The quest for Japanese star Roki Sasaki has turned into a neck-and-neck contest, but the San Diego Padres may not have an advantage over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Report: Padres could be a secondary option for Roki Sasaki.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Sasaki may sign with the Padres if he does not land with the Dodgers in free agency:
“People thought he was going to sign with the Dodgers, that was a done deal,” Nightengale told Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain. “Obviously, agent Joel Wolfe denies this. The Dodgers deny it. So everyone wants him. He’s an excellent young talent. Scouts will say he’s better than [Yoshinobu] Yamamoto or [Shohei] Ohtani; he’s raw but unproven. If he doesn’t sign with the Dodgers, I believe he will go to the Padres. Padres are hopeful, but cautiously optimistic. “I don’t see him going anywhere else.”
Sasaki has links with compatriots on the Padres and Dodgers.
According to Nightengale’s source, Sasaki may consider San Diego as a fallback choice. The Padres are home to his compatriot and mentor, Yu Darvish. As close as the two are, Sasaki has two fellow countrymen, Yamamoto and Ohtani, who might exert even more influence over the defending World Series champions.
Sasaki is looking for a company with an excellent development system, a winning culture, and a favourable location. With their incredibly good squad, the Padres can provide the 23-year-old with all he needs. Ultimately, the Dodgers are now atop the baseball globe and would be difficult to pass up. Nonetheless, a player of Sasaki’s calibre could tip the scales in San Diego’s favour during next year’s playoffs.
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