Rōki Sasaki Nears Decision on MLB Team as Dodgers and Padres Emerge as Favorites

The Japanese pitching sensation is set to sign as an international free agent under MLB's bonus pool rules, with an announcement expected this week.

Rōki Sasaki, a 23-year-old Japanese pitcher known for his 100 mph fastball and a historic perfect game, is entering MLB as an international free agent.
Due to MLB's international signing rules, Sasaki's contract will be limited to a signing bonus of $5 to $8 million, far below his market value as a top pitching prospect.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are considered the frontrunners to sign Sasaki, with the Dodgers seen as the likely destination by many analysts.
Sasaki's decision has disrupted the international free agent market, with teams reallocating their entire bonus pools to compete for his signature, impacting other prospects' signings.
An official announcement of Sasaki's MLB team is anticipated within the week, just ahead of the January 23 deadline for his signing window.