Early in the offseason, the Boston Red Sox were linked to 23-year-old Japanese flamethrower Roki Sasaki.
The Red Sox were among a few other teams who sent scouts to observe Sasaki during the 2024 Nippon Professional Baseball season. The Sox, Mets, Diamondbacks and Dodgers all scouted the young star in September, and there's sure to be even more competition for Sasaki's services when he's posted as an MLB free agent.
Reporters and experts have shared mixed opinions on whether Sasaki will be posted this year or within the next few seasons. ESPN's Kiley McDaniel reported in his latest free agent ranking that Sasaki is "expected" to be posted this offseason.
Unfortunately for the Sox, McDaniel also mentioned that the Dodgers are the favorite to land the young ace. Their seemingly unlimited financial resources and growing pool of Japanese talent will make them an ideal landing spot for Sasaki. But the Red Sox may have a chance to sign him, as well.
Red Sox international free agent target Roki Sasaki 'expected' to be posted this offseason, per insider
Rōki Sasaki, 92mph Splitter and 102mph Fastball, Individual Pitches + Overlay pic.twitter.com/pSu8cvaW9n
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) November 5, 2024
If Sasaki and his NPB team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, decide to post him this winter, he'll be limited to an amateur deal because of his young age. Japanese free agents cannot sign a fully guaranteed MLB contract until they turn 25, and clubs need to use international bonus money to sign talent that young. The Red Sox will have $6,261,600 of international signing money when teams' pools reset after Dec. 15.
Sasaki has posted a 2.10 ERA in 394.2 innings over four seasons with the Marines. He carries triple-digit velocity on his fastball and is one of NPB's fastest-throwing pitchers of all time, alongside Shohei Ohtani. Sasaki has never pitched more than 129.1 innings in a single season, though, and he does have durability issues that could make the Sox unlikely to offer him a huge contract.
Sasaki is still growing as a player and the Marines may decide to hold onto him in NPB so they can collect a larger signing fee once he turns 25. Whether he's posted this year or in the future, the Red Sox have to get to Sasaki before the Dodgers do.