Roki Sasaki Officially Posted: MLB Teams Have Until January 23rd to Secure the Japanese Phenom

The highly anticipated posting of Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki has finally been confirmed. The Chiba Lotte Marines officially announced Sasaki's availability to Major League Baseball teams, opening a 45-day window for negotiations. This window will run from December 10th until 5:00 p.m. (ET) on January 23rd.


Sasaki, who turned 23 on November 3rd, is considered one of the most talented young pitchers in the world. He has already made a name for himself with his incredible fastball, which touches 102.5 mph, and a devastating splitter. Sasaki's impressive career includes a perfect game with 19 strikeouts in April 2022, making him a highly sought-after prospect.


Despite his potential, Sasaki is subject to the international bonus pool restrictions due to his age. This means he will sign a minor-league contract and his signing bonus will be limited by MLB's international signing rules. Teams can trade for additional pool money, but they are capped at 75% of their original pool.


Several MLB teams are expected to be in the running for Sasaki's services, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants. The competition will be fierce as teams vie to secure the Japanese phenom.


As the negotiation window progresses, fans and analysts alike will be eagerly watching to see which team will ultimately land Sasaki and how he will perform in Major League Baseball.