Japanese superstar Roki Sasaki is the top international free agent of this offseason's class and it's not particularly close. Sasaki is a 23-year-old potential ace who can run his fastball well into the triple digits. Some have tabbed him as one of, if not the single best pitching prospect in the history of baseball. And due to his age, he's only eligible for a minor-league deal.
That means any team can realistically sign him. From the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Cincinnati Reds to the Chicago White Sox. Every team in the league can afford his minor league deal.
But it's the Dodgers that sit atop the initial predictions. They have Japanese star Shohei Ohtani, the big market, and the best team. What's not to like?
ESPN's David Schoenfield believes it won't be the Dodgers who bring Sasaki in. In fact, he believes it'll be Los Angeles' worst nightmare. Schoenfield predicts Sasaki to sign with the San Diego Padres, the Dodgers biggest rivals, this winter.
"The Padres would be a great fit -- and perhaps none of the likeliest suitors need Sasaki quite as much as the Padres," Schoenfield wrote. "Their payroll is already close to maxed out, and that's without re-signing Jurickson Profar or Ha-Seong Kim -- two players they could use. Plus, Joe Musgrove will sit out 2025 after elbow surgery, so there is a need for a starter to challenge the Dodgers' supremacy in the NL West."
Add in the connection to another Japanese star, Yu Darvish, with the Padres and there's a recipe for an accurate prediction here.
But everything pertaining to Sasaki should be taken with a grain of salt for now. He's still over a month away from when he's expected to sign a contract, so everything is speculation right now.
However, it's impossible to deny the obvious fit and connection for Sasaki and the Padres.
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