any proclamations because we haven’t been told, but we’re probably running a little bit late if we’re going to be invited to the table. We’ve sent in our original information to him that was requested. They know that we would very much like to have a presentation. So far, we haven’t been invited to the table.”
The Phillies were always long shots in the Sasaki sweepstakes. All 30 MLB teams are highly interested in him due to his affordability. Because Sasaki is under 25 and lacks six years of professional service time, he qualifies as an international amateur free agent, meaning teams can only use their international bonus pool to sign him. His signing cost will be in the seven-figure range, significantly lower than the nine-figure contract he would have commanded as a traditional free agent.
The Phillies face unique challenges in signing Japanese players. Historically, the team has not prioritized scouting in Japan and has never signed a player directly from the country. They’ve only had two Japanese players on their roster—So Taguchi and Tadahito Iguchi. Ironically, Iguchi, who briefly played for the Phillies in 2008, managed Sasaki at the Chiba Lotte Marines. This lack of engagement in the Japanese market has left the Phillies at a disadvantage compared to teams with deeper ties to Japanese players.
Additionally, geography plays a role. Many Japanese players prefer teams on the West Coast or in the Midwest with Arizona-based spring training facilities, as these locations are closer to home. The lack of direct flights from Philadelphia to Japan further complicates matters. Teams like the Padres and Dodgers, with their extensive history of signing Japanese players, are better positioned to support Sasaki’s transition from NPB to MLB.
Sasaki is expected to prioritize development over financial incentives when choosing his MLB team. This could lead him to join the Dodgers, potentially teaming up with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, or the Padres, where he could play alongside his idol, Yu Darvish. While other teams remain in contention, Sasaki is most likely to choose a West Coast team like Los Angeles or San Diego.
He is expected to sign after the new international signing period begins on January 15.
