After re-signing right-hander Shane Bieber, the Cleveland Guardians rotation has nothing but question marks. Taneer Bibee is one arm that’s reliable and aside from Joey Cantillo and eventually Doug Nikhazy, the depth isn’t too appealing, either. The need for pitching in general could compel the Guardians to consider trades or free-agent signings. MLB.com’s Mandy Bell reported that Chris Antonetti, the Guardians president of baseball operations, suggested that the team is prepared to “reinvest resources”, potentially making Roki Sasaki a viable target as they navigate the international market.
Roki Sasaki to the Guardians: A Surprising but Intriguing Possibility
It seemed like it was all but certain that Sasaki, who was posted by his Nippon Professional Baseball team, would end up with either the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Diego Padres. However, after his agent, Joel Wolfe, spoke at the Winter Meetings, other teams could be in the mix. Wolfe went as far as suggesting that a smaller market team might be a better fit for his client. It would allow for a low-pressure environment and a smooth transition after dealing with intense media scrutiny in Japan.
Bell highlighted how Sasaki would be a valuable addition to the Guardians. Sasaki boasts a great track record with Chiba Lotte, posting a 2.02 ERA, 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings and a 2.0 walk rate per nine innings. His pitching arsenal features a fastball that can top out at 102 mph, a devastating splitter with a whiff rate of over 57%, and a reliable slider. Sasaki’s talent and abilities make him an ideal front-line starter for the Guardians.
Cleveland Won’t Have to Pay Big for Sasaki
The good news about Sasaki is that money won’t be a factor. Since he is under 25 and has played in fewer than six seasons in NPB, MLB rules state that he has to be subject to international bonus pool money restrictions. To maximize the type of contract he can have, he’ll have to wait until January 15, when the 2025 signing period begins, meaning all 30 teams will be ready to pursue him.
The Guardians are one of six teams with the second-biggest international bonus pool allotment of $6.9 million. The Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins have the highest allotment of over $7.5 million. The remaining teams have $6.26 million or less.
Cleveland has a rare advantage due to the financial resources available to them. However, it will be challenging to persuade Sasaki to choose the Guardians over the Dodgers. The Dodgers have his favorite player, Shohei Ohtani and the Padres, have his friend Yu Darvish. The Guardians need to find a way to make their team appealing as he begins his MLB career.
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