Roki Sasaki Joins Dodgers for $6.5M, Outbidding Blue Jays and Padres

Jan 18, 2025, 08:52 AM

Roki Sasaki, a highly sought-after Japanese pitcher, has signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a minor league contract with a $6.5 million signing bonus. The Dodgers, who initially had $5.14 million in their international bonus pool, made trades with the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds to acquire additional international bonus pool money, enabling them to complete the signing. Sasaki's decision to join the Dodgers comes after the San Diego Padres withdrew from the bidding, leaving the Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays as the final contenders. The Dodgers' rotation now includes Sasaki alongside Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, making it one of the most formidable in baseball.