DEAL AGREED: Padres Vice President Of Baseball Operation and GM A.J.Preller Boldly Proclaims San Diego As Favorites To Sign Japanese Sensation

The San Diego Padres are confident that they will sign Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki in free agency.

The Padres are one of several teams looking to sign Sasaki, who was posted to the MLB by the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball on Monday. After January 15, the 23-year-old star could announce where he will make his major league debut as a member of the 2025 class.

While the Los Angeles Dodgers have been identified as the most serious danger to San Diego in the sweepstakes, Padres manager Mike Shildt is confident that his team has already done and will do whatever it takes to bring Sasaki on board.

Mike Shildt says Roki Sasaki will be a Padre this offseason.

Roki Sasaki, Yankees, phillies, Dodgers
Shildt, a recent guest on MLB Network Radio, stated that the international superstar will wear the brown and yellow at the end of the day (h/t ClutchPoints’ Dan Fappiano).

“We should be real contenders. We fully anticipate to be right in the mix and, at the end of the day, have Sasaki as a Padre. AJ [Preller] has done an excellent job, as has the company, in ensuring our international relevance. Our roster attests to it. “We are a multi-cultural club.”

“We have a lot of inroads to Sasaki to make that happen,” Shildt explained. “I know we’re going to go full-court press to make it happen. “We are very optimistic.”

The Padres might assign international pool money to Sasaki.
If Sasaki delays his decision until after January 15, the Padres will be able to offer him as much as they need from the $6.26 million in international pool money available in 2025.

The Padres have the talent and overall culture to attract Sasaki.

Roki Sasaki, Yankees, Padres
San Diego features one of the most skilled rosters in the Majors. The Dodgers may be the reigning World Series champions, but Shildt nearly led his Padres to victory over L.A. in the 2024 NLDS, losing 3-2 in a close five-game series. Sasaki may be the difference for them next time. San Diego can also provide the unique flamethrower with the lifestyle and club atmosphere he seeks.
Furthermore, Sasaki’s tight relationship with his countrymen and Padres great pitcher Yu Darvish appears to be one of the franchise’s most significant entrances into luring the former in, even above fellow compatriots Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers.

As a pitcher capable of throwing a 100-mph fastball, with a perfect game under his belt and a lifetime 2.02 ERA to show for it, Sasaki might join the Padres from the start and help them win the Commissioner’s Trophy next season. Shildt can not see another scenario unfolding that is not in their favour.

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