Did the Chicago Cubs chances at landing this superstar pitcher just get better?
The Chicago Cubs have been in the running to land superstar pitcher Roki Sasaki all winter long, but could they actually now have a shot at landing him?
The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes final run
Both the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are considered the top two teams to land superstar pitcher Roki Sasaki with the Chicago Cubs being on the outside looking in. However, there may be a glimmer of hope for the Chicago Cubs with the Dodgers not having as much international slot money available as we all previously thought. According to Francys Romero he tweeted out that the Los Angeles Dodgers:
Sources: The Dodgers have brought back to the market two of their highest bonuses for the upcoming 2024-25 international signing period: SS Darrell Morel (DR, $1.1M) and OF Orlando Patiño (VEN, $400K). They currently have around $3.6M to bid for Japanese ace Roki Sasaki.
Does this bode well for the Chicago Cubs?
With Saski’s agent Joel Wolfe figuring to demand more and get closer to the max Sasaki is allowed to sign for which is $7.5 million, the Los Angeles Dodgers may have just put themselves out of the running.
In a recent appearance on the YouTube Channel Foul Territory Senior Writer at Baseball America Kyle Glaser said that the key to signing Japanese superstar Roki Sasaki will not just be money, but will be having ‘strong relationships’. The Cubs have been one of the teams vying for the 23-year-olds services since it became official back when he announced he was coming to Major League Baseball.
With the official date for Roki Sasaki to sign with a team opening on Wednesday, teams like the Dodgers and Cubs are scrambling to get as much slot money together as possibly to be able to offer it to Sasaki. With Roki Sasaki expected not to take long to sign with a team after the official signing period is open, the Chicago Cubs could hear sooner rather than later if they won the sweepstakes.
