Though the anticipated touchdown spot for Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki is with the Los Angeles Dodgers, ESPN insider Jeff Passan believes there are a number of different golf equipment which can be robust contenders to snag the 23-year-old pitcher.
The Dodgers are nonetheless thought-about the favourite so as to add Sasaki to their rotation; nonetheless, Passan is right, it’s not a assure simply but. Passan believes Sasaki might keep away from turning into a Dodger due to the unending highlight on the Los Angeles staff.
“Los Angeles will probably be linked strongly to Sasaki, however assuming he’ll go to the Dodgers is untimely,” Passan wrote. “Whereas the presence of Sasaki’s Samurai Japan teammates Ohtani and Yamamoto in Los Angeles is advantageous, the eye they convey — and the media horde that follows them — provides a unique ingredient than different groups.”
It appears apparent that Sasaki would wish to reunite along with his World Baseball Traditional teammates in Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, however Passan insists there are different MLB groups that could possibly be extra attractive than the World Sequence champion.
“All through the 2024 season, MLB presidents of baseball operations and basic managers had been fixtures at Sasaki’s begins,” Passan added. “Sasaski is shut with right-hander Yu Darvish, whose, staff the San Diego Padres, figures to be a possible touchdown spot. Each New York groups have excessive curiosity in Sasaki, although he may additionally go for a corporation with pedigree and expertise (the Chicago Cubs), a staff in a global metropolis (the Toronto Blue Jays), one whose previous success with Japanese gamers nonetheless resonates (Darvish began his profession with the Texas Rangers) or these whose status for bringing the very best out in gamers may enchantment (the Tampa Bay Rays). Loads of different franchises can — and can — make robust appeals to Sasaki as soon as he’s posted.”
Although Darvish was a pacesetter within the WBC for Japan, he’s a veteran who’s getting older out of his function in San Diego. Yamamoto and Ohtani have a number of years left in Los Angeles. Positive, different groups may make alluring arguments as to why Sasaki ought to signal with stated membership. However nothing appears extra attractive than going to a staff with acquainted faces and a World Sequence trophy in hand.
Photograph Credit score: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports activities
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