If there is one word that could sum up this off-season, it’s—shocking! Well, Juan Soto ditched the pinstripes to go New York Mets, and Pete Alonso still hasn’t found his 2025 home yet. And now Roki Sasaki to headed to the LA Dodgers, after months of speculations of him going to the Toronto Blue Jays or the San Diego Padres. Now make no mistake, Los Angeles was always deemed as a favorite spot for the Japanese flamethrower.

But quickly as the off-season moved on, the narrative changed, and how Sasaki would like a low-key team came to light. This fact didn’t drop in randomly, it was fed to everyone by none other than Joel Wolfe, the agent of Roki Sasaki.  And look where Sasaki ended up—in the biggest possible franchise of MLB. A total opposite of where many in the end thought. Was that all just an eyewash?

Now, this has many MLB insiders scratching their heads. What exactly did the entire fiasco of Sasaki in the San Diego Padres or the Yu Darvish connection mean? And him possibly wanting less media attention, what about that? Now Jim Bowden has brought out the topic of there being an investigation into the signing.

Why? Well, it all ties back to rumors that there was an unofficial agreement between Sasaki and the Dodgers that came to light. Then Joel Wolfe had to come to deny such claims, saying, “While a bunch of executives who should know me better and do a lot of business with me insult my integrity by insinuating that I would be a part of some type of nefarious agreement… this is just poor sportsmanship.” MLB executives had then voiced their concerns to the commissioner’s office.

Now with Jim Bowden’s statement, this has once again come to light. Bowden said on Foul Territory, “I think you’re gonna find that there’s gonna be multiple teams that are going to ask the commissioner’s office to investigate this particular signing. Because I can tell you, there were several front offices that believed there was a pre-cut deal between the Dodgers and Roki Sasaki.” For Bowden, the fact that Roki Sasaki’s camp denied the claims so heavily was a head-scratcher too.

However, MLB has already done their investigation and found no wrongdoing. But the fans are not convinced that everything is clean and pristine. And the public forums are booming with negative backlash.

Fans call out MLB on super swift investigation on Roki Sasaki signing

One user on Reddit stated, “They conducted an investigation in all of like 3 hours? Yeah, sure, okay.” Well, of course, the news of the signing only came out on Friday when Sasaki announced it on Instagram. However, this investigation must have gone on during the winter meetings by MLB when the commissioners had gone on with their complaints about the Dodgers and their unofficial agreement with Sasaki. So while it might seem rather quick, it was something MLB might have already tackled.

Rather elaborately, one user said, “Did you do anything illegal? Maybe. I will take that as a no. But seriously, do you think we can get 20-25M viewership from JP next WS? 18M was great, but we want more money from JP companies. With Roki added in? Hell yeah. Cool. Cool. The MLB has found you to be clear of any wrongdoing. Congratulations to the both of us that Roki got posted early this year.” Well, the user highlights how MLB has more to gain with Sasaki’s deal, given he is from Japan. And MLB has partnerships, like one with Japan Airlines and more, that allow fans from there to come to enjoy MLB games. This is just one of many such examples!

A punch remark by a fan saying, “Did you do anything illegal?” “Nope. There you have it.” By this, the fan is highlighting just how easy it must have been for the LA Dodgers to have gotten the clearance. However, it’s important to know that Sasaki’s signing with the Dodgers really isn’t that far-fetched. In fact, news of how the Dodgers scouted Roki Sasaki from his teenage years is known. And if they have a first-come, first-served basis, then there seems to be no question they wouldn’t have signed him.

Realistically speaking, one user said, “Doesn’t need to seem real when no one can do anything about it.” Well, when MLB has already done the checks and found nothing, there is nothing that can change the outcome. Unless, of course, there are proofs and statements coming in. However, if one has to be pinpointed for Sasaki being in the Dodgers, we have a name—it’s Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Jon Morosi mentioned on MLB Network, “I was told in the last 24 hours that a really key conversation in the midst of the courtship of Sasaki came between Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.” So he might be the real reason.

Another rather salty comment, “The Dodgers have signed Roki Sas-” MLB: “Nope, no wrongdoing. Already checked.” And being salty at this time seems understandable. Everyone believed Sasaki would sign with the San Diego Padres. Heck, he was even seen apparently in Padres attire in Petco Park. Not to forget, he thinks of Yu Darvish as his godfather! But well, maybe he wasn’t as close as most people thought he was to Darvish.

In the end, Roki Sasaki always was known to choose a team that would help him develop more. And the Dodgers seem to be just that team. Plus, with Yamamoto already present along with Shohei Ohtani, the pitching won’t solely be on Sasaki’s shoulders. So he would be able to adjust slowly. What do you think of this signing? Let us know!