Roki Sasaki visits Padres in San Diego: sources

By Dennis Lin, Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal

As Roki Sasaki nears a decision that could have major implications for baseball, the coveted Japanese right-hander has continued to visit potential destinations.

Padres officials hosted Sasaki in San Diego this weekend after the pitcher visited the Blue Jays last week in Toronto, sources briefed on the meetings said. Athletics.

Sasaki, 23, can sign with a big league team as soon as the 2025 international signing period opens on Wednesday. Former Chiba Lotte Marines star is not expected to end his free agency immediately, but he must make a choice by Jan. 23, the deadline for a 45-day assignment window. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners are among the other teams reportedly pursuing Sasaki.

Padres president of baseball operations AJ Preller and Sasaki’s agent Joel Wolfe did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

The Padres and Dodgers have long been considered top contenders for Sasaki’s services. Both teams were among the clubs that had initial in-person meetings with Sasaki in Los Angeles, where his agency, Wasserman Sports, is headquartered and where the pitcher trained. Wolfe said during a recent video call with reporters that Sasaki would visit a number of U.S. cities after spending the holiday at home in Japan.

Like the Dodgers, the Padres have asked other international prospects expected to be in their next signing class to consider waiting until 2026 to sign. Sasaki is likely to command most, if not all, of the international bonus pool of whichever team he chooses.

The Padres, who have yet to complete a trade or guarantee a dollar in free agency this offseason, arguably need Sasaki more than any other suitor. While the franchise has descended into a high-profile ownership dispute, some club officials remain optimistic about their chances of bringing in Sasaki. The Padres’ hopes have always been buoyed by the presence of veteran starter Yu Darvish, who played with Sasaki in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and grew close with the young pitcher.

“If there’s an opportunity or if I’m asked to come into a meeting, I’m here in San Diego for the entire offseason,” Darvish said in an interview last month. “So if there’s ever a time or they want me to come to a meeting, then yeah, I’ll be happy to do that.”

(Top photo of Roki Sasaki at the 2023 World Baseball Classic: Yuki Taguchi/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)