With Juan Soto’s free agency done and dusted, the other big players are now making the waves. The first name is 23-year-old Roki Sasaki, who is no stranger to the spotlight. In 2022, at just 20 years old, he delivered a 19-strikeout perfect game for the Chiba Lotte Marines. Then, Sasaki followed it up with eight more perfect innings in the next start. As if that wasn’t enough, during the World Baseball Classic 2023, Sasaki’s fastball went blazing at 100 mph; he earned that rep as one of the most talented pitchers of the game. Now, he is ready to move from home and take on a bigger challenge—Major League Baseball. 

Roki Sasaki isn’t afraid; in fact, he always wanted to join the league, and his team of Marines finally posted him. So one thing is for sure: now that the posting window has opened, there are teams lined up in his alley. MLB crews will have 45 days to sign Sasaki, with the LA Dodgers being a favorite spot. Deep pockets and a history of signing Japanese stars make the LA team a good potential fit; however, there’s one biggest twist: Sasaki’s agent hinted that small-market teams are better suited for the Japanese phenom. So, do the Dodgers lack an ironclad grip on Roki, as most thought?

Roki Sasaki’s choice might shock you

Sasaki’s journey might not follow the same conventional path of a superstar pitcher. The reason? His history with media! Well, that’s what his agent, Joel Wolfe, mentioned to the media, noting how Sasaki’s experience with media in Japan can influence his decision-making. “I think that there’s an argument to be made that a small or mid-market team might be more beneficial for him as a soft landing coming from Japan, given what he’s been through and not having an enjoyable experience with the media. It might be… I’m not saying it will be, but I don’t know how he’s going to view it; it might be beneficial for him to be in a smaller market,” Wolfe said, further explaining what happened.

Wolfe elaborated that the media landscape in Japan has been tough for Roki Sasaki. He wanted to come to MLB from very early on, and it seems that this interest of his was seen in a very negative light. Apparently, it was disrespectful—that is how the media in Japan put it—and as a result, he got plenty of backlash. This affected Sasaki’s mental health; plus, there were plenty of rumors about him and his family, which all compounded more stress. Hence, as teams line up, Sasaki’s choice might hinge more than just on the reputation of joining a big team; it could come down to somewhere he could find his peace of mind. 

Cincinnati Reds to land Sasaki? 

Roki Sasaki could go play for the Cincinnati Reds! Yes, now that the 45-day window has opened, the Reds are among the teams that are interested in him. Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall mentioned during the winter meeting, “We’re going to try and do our best. He’s a player we scouted in Japan, and we’ll see what happens.” And well, realistically, they do seem to have a chance!

Even though the LA Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and now even the New York Yankees seem to be in the picture for Sasaki, the Reds could be a good contender. First, because Sasaki falls under MLB international amateur signing bonus rules due to his age and service time, money isn’t the only factor to play. Plus, the Reds have one of the biggest bonus pools for 2025 at $7.55 million and hence can make an excellent offer.

However, the big question is whether the Reds can offer a long-term extension that Saski would likely want. Their budget constraints could hold them back, but since Roki Sasaki’s decision is not dependent on dollars, the Reds could have a fair chance. Now, it might look like a long shot, but often in baseball, such instances happen, and those moves make the best stories—look at how Juan Soto left the Yankees for the New York Mets.

So, what do you think will happen in Sasaki’s case? Let us know in the comments.