The Boston Red Sox have a well-established need for starting pitching, and the team has been vocal about its plans to scour the free agency and trade markets to fortify the pitching staff.
A long-awaited international free agent may be able to help the Sox reinvigorate their rotation. Twenty-three-year-old fireballer Roki Sasaki will be posted as an MLB free agent by his current Nippon Professional Baseball team sometime in December. The Red Sox are expected to be active in his market.
MLB insider Jim Bowden named Boston as his top landing spot for Sasaki. The young ace is expected to be incredibly popular after he's posted, though, so the Red Sox will have some competition for his services.
Due to Sasaki's age, he's only eligible for a minor-league deal. MLB international free agent restrictions forbid any foreign players under 25 from signing a standard contract. Because he'll be posted as an international amateur free agent, clubs can sign him with their international bonus pool money, which makes him available to teams that may not have the resources to compete otherwise.
MLB insider Jim Bowden names Red Sox likeliest fit for young Japanese ace Roki Sasaki
23-year-old Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki is not expected to sign with an MLB team before January 15th.@jonmorosi with more on #MLBNHotStove ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/YvOHEieo2c
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 21, 2024
Sasaki posted a 2.76 ERA over 111 innings with the Chiba Lotte Marines of NPB last season. He clocked 125 strikeouts, 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings and allowed just two homers. Sasaki's fastball touches triple digits on the radar gun and he's one of the fastest pitchers in NPB history, alongside Shohei Ohtani.
Bowden explained that Sasaki is likely to sign with a big market team despite clubs being able to use their international signing pool money. In a market like Boston, he would be able to secure sponsorships with Japanese companies and make some extra money. Bowden also credited the Red Sox's newly revamped pitching program as a draw for the young flamethrower.
Boston's chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has an eye for pitching, and if Sasaki's stuff is as deadly as advertised, the Sox should be big players in his market. If the Red Sox play their cards right and pursue Sasaki aggressively, they could secure a star arm for years to come.