{"id":91662,"date":"2024-12-09T20:58:56","date_gmt":"2024-12-10T01:58:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=91662"},"modified":"2024-12-09T20:58:56","modified_gmt":"2024-12-10T01:58:56","slug":"padres-legitimate-contenders-roki-sasaki","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/12\/09\/padres-legitimate-contenders-roki-sasaki\/","title":{"rendered":"Padres Are \u201cLegitimate Contenders\u201d for Japanese Phenom"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The MLB Winter Meetings are heating up, and now that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=sotoju01,soto--004jua&amp;search=Juan+Soto&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-12-09_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Juan Soto<\/a> is <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/12\/08\/mets-sign-juan-soto-record-15-year-contract\/\" target=\"_self\">off the board<\/a>, another name is already stealing the spotlight: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=sasaki000rok&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-12-09_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Roki Sasaki<\/a>. The Japanese pitching sensation has officially been posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. This move allows Sasaki to negotiate with MLB teams, though he isn\u2019t expected to sign until after the international amateur signing period, which runs from January 15 to January 23, 2025.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Roki Sasaki has officially been posted, per source. Teams may begin negotiating with him as of Tuesday, with a window to sign between then and January 23.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Feinsand\/status\/1866139463237394911?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">December 9, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>Padres Are \u201cLegitimate Contenders\u201d for Japanese Phenom<\/h2>\n<h3>Mike Shildt&#8217;s Bold Comments<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On Monday, Padres manager Mike Shildt voiced optimism about the team\u2019s chances of signing Sasaki during an interview with MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM. \u201cWe fully expect to be right in the mix and, at the end of the day, have Sasaki as a Padre,\u201d Shildt stated. He described the Padres as \u201clegitimate contenders\u201d for the Japanese ace. He also praised general manager A.J. Preller\u2019s proven ability to attract top international talent. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shildt added that the team plans to put on a \u201cfull-court press\u201d to secure Sasaki. It highlights the Padres\u2019 long-standing interest in the pitcher.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">&#8220;We fully expect to be right there in the mix and at the end of the day have Sasaki a Padre.<\/p>\n<p>Mike Shildt expects the <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Padres?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#Padres<\/a> to make a big addition to his rotation this winter:<a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WinterMeetings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#WinterMeetings<\/a> | \ud83d\udd17 <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/V5LiMNEoWf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/V5LiMNEoWf<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/edHmyIhG0a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/edHmyIhG0a<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MLBNetworkRadio\/status\/1866200208805417314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">December 9, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preller has previously hinted at Sasaki\u2019s potential fit with the team. He even mentioned him in a speech commemorating the late Peter Seidler, the team\u2019s former owner. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, Sasaki\u2019s close relationship with Padres veteran <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/d\/darviyu01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-12-09_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Yu Darvish<\/a> could play a pivotal role in swaying the phenom to choose San Diego. Darvish, a Japanese baseball icon, has served as a mentor to Sasaki.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Sasaki Could Boost Padres&#8217; Rotation<\/h3>\n<p>The Padres need a frontline starter. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/musgrjo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-12-09_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joe Musgrove<\/a> will miss the 2025 season after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/j\/johnto01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-12-09_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tommy John<\/a> surgery, leaving a gap in the rotation. The team has already lost out on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/snellbl01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-12-09_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Blake Snell<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/11\/26\/blake-snell-signs-with-team\/\" target=\"_self\">to the Dodgers<\/a> and lacks the budget to sign top free agents like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/burneco01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-12-09_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Corbin Burnes<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/f\/friedma01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-12-09_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Max Fried<\/a>. Sasaki offers a unique solution. Because of MLB\u2019s international bonus pool rules, signing him won\u2019t require a massive financial commitment. This flexibility would allow the Padres to address other roster needs without overspending.<\/p>\n<h3>Dodgers Also Interested<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Padres\u2019 pursuit of Roki Sasaki has injected excitement into an otherwise quiet offseason. While Shildt\u2019s confidence is encouraging for Padres fans, the competition for Sasaki remains fierce. The Dodgers are widely seen as favorites, especially with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/o\/ohtansh01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-12-09_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Shohei Ohtani<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/y\/yamamyo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-12-09_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Yoshinobu Yamamoto<\/a> advocating for him to join them in Los Angeles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the Padres have a strong case to make. Reuniting with Darvish and joining a team eager to return to postseason contention could be compelling factors for Sasaki. Preller\u2019s track record of creative signings and international scouting prowess also gives San Diego an edge. Padres fans should buckle up for what promises to be a thrilling battle for one of baseball\u2019s most electrifying talents.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Main Photo Credits: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The MLB Winter Meetings are heating up, and now that Juan Soto is off the board, another name is already stealing the spotlight: Roki Sasaki. The Japanese pitching sensation has officially been posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. This move allows Sasaki to negotiate with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5263,"featured_media":91686,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[30,1071],"tags":[4709,2457,28707],"class_list":["post-91662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-padres","category-mlb","tag-aj-preller","tag-mike-shildt","tag-roki-sasaki"],"modified_by":"Evan Mazza, Site Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5263"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=91662"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91662\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":91687,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91662\/revisions\/91687"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/91686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=91662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=91662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}