Roki Sasaki signs with Dodgers: Japanese ace agrees to deal with World Series champs

Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki is signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he announced Friday on Instagram. Sasaki, 23, was considered to be the best pitcher in the world not already under the employment of an MLB organization. His contract terms were not immediately clear after the announcement.

The Blue Jays and Padres were also considered finalists for his services.

In parts of four seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Nippon Professional Baseball league, he compiled a 2.35 ERA and a 5.76 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His 26.8% strikeout-minus-walk percentage is far and away the best by active starting pitchers to make the leap from NPB to MLB.

Here’s his Instagram post:

Sasaki’s age and lack of service time resulted in him being classified by MLB as an amateur free agent. As a result, his earning potential was capped to what teams could offer from their international amateur signing pools. In turn, Sasaki was placed No. 7 on our free-agent list — rankings that are formed, in large part, on expected average annual value. Here’s what we wrote at the time:

Sasaki has been on the global radar since throwing a 19-strikeout perfect game as a 20-year-old in 2022. He combines elite velocity with a devastating swing-and-miss splitter/forkball. Sasaki has dealt with his share of injuries, limiting him to 33 combined starts across the last two seasons. His earning potential is completely suppressed because of his amateur free agent classification. Nevertheless, a fully actualized Sasaki has a chance to be an immediate impact starter in the majors. 

Sasaki’s designation as an amateur free agent delayed his signing, as he waited until after bonus pools reset on Jan. 15 to make his decision. The Marines, for their part, will receive a posting fee that’s based on his contract’s total value. Here is how that figure is calculated:

• Contract worth less than $25 million: 20% of contract value
• Contract worth $25 million to $50 million: $5 million plus 17.5% of amount over $25 million
• Contract worth more than $50 million: $9.275 million plus 15% of amount over $50 million

Sasaki figures to be part of Dodgers’ Opening Day rotation and teams up with Japanese World Baseball Classic teammates Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the roster of the reigning World Series champs.

CBS Sports will have more on this story shortly.