Roki Sasaki, a 23-year-old pitching phenomenon from Japan, has reportedly met with the Los Angeles Dodgers this week, marking the sixth team he’s had a face-to-face meeting with.
The New York Yankees, however, were the first team to meet with Sasaki, as they look to bolster their roster following Juan Soto’s departure.
MLB insider Jim Bowden, who has 16 years of experience as a general manager, has revealed the nine key factors the Yankees, or any team, must meet to sign Sasaki for the 2025 season and beyond.
According to Bowden’s article for The Athletic, Sasaki will evaluate the following nine requirements in his decision to join an MLB team or return to Japan to continue with the Chiba Lotte Marines:
1. Team’s Future Chances of Winning: Sasaki will assess a team’s immediate and long-term chances. With the Yankees having won the American League pennant last season, they have proven their ability to win.
2. Farm System: Sasaki will consider a team’s farm system, and with the Yankees ranked 29th out of 30 MLB teams in this regard, they have room for improvement.
3. Financial Resources: The Yankees have no issue here, entering the 2025 season with the highest payroll in baseball.
4. Pitching Strength: With Gerrit Cole and Max Fried, the Yankees have a solid pitching rotation, an important factor for Sasaki.
5. Analytics Department: The Yankees, along with the Dodgers and Rays, are known for their elite use of analytics.
6. City’s Cultural Offerings: Sasaki will want to live in a city with rich cultural resources. New York City ranks as one of the best cities in the world for culture.
7. Translators and Support Staff: The Yankees’ successful history with Japanese players like Masahiro Tanaka and Hideki Matsui shows their expertise in this area.
8. Team Leadership in Recruitment: Sasaki expects team leaders to attend recruitment meetings. It’s unclear if any Yankees players have met with him yet.
9. Family-Friendly Environment: Sasaki will look for a team that is welcoming to his family. Whether the Yankees meet this requirement remains to be seen.
Bowden’s list suggests that the Yankees are in a strong position to secure Sasaki, who struck out 129 batters in 111 innings last season with Chiba.
