Japan starting pitcher Roki Sasaki pitches against Mexico during the second inning of a semifinal game at the World Baseball Classic at loanDepot Park on Monday, March 20, 2023, in Miami. PHILADELPHIA— A world-class pitcher reached the cusp of free agency Saturday with the announcement that Roki Sasaki will be made available by his team in Japan.In a statement, the Chiba Lotte Marines stated that they intend to post Sasaki to Major League Baseball, acceding to the 23-year-old righty’s wishes.
The Phillies were allotted $4.6 million for their 2024 international bonus pool. The amount is slated to rise to $6.26 million in 2025. The Phillies are among five MLB teams that have never signed a player directly from NPB, a shutout streak that continued last year with Yamamoto, even though they offered him more money than the Dodgers. Like many players from Japan, Yamamoto preferred to sign with a West Coast team, specifically Los Angeles.
But the Phillies believe their recent success, including three consecutive postseason berths and an appearance in the 2022 World Series, has resonated beyond the United States. And since the money will be relatively equal in the offers to Sasaki, his choice might boil down to where he prefers to play.