Roki Sasaki, Blue Jays’ latest big name, had meetings in Toronto: sources

The Toronto Blue Jays, silver medalists for one free agent after another over the past two offseasons, are trying again.

Club officials welcomed prized Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki to Toronto last week, sources briefed on the meetings said. Athletics.

Sasaki, 23, can sign with a major league club starting Wednesday, when the international signing period opens. He is not expected to make a decision immediately, but he must choose between now and January 23 as the deadline to sign under the secondment process. The Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets and Chicago Cubs are among the teams pursuing him.

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins and Sasaki’s agent Joel Wolfe declined to comment.

The Blue Jays don’t seem like an obvious choice for Sasaki, who is still maturing as a pitcher and weighs heavily on the quality of a team’s pitching development in his decision-making. The last Jays homegrown pitcher to make 30 starts in consecutive seasons was right-hander Marcus Stroman in 2016-17, and he was developed by the previous front office.

Sasaki, however, could draw on the experience of his fellow Japanese players. Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi recently spent over two seasons with the Blue Jays after signing with them as a free agent in March 2022. The Jays traded Kikuchi to the Houston Astros last July, and in November he signed a contract of $63 over three years. million euro free agent contract with the Los Angeles Angels.

Yet even Kikuchi’s time in Toronto hasn’t reflected particularly well on the organization’s pitching management. Kikuchi had a 4.75 ERA in 22 starts with the Blue Jays last season, although his strikeout and walk rates indicate his results should have been better. With the Astros, he reduced his curveball usage, started throwing more sliders, and in 10 starts produced a 2.70 ERA.

Sasaki isn’t the first big name the Blue Jays have pursued in the past 14 months, nor is he the only Japanese player.

The team memorably pursued Shohei Ohtani last offseason, hosting him during the Winter Meetings at their spring training complex in Dunedin, Florida. Ohtani left the complex with Jays equipment bags and wearing a Jays cap, and with his dog, Dekopin, outfitted in a Canada jacket. But days later, he signed his heavily delayed, 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers.

The Jays have been linked to one major free agent after another this offseason, starting with outfielder Juan Soto, who signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets. But their biggest moves so far have been a trade with the Cleveland Guardians for second baseman Andrés Giménez and reliever Nick Sandlin and the signing of free agent relievers Jeff Hoffman and Yimi García.

As it stands, the Jays rotation should include Kevin Gausman, José Berríos, Bowden Francis, Chris Bassitt and Yariel Rodríguez. Perhaps adding Sasaki would allow them to trade a starter. Or, they could move Rodríguez to the bullpen, further strengthening their relief corps.

(Top photo of Roki Sasaki throwing in the 2023 WBC: Eric Espada/Getty Images)