The Los Angeles Dodgers keep getting stronger. The reigning World Series champions are signing Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki. The deal is worth a reported $6.5 million.
“It was a very difficult decision, but I will do my best to make it the right decision when I look back after my baseball career,” Sasaki posted on his Instagram account.
The 23-year-old Sasaki was one of the most coveted pitchers on the market. He wasn’t able to sign until January 15 when MLB’s international signing period opened. Since Sasaki is under 25 and didn’t have six years of experience in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), he was designated as an international free agent and had to sign a minor-league contract.
If he had waited two more years, he could have inked a deal similar to Dodgers teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who signed a 12-year, $325 million contract last offseason.
Nicknamed “The Monster of the Reiwa Era,” Sasaki has consistently hit triple digits with his fastball. In four seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines of NPB, he compiled a 29-15 record in 64 starts over 394⅔ innings, posting a 2.10 ERA with 510 strikeouts and 88 walks.
With Sasaki’s signing, the Dodgers now boast five legitimate No. 1-type starters, with Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, and recently signed Blake Snell.
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Los Angeles Dodgers have one major worry with Roki Sasaki
Despite the monumental signing, the Dodgers do have a major issue surrounding Sasaki — keeping him healthy.
“The Dodgers routinely churn out quality young players. But they have trouble keeping pitchers healthy,” The Athletic’s Will Sammon reports. “That’s a concern. And it’s something Sasaki will have to answer. Considering how much money Sasaki left on the table by choosing to play in MLB as early as he did, it’s paramount that he stays healthy before getting a shot at free agency — which won’t come again for a handful of years.”
Twelve Dodgers pitchers were placed on the injured list in 2024, and the team only had three healthy starters available during their World Series victory over the New York Yankees.
Sasaki comes to Los Angeles with his own injury concerns. He was limited to just 111 innings in 2024 with a right-arm injury, and he also missed time in 2023 due to an oblique issue.
To address these concerns, the Dodgers are planning to utilize a six-man rotation in 2025 in hopes of lessening stress and injuries for their pitchers.
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