23-year-old free agent could surpass Yoshinobu Yamamoto, MLB insider predicts

The Los Angeles Dodgers offered the largest contract handed out to a pitcher when they signed Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325 million deal last offseason. However, MLB insider Robert Murray feels that fellow Japanese starting pitcher Roki Sasaki could upstage his compatriot when he joins a major league team.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto is regarded as the most accomplished pitcher to have come to the MLB from Japan. He's a three-time Pacific League MVP in Nippon Professional Baseball and has also won the Eiji Sawamura Award, handed to the best pitcher in the league, thrice. Besides the record-breaking contract, the Los Angeles Dodgers also paid the Orix Buffaloes $50.625 million as a posting fee to acquire Yamamoto.

Nevertheless, Robert Murray thinks that Roki Sasaki could turn out to be a better pitcher in the MLB than Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Murray offered his thoughts on The Baseball Insiders podcast on Friday. [14:11 - 16:34]

"You have the opportunity to sign one of the most talented international pitchers to come over to (major league) baseball in quite some time," Murray said. "Obviously, we had Yamamoto come over last year, and he's immensely talented. But Sasaki, if he reaches his full potential, I've had some evaluation to suggest that he could be even better.

"If you're able to sign a guy like that on a minor league contract for super cheap, it's kind of mind-blowing that you'd not be involved in that," he added.

Despite being one of the best pitchers in his country, Sasaki is only eligible for a minor league contract as per the rules for free agency in the MLB, as he's under 25. Therefore, unlike Yamamoto, teams won't need a massive investment to acquire the 23-year-old right-hander.

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Roki Sasaki could join Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Dodgers starting rotation

Yoshinobu Yamamoto has the largest contract for a pitcher in the MLB (Image Source: Imagn)

Many MLB teams are on the hunt to sign Roki Sasaki, which wasn't the case when Yoshinobu Yamamoto became available on the international free agent market last offseason.

According to MLB insider Robert Murray, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres are among the teams leading the race to sign the right-handed pitcher.

"Obviously, the Padres and the Dodgers are prominently involved, as should every team in baseball," he said.

"I don't know if he's going to be choosing San Diego over L.A.," he added. "I don't think that even Sasaki knows at this point."

The race to sign Roki Sasaki still remains wide open, but it's starting to look increasingly likely that he could end up Yamamoto's teammate with the Dodgers next season.