The Los Angeles Dodgers are keeping the momentum rolling after their 2024 World Series win, showing they’re not content to rest on their laurels.
This offseason, they’ve made waves with some serious signings: Blake Snell inked a five-year, $182 million deal, Teoscar Hernández joined for three years at $66 million, and Tommy Edman secured his spot with a five-year, $72 million extension.
But as the Dodgers aim even higher, they’ve hit a bit of turbulence in their pursuit of Japanese phenom Rōki Sasaki.
According to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, Sasaki’s agent, Joel Wolfe, revealed a surprising twist in the negotiations: Sasaki has requested that no players be involved in initial meetings with prospective teams.
This means the Dodgers’ marquee stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto—both fellow Japanese players—won’t be part of the first pitch to Sasaki.
It’s a curveball, no doubt. The Dodgers likely planned to emphasize the chance for Sasaki to join forces with Ohtani and Yamamoto, a trio that dominated during Japan’s victory in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. That shared history was expected to be a cornerstone of their recruitment strategy.
With this request, Sasaki has leveled the playing field, forcing the Dodgers to rely more on the strength of their organizational culture and less on star power—at least initially.
Adding to the challenge, Sasaki’s unique free-agent status complicates matters. Because he is under 25, MLB rules classify him as an amateur free agent, limiting what teams can offer him to their international signing bonus pool funds.
For the Dodgers, this means a maximum of $5.1 million—one of the smallest pools in the league for the 2025 signing period, behind every team except the San Francisco Giants.
While the Dodgers’ deep pockets usually make them a formidable contender in free agency, they can’t simply outbid the competition this time.
They’ll need to rely on strategic persuasion and organizational appeal, potentially leaning on their championship pedigree and proven ability to develop international stars.
The Dodgers may still find a way to incorporate Ohtani and Yamamoto into later discussions, but for now, their first pitch to Sasaki will look very different than planned.
Whether this change will tip the scales in their favor—or give rival teams an opening—is a storyline worth watching.