A new rumour adds gasoline to the prevailing notion that the San Diego Padres have a strong chance of outbidding the Los Angeles Dodgers for an elite free agent this winter.
Over the last four years, the Dodgers have become an MLB spending monster, stockpiling an incredible amount of talent in their pursuit of becoming the most dominant team in sports. First, they traded for and re-signed Mookie Betts. Then they awarded Atlanta Braves legend Freddie Freeman a huge contract a couple seasons ago.
However, they have accelerated things in the past year. Last year, the Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani to a record-breaking $700 million contract. Then he signed another large contract with Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
This offseason, they made their first major splash in free agency. When they signed two-time Cy Young champion Blake Snell to a multiyear contract. Making it even more frustrating for rival clubs like the Padres, the Ohtani and Snell deals include deferrals that allow the defending champions to add more talent this summer.
Many MLB teams are eager to sign teenage Japanese ace Roki Sasaki. Although being an international free agent offers every club a shot, the Dodgers were the clear favourite to sign the excellent pitcher. However, this seems more unlikely.
Roki Sasaki’s signing with the San Diego Padres continues to gain momentum.
While the Dodgers have a good chance of acquiring Saski, current sources imply that the Padres are just as serious a competitor. The fact that ace Yu Darvish is the 23-year-old’s mentor is a big reason why. On Wednesday, another source fueled anticipation that Sasaki might join the Padres when his Pacific League team released him in January.
“Several industry sources believe the San Diego Padres are in a strong position to land Japanese ace Roki Sasaki,” MLB insider Francys Romero reported this week.
According to recent rumours, the Dodgers and Sasaki have already reached an unofficial agreement. However, the narrative has undoubtedly evolved in recent weeks. And there appears to be widespread belief within the industry that the Padres would be a better fit for the young ace.
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