Roki Sasaki Landing Spots: 3 potential MLB teams eyeing the Japanese ace’s next move

Roki Sasaki just turned down a contract from his current team in Japan, the Chiba Lotte Marines. The reports suggest that he could still sign with them or another team overseas, but this certainly opens the door for the young ace to post to MLB.

However, at just 23 years old, Sasaki will be classified as a restricted free agent. Each MLB team has an international bonus pool, having a maximum limit of around seven million. Teams cannot offer more money to restricted free agents, as doing so would result in penalties.

When Ohtani signed with the Angels at 23, it cost him as he could've commanded more than $200 million if he were 25, the age when international players become unrestricted free agents. It seems like Sasaki is following his compatriot's path.

Sasaki's potential posting has been monitored closely by a lot of teams. He, much like Yoshinobu Yamamoto last year, will be in high demand whenever he posts. That could be this year or not since he is still a young player, but the signs point to a possible MLB contract this winter. If so, here are three teams that are likely eyeing him.

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3 teams looking at Roki Sasaki in 2025

3) New York Mets

Steve Cohen and the Mets will be in on Sasaki (Imagn)

The New York Mets were one of the final teams in on Yoshinobu Yamamoto, so expect them to be major players for Sasaki this year. They have money to spend, and owner Steve Cohen will want to go all-in on stocking up the team that went to the NLCS in 2024. With a lot of money coming off the books, it's very realistic for them to go after superstars like Juan Soto. However, with a 2025 international bonus pool of around $5 million, grabbing Sasaki might prove difficult, particularly as they also have sights on other prospects.

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2) Los Angeles Dodgers

Roki Sasaki may join the Dodgers (Imagn)

It would likely require some more financial wizardry but expect the Los Angeles Dodgers to be major players for Roki Sasaki. The team has the location advantage, and they have Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani. Having Ohtani helped recruit Yamamoto; they're now the defending champs with two of the most prominent Japanese stars out there. Sasaki would be hard-pressed to ignore their pitch. Nonetheless, like the Mets, the Dodgers also only have $5.925 million in their bonus pool. However, they don't seem to be having interest in any other prospects.

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1) New York Yankees

The Yankees are likely in on Roki Sasaki (Imagn)

General manager Brian Cashman was keeping an eye on him even last year, so he is on their radar. Outside of Gerrit Cole, who opted out, the pitching staff doesn't yet have a dominant pitcher, so Sasaki could fill that void for the 2024 World Series losers. The Yankees' bonus pool is more than $6 million, and they might go all in for the Japanese stat.