Mets Enter Race for Roki Sasaki

In a stunning move following their successful acquisition of Juan Soto, the New York Mets have officially entered the race for Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki. This pivotal meeting took place in Los Angeles on Thursday, marking the Mets as the first team known to have met Sasaki in person during the ongoing free-agency process.

Competition Heats Up

Reports indicate that the Mets are not alone in their pursuit. The New York Yankees have been granted an in-person visit with the 23-year-old star, with General Manager Brian Cashman confirming that a meeting is planned “soon” with Sasaki and his agent, Joel Wolfe. Currently, the Mets and Yankees are the only teams whose meetings with Sasaki have been publicly acknowledged.

High Demand for Sasaki

Every MLB team has submitted a virtual presentation for Sasaki's consideration, with the Japanese ace expected to invite a select few teams to second-round discussions. While details on the Mets’ meeting remain scarce, it is evident that the interest across all 30 MLB clubs is overwhelmingly high.

Mets' Preparations

Mets President of Baseball Operations, David Stearns, made a special trip to Japan back in September to scout Sasaki in action on the mound. “We’re going to give it our best shot,” Stearns commented during last week’s Winter Meetings. He acknowledged the complexity of understanding a player’s preferences during such a non-traditional free-agent recruitment process.

Financial Structure and Implications

Sasaki's unique situation is notable; because he is under 25, he’s classified as an amateur international free agent, meaning he can only be signed using a team's international bonus pool money. As a result, the contracts available to Sasaki are expected to be minor league agreements, even though he’s likely to be added to a major league roster quickly. This financial structure limits the potential earnings to just a few million dollars.

The Mets' Financial Advantage

The Mets' financial muscle, courtesy of owner Steve Cohen, could play a crucial role in attracting Sasaki. The team might also leverage other factors to entice the young pitcher, such as the opportunity to join fellow countryman Kodai Senga in leading the rotation or the positive testimonials from other pitchers who have thrived within the Mets' player development system, overseen by Jeremy Hefner.

Strong Contenders

Despite the Mets' advantages, they are not the sole contenders. The reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers are perceived as frontrunners, fielding a strong roster that includes Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres are also in the mix, in part due to Sasaki's close friendship with veteran pitcher Yu Darvish.

Sasaki's Preferences

Wolfe has mentioned that Sasaki is paying attention to teams with a strong overall success rate, a solid track record of integrating Japanese talent, and a proven history of pitcher development. Interestingly, due to adverse experiences with the Japanese media, Sasaki might prefer a smaller market, despite the common trend of Japanese athletes opting for West Coast teams.

Signing Timeline and Mets' Strategy

Sasaki can officially sign with an MLB team starting on January 15, when the international signing period opens. As of now, the Mets have roughly $5 million of their $6.2 million international bonus pool committed to 17-year-old Dominican shortstop Elian Peña. However, they have the option to trade for additional funds, suggesting that if Sasaki opts for the Mets, it could lead to the renegotiation of previous agreements—an outcome the franchise would certainly welcome.

Looking Towards the Future

The Mets appear to be focusing on a strong future, with aspirations set high for 2025. They currently feature a rotation including Senga, Frankie Montas, David Peterson, and Clay Holmes, but they are eager to add a true ace to their ranks. Sasaki, known for his electrifying fastball that often tops 100 mph and an outstanding splitter, could be the perfect match. In Japan, he amassed an impressive 2.10 ERA with 505 strikeouts over 394 and two-thirds innings pitched in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Despite some raw edges, he is widely projected to emerge as an ace in the majors.

Conclusion

Will the Mets successfully reel in this talent? As the countdown to the signing period begins, fans and experts alike are on the edge of their seats! Stay tuned!