The Los Angeles Dodgers have secured a significant deal with Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, finalizing a minor league contract with a substantial $6.5 million signing bonus. Sasaki, a 23-year-old right-hander known for his impressive fastball that can reach speeds exceeding 100 mph, expressed his intention to join the Dodgers last Friday. The official announcement and introduction of Sasaki took place at a news conference held at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday.
Sasaki's signing with the Dodgers aligns him with other notable Japanese baseball talents such as Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a move that had been widely anticipated by baseball insiders. As an international amateur player under Major League Baseball regulations, Sasaki, being under 25 years old and lacking six years of service in the Japanese major leagues, falls under the international signing bonus pools.
The Dodgers initially had a signing bonus pool of $5,146,200, which was subsequently increased to $8,102,800 through trades that saw them acquire additional funds from Cincinnati and Philadelphia. The team's strategic decision to implement a six-man rotation could facilitate Sasaki's transition to Major League Baseball as they aim to achieve the rare feat of becoming back-to-back champions, a feat last accomplished by the New York Yankees from 1998 to 2000.
Sasaki became available to MLB teams for a 45-day window through the posting agreement between Nippon Professional Baseball and MLB, facilitated by the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan's Pacific League. The Marines are set to receive a release fee of $1,625,000, equivalent to 25% of Sasaki's signing bonus.
During a press conference at the winter meetings, Sasaki's agent, Joel Wolfe, refuted claims of a pre-existing agreement with the Dodgers, emphasizing that MLB had conducted an investigation. Sasaki's impressive track record includes a 10-5 record with a 2.35 ERA in 18 games last season, where he recorded 129 strikeouts in 111 innings despite being limited by shoulder inflammation. In the 2023 season, he posted a 7-4 record with a 1.78 ERA in 15 starts, albeit hampered by an oblique injury. Over his four seasons with the Marines, Sasaki has accumulated a notable 29-15 career record with a stellar 2.10 ERA, including a memorable perfect game pitched against Orix in April 2022.
Additionally, the Dodgers have also secured deals with several international amateur free agents, including Venezuelan infielders Luis Tovar and Moises Acacio, Panamanian left-hander Adrian Torres, and Colombian shortstop Luis Luna, further bolstering their roster with promising talent.
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