NEW YORK — According to recent comments by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, Roki Sasaki’s posting situation is expected to stretch into the 2025 international signing period. This development may enable teams to secure Sasaki, the highly sought-after Japanese pitcher, with potential bonuses amounting to approximately $7,555,500.
Manfred shared these insights during a news conference that followed an owners’ meeting, indicating that the timing points to Sasaki’s signing likely coinciding with the new bonus pool period. If Sasaki were to finalize a deal this year, he could receive a maximum signing bonus of $2,502,500 from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
On November 9, the Chiba Lotte Marines, Sasaki’s team in the Pacific League, announced their intention to post the 23-year-old ace. The posting period for MLB runs from November 1 to December 15, granting players 45 days to agree on terms with MLB teams after being posted. As of now, Sasaki has yet to be posted.
In his 2023 season, Sasaki achieved a record of 10-5 and posted an impressive 2.35 ERA across 18 games, accumulating 129 strikeouts in 111 innings pitched. Notably, during the World Baseball Classic match where Japan faced the Czech Republic, Sasaki delivered 21 pitches that exceeded 100 mph, showcasing his exceptional talent.
Being under 25 years of age, Sasaki qualifies as an international amateur free agent by MLB standards, which subjects him to specific bonus pool restrictions. His parent team, Chiba, will be entitled to a posting fee equating to 25% of his signing bonus once an MLB team acquires him.
The international signing period for MLB takes place between January 15 and December 15. Many teams have already utilized a significant portion of their bonus pool on Latin American talent earlier this year. Among them, the Dodgers retain a notable amount of available funds within their 2024 signing bonus pool, leading to speculation amongst rival teams about a possible agreement with Sasaki. Prior to the World Series, Dodgers president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, declined to comment on the specifics of their remaining budget.
Manfred also addressed potential concerns about compliance with MLB’s rules, assuring that if any breaches are suspected, a thorough investigation will be conducted to seek clarity.
As for the financial landscape of other teams, Baltimore currently has $2,147,300 available, followed by the New York Yankees with $1,487,200 and the San Francisco Giants holding $1,247,500. Several teams possess less than $1 million, while the Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers have exhausted their funds entirely.
Looking at the 2025 signing period, teams such as the Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, Seattle Mariners, and Tampa Bay will each have $7,555,500 available. Other teams, including Arizona, Baltimore, Cleveland, Colorado, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh, will have $6,908,600. The clubs with $6,261,600 include the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, and Washington Nationals.
The Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals each hold $5,646,200, while the Dodgers and Giants have $5,146,200. Should a team have an unofficial commitment with a Latin American player for a contract in 2025, they could potentially withdraw to free up cap space aimed at signing Sasaki.