Former MLB executive explains why clubs like the New York Yankees and Mets will push for an investigation into the signing of Roki Sasaki from the Los Angeles Dodgers

A former MLB executive and league insider believes clubs like the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays or New York Mets could soon contact the commissioner’s office and request an investigation into the signing of Roki Sasaki by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Last week concluded one of the last major free agency chases in MLB. With Juan Soto, Max Fried and Corbin Burnes off the board, Japanese ace Roki Sasaki had become a priority for many teams around the league. He is an elite prospect and due to international free agent guidelines, he would come at a bargain price.

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All of the league’s biggest franchises were reportedly among the nearly 20 teams that registered to lure Sasaki to their franchise. The Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays would have been the three finalists in the race. But in the end, as rumored for weeks, Los Angeles won the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes.

The Dodgers were favorites from the start, but there was plenty of speculation around the game that the 23-year-old and the team had already reached an unofficial deal. Which would obviously be illegal. With Los Angeles landing another big name this offseason, one league insider believes some of the other teams in the Sasaki pursuit could call for an investigation into how the Dodgers landed the talented youngster.

• Roki Sasaki Statistics (2024): 10-5 record, 2.35 ERA, 1.036 WHIP, 129 SO, 111.0 IP

Will teams like the New York Yankees or Toronto Blue Jays request an investigation into the signing of Roki Sasaki?

“I think you will find that several teams will ask the commissioner’s office to investigate this particular signature,” Athletics MLB insider and former executive Jim Bowden said this week on the “Foul Territory” podcast. “Because I can tell you that there were several front offices that believed that there was a prior agreement between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Roki Sasaki before this process began. And before the window arrives where you are allowed to negotiate with the player.

“This was denied by his camp. But it was denied to such an extent that it made you scratch your head,” he added. “And what I mean by that is we were told a small market would make sense (for Sasaki). Because of the trouble he had with the media in Japan. The mentions mentioned played a big role. But Los Angeles wouldn’t work because you’d be in the shadow of Ohtani and Yamamoto. There were all these reasons to defend a pre-established agreement.

• Roki Sasaki contract: Six-year, rookie contract with a $6.5 million signing bonus

“It works if you don’t sign with the Dodgers. But it ended after almost every front office told me it was going to end.

The New York Yankees, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and many other teams have made a big push for the pitcher. Yet many of them were abandoned early in the process. While it may be difficult to prove that an unofficial deal was made, an investigation would only add to the narrative that Los Angeles is the league’s new evil empire.

Related: New MLB Rumor Could Explain Why the New York Yankees and New York Mets Failed in Pursuing Roki Sasaki