Japanese Ace Roki Sasaki, 23, to Be Posted; Dodgers Favored to Sign

Nov 9, 2024, 11:02 AM

Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki will be posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines this winter via the posting system, making the 23-year-old right-hander available to Major League Baseball teams for the 2025 season. Sasaki, who boasts a career 2.10 ERA in Japan, has expressed his desire to become the best player in the world. He is regarded as one of the best pitchers globally and is expected to draw significant interest from multiple MLB clubs, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have heavily scouted him and are considered heavy favorites to sign him. Sasaki is ranked as the third-best free agent this offseason, behind Juan Soto and Corbin Burnes. Despite being limited in earnings due to MLB international signing rules, Sasaki chose to be posted now to compete at the highest level.