"It stinks not to get Roki Sasaki" - Cubs GM heartbroken after losing Japanese to Dodgers

The Chicago Cubs had a lengthy scouting process for Japanese flamethrower Roki Sasaki before he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers last week. The Cubs reached his final eight teams and met with him for a second round this month, but it wasn't meant to be for them.

Chicago general manager Carter Hawkins, at the Cubs Convention this weekend, said he was disappointed that they couldn't get Sasaki but felt hopeful about adding stars in the future.

“It was a fair process,’’ Hawkins said. “We had a clean shot to say what we wanted to say to Rōki and his representation. He heard everything that we wanted to say. It stinks not to get him, and it stinks for the 29 teams that didn’t get him.

“Kicking and screaming is not going to do us any good. We just got to figure out where we go next.’’

Hawinks and his management team didn't make the cut for the final three teams – that included the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays alongside the Dodgers – especially as they had Japanese players on their roster and had a history with Sasaki's agent, Joel Wolffe.

Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga are part of the Cubs roster with Suzuki being represented by Wolffe when he was posted from Japan. Suzuki signed a five-year $85 million contract with the club before the 2022 season.

Carter Hawkins says no point in complaining about lack of spending

A point of concern for the Chicago Cubs has been that despite their lack of success they have been unwilling to spend. Their $180 million payroll sits 14th in the league and is half of that of 2024 World Series champions Los Angeles Dodgers.

“I think for us to complain about it,’’ Carter Hawkins said, “would be silly. I feel pretty good about our ability to compete within those markets. If someone is going to offer more money, then they’re going to offer more money. It’s just something we can’t focus on.’’

The Chicago Cubs are the only big market club in the NL Central, yet they have found it competitive, with the Milwaukee Brewers dominating playoff appearances in recent years. The Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals have also had spells of success.