Seems like a 23-year-old Japanese player has teams as big as the LA Dodgers and San Diego Padres running around in circles – Yes, Roki Sasaki! The big question is where he will end up. Because, unlike other free agents or players, he is an international amateur. So no massive contract is on the table yet. This, while a blessing for many teams, is also a trouble because teams are subject to the international bonus pool.

So one can say that the playing field, which many say is not equal in MLB, is rather level here. And teams seem to be working overtime to beef up their budgets. MLB insider Mark Feinsand mentioned that the Dodgers and Padres are running after Sasaki rather seriously. They are frantically said to be calling around, trying to trade for more bonus pool cash to make enough to get the next Japanese sensation. And Sasaki will be looking at who gives the most, because this will be his only earning while he is here in MLB.

So a bidding war of sorts has begun between the Padres and Dodgers. “Both the Dodgers and Padres have been calling teams with regard to trading for international bonus pool money with the hopes of bulking up the amount they can offer Roki Sasaki,” Feinsand reported. The best part—they are not alone in this!

It is true that there are other teams that are sniffing around for more cash too. The thing is, not all the teams start with the same amount in the bonus pool. It depends on various things like the market size and their revenue. Now some teams got a good $7.6 million in their pot, and some, like the Dodgers, have just around $5.1 million. The Padres are not too far from the LA Dodgers; they are at $6.3 million.

To level the playing field, the teams can trade for extra pool money up to 60% more than their original allotment. For LA, this would bring the number to be around $8.1 million, and for the San Diego Padres, it would be $10 million. The real kicker is the fact that a handful of teams with $7.6 million could raise their offer to $12.1 million. This would leave them both in the dust.

Why the Padres have an edge in the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes

However, if one were to compare which pot is sweeter, LA Dodgers or San Diego Padres, it seems like the latter one is heavier. Not only is their deal going to be better for Roki Sasaki, but there are also off-the-field things that could help him make the decision to move towards San Diego. Starting with Sasaki’s dynamics with Yu Darvish!

Sasaki sees Darvish as his godfather; those are his words. They go way back and even played together for Team Japan. And Darvish has been open about how he would love for Sasaki to come to the Padres. MLB insider Steve Phillips mentioned, “It seems hard to believe that he would choose the Dodgers over being with Darvish.” In fact, Phillips gave more reasons as to why the Padres make sense for Sasaki.

So for Phillips, talking about the monetary factor feels like the Dodgers isn’t the right place for the 23-year-old. Mostly because the Japanese market in LA is tapped on by Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. “Going with Ohtani and Yamamoto, you are the third of the three. How much will you get there versus going there with Darvish in San Diego?,” said Phillips. And it does make sense. In San Diego, Sasaki will have more opportunities for better collaborations, all of which will matter till he gets into free agency next time around.

Also, if you remember, Sasaki didn’t really want bright lights and media attention. His experience in Japan has made him want to lie low, probably, and work on his skills. While his future is yet undecided, where do you want to see him sign?