Rōki Sasaki announced via Instagram on Friday that he will be signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking a significant moment in the MLB offseason. The 23-year-old pitcher gained recognition among North American baseball fans during Japan's impressive gold medal run at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where he showcased his talent with a 3.52 ERA and 11 strikeouts over 7.2 innings across two starts.

Following some uncertainty regarding his availability to MLB teams, the Chiba Lotte Marines confirmed on November 9 that they would be posting Sasaki, a two-time NPB All-Star. This announcement led to widespread speculation about when he would officially be posted. If Sasaki were made available before the conclusion of the 2024 international signing period on December 15, his signing bonus would be limited to approximately $2.5 million. However, should he be classified as a 2025 international free agent at the start of the signing period on January 15, he could potentially receive around $7 million in bonus money. Regardless of the timing, the relatively low cost for all 30 teams compared to his potential earnings as a full free agent ensured that interest in his services would be high.

Sasaki's pitching arsenal features a fastball that typically averages 99 mph and has been recorded at 103 mph. However, FanGraphs' Eric Longenhagen noted in August that during the 2024 season, Sasaki's velocity declined, averaging 96.7 mph with a swing-and-miss rate dropping to 12 percent, down from 24 percent in 2023. Additionally, Sasaki missed two months in 2024 due to an unspecified arm injury, raising concerns among prospective teams. Nonetheless, his potential remains immense, as he possesses the caliber of a No. 1 starter when at full strength. This acquisition is favorable for the Dodgers as they head into the 2025 season, a team well-equipped to manage pitchers with significant talent even amid injury concerns. The Dodgers recently captured a World Series title despite having only two pitchers throw over 100 innings during the regular season: Gavin Stone and Tyler Glasnow, neither of whom saw postseason action due to injuries. Manager Dave Roberts adeptly navigated through numerous injuries, including the absence of Clayton Kershaw, James Paxton, and Bobby Miller in October. Earlier in the offseason, the Dodgers bolstered their pitching rotation by signing two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell to a five-year, $182 million contract. With Sasaki joining an already formidable Dodgers roster that includes fellow former NPB stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the organization is poised to field one of the strongest rotations in MLB next season, further solidifying its status as a powerhouse in the league.