Roki Sasaki gained international recognition after his flawless performance in April 2022. With his 19-strikeout game, the youngest in NPB history is acknowledged as one of the premier pitchers globally for his blazing fastball, clocked at over 100 mph, with sharp secondary pitches. Given he is rumored to transition from Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) to MLB soon, amid the uncertainty, Sasaki has been a popular name this week at MLB’s general managers’ meetings.

Big MLB franchises like the Dodgers and Yankees are waiting for him to get into the bidding market. The New York Mets president David Stearns especially showed interest in Roki Sasaki as he went on a special trip to Japan. Stearns went on a trip to Japan this September to watch Sasaki play and to show interest through his presence. He also talked about Sasaki’s great performance while calling him a “unique talent.”

He also positioned the Mets as frontrunners, leveraging their financial muscle that they didn’t have last season. As per the New York Post, Stearns said, “I think one of the reasons the market was held up last year for Yamamoto was that teams didn’t want to spend resources prior to knowing whether they were going to get Yamamoto,” further adding, “In this case, I don’t see someone like Sasaki, who is going to be subject to the bonus pool limitations, holding up the rest of the starting pitching market.”

For the Mets, Roki Sasaki presents a chance to connect with Japanese baseball fans, just like Shohei Ohtani. This endeavor is part of their plan to strengthen their team with promising talent, especially after a failed 2024 season.

Roki Sasaki under the posting system

The possibility of Roki Sasaki making a transition to MLB depends on the posting system that serves as an arrangement between Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and Major League Baseball (MLB)Major League Baseball (MLB). This system enables NPB teams to permit their players to engage in negotiations with MLB teams in exchange for a fee payment agreement. Sasaki is currently 23 years old and qualifies to request a posting; however, he will be subject to salary limitations due to his age.

These constraints may reduce his earning opportunities as opposed to waiting until he reaches the age of 25 when he could potentially be an agent on an international scale without any limitations. Reportedly, Sasaki has turned down contract offers from the Chiba Lotte Marines, which has sparked rumors that he might be put up for posting early as this season ends. However, the team might hold off on posting him to get the compensation within the existing regulations.

If Roki Sasaki holds off until 2027, it would mean skipping the posting system- potentially landing him a record-breaking MLB deal. Regardless of the time he joins Major League Baseball, Sasaki’s exceptional pitching skills have garnered interest from many teams who are keen to sign him on. It will be fascinating to see what the future holds for him.