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Roki Sasaki (Photo by Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Roki Sasaki mania has reached a fever pitch as international signing day approaches.
The deadline for MLB teams to sign the star Japanese righthander is Jan. 23, just over a week after the international signing period opens for all teams on Jan. 15. Sasaki will immediately become one of baseball’s top prospects upon signing and his decision looms large over signing day, as Baseball America’s Ben Badler has laid out throughout the winter. As a reminder: The 23-year-old is subject to international bonus pool restrictions and will likely command a team’s entire bonus pool.
Sasaki reportedly began whittling down his list of finalists on Monday, informing several teams they are no longer in the running.
You can find full details below.
Baseball America’s Latest On Roki Sasaki
Dodgers, Padres & Blue Jays Emerge As Finalists
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Monday afternoon that Sasaki has narrowed his list of finalists to three teams: The Dodgers, Padres and Blue Jays.
The Dodgers and Padres have long been considered the favorites to sign Sasaki. The Blue Jays have emerged as a fairly late addition to the Sasaki derby. Toronto hosted Sasaki for an in-person meeting last week, according to The Athletic.
Rangers, Giants Out Of Sasaki Running
Other MLB organizations believed the Rangers were a sleeper in the Sasaki sweepstakes. Despite their aggressiveness on the international market and their bonus pool space in 2025, Texas appears to have fallen short. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reported Monday afternoon that Sasaki informed the Rangers he will not sign with them.
The Giants, another team long linked to Sasaki, are also out of the running, according to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser.
Sasaki Isn’t Destined For New York, Either
Both the Mets and Yankees landed meetings with Sasaki. Neither successfully wooed him to the Big Apple, though.
Which Teams Did Sasaki Visit With?
Eight teams reportedly landed initial meetings with Sasaki:
- Blue Jays
- Cubs
- Dodgers
- Giants
- Mets
- Parents
- Rangers
- Yankees
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