Another ace Japanese right-hander appears headed to the majors next season. Roki Sasaki will be posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball, the team announced. Sasaki, 23, made his NPB debut in 2021 and has dominated the competition over four seasons with the Marines. With a fastball that touches 100 mph, a devastating splitter and an improving slider, Sasaki has posted a lifetime 2.02 ERA with 524 strikeouts and 91 walks in 44 1/3 innings. He pitched the 16th perfect game in NPB history the Orix Buffaloes on April 10, 022, while also tying the NPB record with 19 strikeouts.
Roki Sasaki Enters Free-Agent Rankings Near the Top
Sasaki is the No. 3 free agents this offseason by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. In light of this ranking, teams will likely be vying for his services, as his impressive skills make him a coveted player in the current market.
“Yoshinobu Yamamoto‘s move to the majors caused a bidding war last offseason. While the potential of Sasaki coming over from Japan will carry the same excitement factor, his age will prevent a similar free-agent frenzy. Players younger than 25 years old who have not reached six years of service in a foreign major league are subject to MLB’s international amateur signing bonus pool rules, setting a cap on their contracts. Shohei Ohtani faced a similar situation in 2017, singing with the Los Angeles Angels for $2.3 million. Sasaki will become one of the top available starters once he is posted.”
Sasaki experienced a bit of a down season by his standards in 2024. His ERA (2.35), WHIP (1.04), strikeout rate (28.7%), walk rate (7.1%) and K/BB ratio (4.03) all regressed. His average velocity took a hit by dropping from 98.9 mph to 96.9 mph year over year.
Potential teams interested in signing Sasaki include the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and New York Yankees. These teams are attracted to Sasaki’s young age, impressive stats, and potential to make an immediate impact in the major leagues. As the offseason heats up, it will be interesting to see which team ultimately secures Sasaki’s services.
Once the Marines post Saskai, all 30 MLB clubs have 45 days to negotiate with him. If they do not reach an agreement within that timeframe, Saskai can return to his NPB club. He would not be eligible for posting again until next offseason.
Main Photo: © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
