Blue Jays making serious late push in Roki Sasaki chase
Photo credit: WBC
A recent report from TSN's Scott Mitchell indicates the Toronto Blue Jays may be making a serious late push for Japanese star pitcher Roki Sasaki.
It won't require throwing around a ton of money. It'll only require a great sales pitch, which is exactly what Scott Mitchell claims Toronto is working on.
Joel Wolfe, the agent for NPB star Roki Sasaki, tells SNY's Andy Martino that «market size isn't a factor either way» in the player's decision.
The agent opined that Sasaki may prefer going to a smaller market after clashing with media members in Japan.
«I think there's an argument to be made that a small- or mid-market team might be more beneficial for him, as a soft landing, coming from Japan and what he's been through and not having an enjoyable experience with the media - it might be. I'm not saying it will be, but I don't know how he's going to do it. It might be beneficial for him to be in a smaller market, but I really don't know how he looks at it yet because I haven't had a chance and discuss it with him [at great length].» - Joel Wolfe
The 23-year-old's combination of incredible talent and unique circumstances figure to make him perhaps the single most sought-after player available this winter.
With the Chiba Lotte Marines in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) last season, he posted a 2.35 ERA and a 10-5 record with 129 strikeouts through 111.0 innings pitched.
The righty's career 2.10 ERA in 394 2/3 NPB innings as a 23-year-old with his prime still ahead of him would surely make him desirable for any teams rotation for years to come..
Sasaki's agent updated reporters on his client's search for a Major League team, and didn't give any indication that the right-hander was finished with his in-person meetings with interested clubs.
The signing period for international amateur free agents opens on January 15.
That's the date at which Sasaki is first eligible to sign. His 45-day posting window runs through January 23, however.
Given that timeline, any meetings that have occurred between Sasaki and teams to this point in the winter are likely to have been preliminary in nature, offering Sasaki an opportunity to become more familiar with the organizations he had at least some level of interest in.
Wolfe indicated that Sasaki may not make a decision by the opening of the signing window and could take things right up to the posting deadline.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 12 | 166 ANSWERS Blue Jays making serious late push in Roki Sasaki chase Do you think the Blue Jays have a chance of signing free agent Japanese star Roki Sasaki? | ||
| Yes | 39 | 23.5 % |
| No | 104 | 62.7 % |
| Too early to tell | 23 | 13.9 % |
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