Simply hours after Roki Sasaki’s agent, Joel Wolfe, did a tell-all about his consumer on the Winter Conferences in Dallas, Texas, Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman known as the 23-year-old worldwide free agent a “main precedence” for the crew.
Learn extra: Roki Sasaki’s Agent Gives Inform-All on Star’s Free Company as Dodgers Stay Closely
“He’s somebody that, clearly, is a serious precedence for us,” Friedman mentioned in his suite on the Hilton Anatole. “We’re going to do no matter we will and know that there are quite a lot of different groups which are going to do the very same factor.”
Sasaki, who turned 23 final month, was formally posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines on Tuesday morning. Sasaki’s choice to maneuver to Main League Baseball at this stage of his profession price him the potential of a $300-plus million contract. Nonetheless, it was extra essential for the Japanese sensation to see his dream of enjoying baseball within the States change into a actuality.
“There aren’t any absolutes in baseball, and in Roki’s eyes, there aren’t any absolutes in life,” Wolfe mentioned Tuesday. “It’s at all times been his dream to return to the key leagues since he was in highschool.”
Sasaki is coming to MLB after sporting a 2.10 ERA throughout 414.2 innings pitched in Nippon Skilled Baseball the final 4 years. Sasaki was additionally part of Workforce Japan within the 2023 World Baseball Basic, the place he was teammates with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Friedman hopes that helps the Dodgers of their pitch.
“I’m certain that they speak. I’m certain that they’ll,” Friedman mentioned of the three Workforce Japan teammates. “I don’t know what their consolation stage is, however I do know that they’d be trustworthy with their opinions, and I feel that will be actually useful for the Dodgers.”
Sasaki will price a crew simply their worldwide bonus pool in 2025 when he indicators after Jan. 15. Thus, he’s one of the coveted free brokers ever — and the Dodgers plans on making the perfect pitch attainable.
“We’re gonna put our greatest foot ahead about what we really feel like we will present short-term, long-term, with our pitching group, veteran gamers, and do every little thing we will to place our greatest foot ahead.”
Friedman has solely had the chance to see Sasaki in particular person as soon as on the finish of the yr, however mentioned there’s a lot that impresses him in regards to the younger pitcher.
“He’s extremely proficient,” Friedman mentioned. “Actually bodily, unbelievable carrying fastball. His break up is nicely above the typical main league pitch. He’s labored exhausting on his slider, and it’s a extremely good pitch.”
Lastly, Friedman mentioned Sasaki’s expectations for himself, and agreed with them, regardless of them being so lofty.
“He has talked about his want to be the perfect pitcher on the earth,” Friedman mentioned, “and we consider he’s able to being the perfect pitcher on the earth.”
Picture Credit score: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports activities
