Substantial update regarding the Toronto Blue Jays and top Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki
Photo credit: Yankees Go Yard
The Toronto Blue Jays are in need of a top tier starting pitcher to help their rotation and it looks like they are all in on Japanese free agent Roki Sasaki.
The Blue Jays have made it clear that shaking up their starting rotation is part of their plans for this off-season which is why they have been involved in multiple trade rumors regarding some of their pitchers like Chris Bassitt and Alek Manoah.
The Blue Jays are apparently all in on trying to land free agent pitcher Roki Sasaki
Sasaki is one of the top free agents available since announcing that he would be heading over to the MLB next season but the international signing period for free agents only begins in January.
According to insider Scott Mitchell, the Blue Jays are all in on Sasaki as he could likely step right into the MLB and likely become the Blue Jays best pitcher if he is able to adapt quickly.
This might percolate for a hot minute given it'll be mid-January, but the amount I've heard «all-in» when it comes to #BlueJays and Roki Sasaki is prob a good thing.
They have an existing relationship via close people and it's not crazy to think he may be intrigued by TO the city
They have an existing relationship via close people and it's not crazy to think he may be intrigued by TO the city
The Blue Jays are in luck because Sasaki won't officially become a free agent until December 15th which would make him part of the 2025 international free agent class in which signings will begin as of January 15th.
This is good news for the Blue Jays since they were down to their last $12K for the international free agent pool of 2024 but as of January 15th, every team gets their full pool money limit to use for the class of 22025.
Sasaki is expected to be posted by the Marines before Dec. 15, which would mean he's a part of the 2025 International Free Agent class. This would work out in the Blue Jays' favor, as they have only around $12K left in their 2024 pool after signing Franklin Rojas, Angel Guzman and others. -Treuden
Since Sasaki does not have enough service time in the NPB, he will not be eligible for a contract of the same size as Yoshinobu Yamamoto which puts pretty much every team on an even playing field.
The decision will come down to where Sasaki feels the best since the offers will likely all be the same.
Previously on Blue Jays Insider
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