Roki Sasaki to be posted this winter, Dodgers likely destination
The top free agent pitcher this winter is rumored to be heading to the Dodgers once he is posted.
To no one’s surprise, Japanese superstar pitcher Roki Sasaki will be posted this offseason by the Chiba Lotte Marines. Across the industry, including USA Today reporter Bob Nightengale, he is expected to be courted by all 30 teams and is likely to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Sasaki, who just turned 23 earlier this month, made a name for himself a few seasons ago with a dominant stretch of games in 2022 in the Nippon Professional League. He participated in the 2023 World Baseball Classic for Team Japan, who defeated Team USA in the championship.
The Dodgers already have a strong foothold in the Japanese market. Last offseason, they signed Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto for over $1 billion guaranteed. Those two were key factors in delivering the Dodgers a World Series championship in the 2024 season.
From the Diamondbacks' perspective, it’s not necessarily a good thing, although there’s already going to be extra motivation to knock off the defending champions. They’re already going to be hard-pressed to repeat an 89-win season with key offensive contributors reaching free agency. It’s a very difficult National League West, with the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres at the top.
Torey Lovullo’s reaction last March, when the Padres traded for Dylan Cease, best sums up the situation for Arizona and its fan base.
“I wish the best players would quit coming to the NL West.”
If there is a silver lining to all of this, they still have to play the games as no championship is decided in November.
Other Weekend Notes
Super Two status has been set for 2 years and 132 days of service time. Normally baseball players are eligible for just three seasons of salary arbitration, typically reserved for 3-5 years of service time, but the top 20% of players with 2+ years become eligible. D-backs outfielder Jake McCarthy fell 8 days shy of being eligible at 2.124.
Tommy Troy and Gino Groover will represent the D-backs in the Fall Stars game. The game is available on MLB Network and possibly a live stream on the MLB website. I will be personally attending the game to try to learn more about the organization’s top 2 draft selections from the 2023 draft.
You can read their scouting reports by clicking the link below.
Gino Groover and Tommy Troy named Fall Stars
The Diamondbacks will be sending of their top prospects to the annual Fall Stars Game at Sloan Park this season. Infielders Gino Groover and Tommy Troy, who will rank as the No. 2 and 3 prospects in my upcoming Top 10 D-backs Prospects list.