News broke early Friday morning that the San Diego Padres are out of the running for Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki.
The 23-year-old, who can only be signed via international bonus pool money, has narrowed his choices down to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays.
Most people have thought that the Dodgers were the favorite from the start, but several insiders had speculated that the Padres might be the ultimate landing spot, so to see them eliminated is good news for Toronto.
Francys Romero had the note on the Padres via social media:
Hearing from multiple sources that the Padres are out in RokiSasaki.
They will begin their international signings of Jhoan De La Cruz and Carlos Alvarez in the next few hours.
Hearing from multiple sources that the Padres are out in Roki Sasaki.
They will begin their international signings of Jhoan De La Cruz and Carlos Alvarez in the next few hours.
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) January 17, 2025
It’s a surprise that the Blue Jays have even made it this far, considering they weren’t thought to be real contenders for Sasaki this offseason. If Toronto were to land him, he’d join Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, and Bowden Francis in the rotation.
Presumably, Yariel Rodriguez would head to the bullpen to strengthen that unit. Of course, if Sasaki chooses the Dodgers, it would be another gut punch this offseason for Jays fans who have seen the team miss out on Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes, Max Fried and Teoscar Hernandez.
The team also missed out on Shohei Ohtani last offseason, who chose the Dodgers and helped them win the World Series.
Sasaki has until Jan. 23 to sign but reports have indicated that he could sign as early as Friday.
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The Toronto Blue Jays have been given some huge news regarding their pursuit of Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki. The 19-year-old right-hander has been turning heads with his electric stuff and impressive command on the mound, and the Blue Jays have been one of the frontrunners in the race to sign him.
Reports out of Japan indicate that Sasaki is seriously considering signing with the Blue Jays, who have been aggressive in their pursuit of the young pitcher. The team has reportedly made a strong offer to Sasaki, and the prospect of joining a young and talented team on the rise has clearly caught his attention.
If the Blue Jays are able to secure the services of Sasaki, it would be a huge boost to their pitching staff and a sign that the team is serious about contending in the near future. Sasaki has the potential to be a frontline starter in the majors, and his addition would give the Blue Jays another young, high-upside arm to pair with their already impressive stable of young talent.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as the Blue Jays continue their pursuit of Roki Sasaki. Toronto fans could have a lot to be excited about if they are able to land this promising young pitcher.
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