It’s now a two-team race for Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki, with the Dodgers and Blue Jays as the final contenders. Reports confirm the Padres are no longer in the running, narrowing the field and amplifying the intrigue. While the Dodgers have long been viewed as the favorites to land Sasaki, the Blue Jays have emerged as strong competitors. The Padres, once considered dark-horse contenders, are now out of the picture—but was it their decision to bow out, or did Sasaki make the call?

Sasaki has become the most sought-after pitching talent in baseball, with top teams eager to secure his services. The Padres’ exit simplifies the contest for the remaining two suitors—unless an unexpected contender jumps into the fray. Fans are left speculating about what went wrong for the Padres and how the Dodgers and Blue Jays plan to strengthen their bids. With the buzz being generated regarding Sasaki’s debut on MLB, it’s fun to watch the top teams racing behind him. So, let’s dive to know about how the teams are making a move for Sasaki. 

End of the road for the Padres

Just a few days ago, the Padres were considered as the major contender for Sasaki, so what went wrong suddenly? Reportedly, they are looking to sign Jhoan De La Cruz and Carlos Alvarez from their international bonus pool and might not have the remaining balance for Sasaki. With this, the Padres might be looking to replace Sasaki with the lefty Alvarez. It is predicted that Sasaki’s contract value might go north of the Padres’ bonus pool of $6 million, while now they can tap both Alvarez and Cruz with this amount. Something economical for the team!

Moreover, as earlier reported, ownership instability has long plagued the team, and this might be a red flag for Sasaki to filter down to the Dodgers and the Blue Jays. The desperation shown by the Padres in getting Japanese reflected the need for the pitcher in the team. How? So, Sasaki is coming with a 2.02 ERA and 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings from the last four seasons he played in NPB. That’s a good start for an amateur and can be a good prospect in MLB. 

The Padres already lost Joe Musgrove for a year due to his elbow injury and Dylan Cease is on the verge of getting into free agency. They are lately in the news majorly for trading their players away and the induction of Sasaki would have turned the discussion but again it seems in vain now. Sasaki would have been the best replacement for Musgrove, while now Alvarez is coming in the same place. So, yes the Padres lost a good prospect in the form of Sasaki, and time will say how much the team was affected by this. But now, what’s next for Sasaki?

It’s the Dodgers vs. the Blue Jays now for Roki Sasaki

Now, the Dodgers and the Blue Jays need to fight it out for Roki Sasaki. For the Blue Jays, they are in connection with a few big-ticket names but nothing came in real for now. So, they need to turn around their rotation rank by getting Sasaki. Now, if they can land him, the phenom would then join Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, and Jose Berrios in the rotation. This will be huge for the team considering Sasaki got into fame in 2022 by having 19 strikeouts for Chiba Lotte Marines. Then what about the Dodgers?

For the Dodgers, it’s about strengthening the team lineup. Well, what could be a better deal than getting Sasaki behind Ohtani and Glasnow? So, getting Sasaki can ensure a better injury-proof campaign for the Dodgers with versatile options in hand. So, the need for the Dodgers is less compared to the Blue Jays but desperation is high here.

Also, having Yamamoto and Ohtani is acting as a catalyst for getting another Japanese on the team. So, in the next few days, fans can get the idea about which team is making the final call, and whichever the team is, the addition of Sasaki will make a contending case for the 2025 season. Where do you see the Japanese landing? Tell us in the comment section below!