Imagine all 30 teams getting the chance to sign Paul Skenes out of LSU as a free agent. That’s not too dissimilar from the expected market of international free agent pitcher Roki Sasaki, a 23-year-old potential No. 1 starter from Japan who is available to all teams for a signing bonus less than the $9.2 million the Pittsburgh Pirates gave Skenes and then can pitch at a major league minimum salary.
The Chiba Lotte Marines posted Sasaki on Monday, opening a 45-day negotiating window. No team is permitted to sign such an international free agent “amateur” between Dec. 15 and Jan. 14. The most money available in teams’ 2025 international signing bonus pools is $7.55 million.
According to one executive with one of Sasaki’s many suitors, Sasaki and his agent, Joel Wolfe, plan to start meeting formally with teams next week. Discussions can continue through the so-called “dark” signing period. That time frame makes it likely Sasaki will sign between Jan. 15–23.
“I believe there will be a holiday break, and they’ll resume discussions fairly early on in the new year,” the source said.
Sasaki has true top-of-the rotation stuff with arm action and athleticism similar to Zack Wheeler. The downsides include a drop in velocity over the past two seasons and a lack of durability. His career high is 129 1/3 innings.
APSTEIN: Roki Sasaki Nears Lifelong MLB Dream As Free Agency Sweepstakes Begin
