The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes is coming to an end, but the biggest question remains.
Will Japan's ace end up on the West Coast or head north of the border?
The reigning champion Dodgers and Blue Jays are the last teams left standing from a pool that also includes the Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Rangers and Giants, with the Padres being eliminated on Friday. According to Francis Romero.
Toronto may have just found a way to up their offer for the 23-year-old right-hander.
The Blue Jays have acquired outfielder Myles Straw from Cleveland, according to multiple reports. They can get $2 million in international bonus pool slots on friday.
Because Sasaki is under 25, he is considered an international amateur and any team that accepts an offer for him will be limited to international pool funds.
After Friday's trade, Toronto has up to about $8.26 million available for Sasaki, while the Dodgers have $5.1 million.
Money isn't the only factor in acquiring this Fireball player. They could join fellow Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Los Angeles' rotation, or immediately become top starters in the rotation. Blue Jays.
His low price tag and an arsenal of pitches that combine a 160 mph fastball with a splitter and slider are just some of his most appealing traits to teams.
The numbers back up his skill set: He posted a 2.02 ERA, 11.4 K/9, 2.0 BB/9, and 6.0 H/9 in four seasons with the Chiba Latte Marines of the Nippon Professional Baseball League, and was a longtime member of the team. I have been observing him carefully for a long time.
Now, with only two left and his 45-day posting period coming to an end, the race continues.
