Starting pitcher Rōki Sasaki has officially announced his intent to join the Los Angeles Dodgers, as revealed in a recent Instagram post. The Dodgers are expected to provide Sasaki with a signing bonus totaling $6.5 million. In a strategic move to bolster their roster, Los Angeles traded Dylan Campbell to the Philadelphia Phillies for additional international bonus pool space, which was reported by ESPN's Kiley McDaniel.

As reigning World Series champions, the Dodgers are continuing to enhance their pitching staff, having previously secured two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell under a substantial five-year, $182 million contract on November 26. This acquisition positions Sasaki as a critical component of the Dodgers' anticipated starting rotation for the 2025 season.

Prior to the addition of Sasaki, the Dodgers had allocated $272.8 million toward their 2025 payroll, with projected payroll expenditures reaching $276 million according to Spotrac. Sasaki, coming off an impressive season with the NPB's Chiba Lotte Marines in 2024, showcased remarkable performance with a 10-5 record, a 2.35 ERA, and a 1.036 WHIP across 18 appearances. He managed to strike out 129 batters while conceding just 32 walks over 111 innings. Furthermore, his experience with teammates Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto—both of whom were part of the Team Japan roster that claimed victory in the 2023 World Baseball Classic—may aid in his transition to Major League Baseball. Sasaki’s performance during the WBC further solidified his capabilities, as he posted a 3.52 ERA with 11 strikeouts against two walks over 7.2 innings across two starts. The mutual interest between Sasaki and the Dodgers was apparent throughout the offseason, with reports from ESPN's Buster Olney on December 5 indicating a widespread belief within the industry that Sasaki had already chosen the Dodgers as his preferred team.

The Dodgers are also expecting the return of two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who did not pitch in 2024 due to undergoing elbow surgery. While the team is hopeful for his return during the 2025 season, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged that it is unlikely Ohtani will be ready by Opening Day. When he is able to return, Ohtani is expected to headline Los Angeles' pitching rotation, boasting a career ERA of 3.01 along with an impressive 38-19 record. Blake Snell made his mark with a 3.12 ERA and a 1.048 WHIP in 20 starts with the San Francisco Giants during the previous season, while Yamamoto demonstrated strong potential in his rookie campaign, accumulating 105 strikeouts in 90 innings. With these moves, the Dodgers are poised to make a strong attempt to become the first team to secure back-to-back World Series titles since 2000, further solidifying their aspirations by adding a talented starter to an already formidable rotation.