The competition for Japanese free agent pitcher Rōki Sasaki appears to be expanding, with reports indicating that more than just the initially linked seven teams are pursuing the talented player. According to MLB Network's Jon Morosi, Sasaki has engaged with at least one additional team this winter, beyond the previously reported names which include the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, and Texas Rangers.

Sasaki was officially posted on December 9, and he must sign with an MLB team by January 23 to participate in the upcoming season. His agent has indicated a plan for Sasaki to sign shortly after the international signing period opens on January 15. If an agreement is not reached by that date, Sasaki will return to Nippon Professional Baseball for the 2025 season. Joel Wolfe, Sasaki's agent, mentioned that preliminary discussions have taken place with all interested teams in his Los Angeles office, where Sasaki had meetings lasting under two hours, attended only by team representatives.

As of December 30, Wolfe reported that twenty teams had submitted offers to Sasaki following his posting. However, the specifics regarding how many teams remain on his shortlist have not been disclosed. The trajectory of Sasaki's decision could hinge on subsequent meetings he plans to have upon returning to Japan, where he might visit one or two cities to further evaluate his options. Due to his age—under 25—Sasaki's MLB contract will be subject to international amateur free agent rules, linking his compensation to the size of each team's international bonus pool. Consequently, all interested parties will start on even financial ground when targeting Sasaki, despite the Dodgers being seen as a frontrunner previously. Sasaki is anticipated to enhance any team’s rotation at a relatively low cost, as evidenced by his impressive performance in the NPB, which includes a career ERA of 2.10 along with 505 strikeouts and 88 walks over 394.6 innings across four seasons.