The Los Angeles Dodgers made history by handing out record-breaking deals to a pair of Japanese stars to end 2023, and it seems they have their eyes set on adding another gifted player from the land of the rising sun in 2024.
This offseason has been one of the most eventful in the long and storied history of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They made North American sports history by giving two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani a landmark $700 million — mostly deferred — contract. They then set a new record for first-time MLB players by signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325 million deal.
In just a matter of a few weeks, the organization handed out over a billion dollars in money to just two players. However, both also happened to be stars developed in Japan and members of the 2023 World Baseball Classic-winning team. Well, it seems the Dodgers are interested in getting a third member from that talented squad.
Los Angeles Dodgers already scouting the next big Japanese pitcher
This week, Japanese outlet ShoTime reported some interesting new information about LA’s serious interest in 22-year-old phenom Roki Sasaki. The outlet claimed (translated by Noah Camras of Dodger Nation) that the organization is already planning to sign him if he is posted by his Japanese team later this year and will do whatever it takes to acquire his services.
Camras added that the Dodgers have been scouting the young pitcher since he was in high school and the expectation is he will be available in MLB free agency after the 2024 season.
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With Yamamoto now departing Nippon Professional Baseball, Sasaki is viewed as the next big pitcher in the league. He made his NPB debut in 2021 — at 19 years old — and has already earned All-Star honors twice. He also already set the league’s single-game strikeout record with 19.
Over his four seasons with the Chiba Lotte, he has posted a 1.90 ERA and 0.827 WHIP. He has a 20-10 record with 295 strikeouts in 303.2 innings.
