The race to sign Japanese star is turning into a tight competition, and the San Diego Padres might not hold an advantage over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Report: Padres could be a secondary option for Roki Sasaki
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Roki Sasaki might choose the San Diego Padres if he doesn’t end up signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency.
“People thought he was going to sign with the Dodgers, that was a done deal,” Nightengale shared with Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation. “Obviously, the agent Joel Wolfe denies that. The Dodgers deny that. So, everybody wants him. He’s a great young talent. Scouts will say he’s better than [Yoshinobu] Yamamoto or [Shohei] Ohtani — he’s raw, but not proven yet. If he doesn’t sign with the Dodgers, I think he goes to the Padres. The Padres are very hopeful, cautiously optimistic. I can’t see him going anywhere else.”
Sasaki has ties to countrymen on Padres & Dodgers
According to Nightengale’s report, Roki Sasaki might view the San Diego Padres as a strong backup option. The Padres boast the presence of Yu Darvish, a fellow Japanese star and mentor to Sasaki. However, the allure of joining compatriots Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani on the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers could carry even greater influence.
Sasaki is searching for a team with an elite developmental program, a winning tradition, and an appealing location. The Padres check all those boxes and more, offering the 23-year-old a roster loaded with talent. Even so, the Dodgers’ current status as baseball’s premier franchise makes them a difficult team to turn down. That said, Sasaki’s immense talent could be a game-changer for the Padres in next year’s playoff race, should he choose San Diego.
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