Around 20 Teams Vying For Roki Sasaki
2 days agoAround 20 major-league baseball teams sent initial pitches to Japanese free-agent right-hander Roki Sasaki, but only a few teams were afforded in-person meetings with the coveted young pitcher. It's possible that Sasaki will visit a couple of cities before he makes his final decision, which is expected to come between Jan. 15 and Jan. 23. His agent, Joel Wolfe, said it's likely that Sasaki's next step is eliminating some teams from contention. The 23-year-old was officially posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball on Dec. 9, giving MLB teams 45 days to try to lure him into their organization to begin his career in the States. Among the favorites for his services are the Dodgers, Padres, Giants, Cubs, Rangers and Mets. Sasaki has some of the best stuff in the world, but there are questions about his durability and decreasing velocity as he looks to try and stay healthy.
Source: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
Source: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo