MLB investigated to ensure no early Sasaki deal in place, pitcher likely to pick team mid-January
Major League Baseball investigated to ensure no team had an advance deal in place for Roki Sasaki, and the agent for the Japanese pitcher says picking a club will be “like the draft in reverse.”
DALLAS (AP) — Major League Baseball investigated to ensure no team had an advance deal in place for Roki Sasaki, and the agent for the Japanese pitcher said picking a club will be “like the draft in reverse.”
On the first day of Sasaki’s 45-day window to sign with an MLB team, agent Joel Wolfe said the 23-year-old right-hander likely will sign shortly after the 2025 international signing pool window opens on Jan. 15 and wouldn’t wait until the Jan. 23 deadline.
“The incentive to sign as early as possible is to get the visa process going so that he would be on time for spring training,” Wolfe said Tuesday during a half-hour news conference at the winter meetings.
Sasaki helped Japan win the 2023 World Baseball Classic and has a fastball clocked at 102.5 mph. The 6-foot-2 pitcher is 29-15 with a 2.10 ERA over four injury-shortened seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball’s Pacific League.
