While the New York Yankees’ immediate focus is on the Juan Soto sweepstakes, managing partner Hal Steinbrenner told the NY Daily News’ Gary Phillips this week that they will eventually have to also do a deep dive on their pitching.
One pitcher the Yankees – and every other team in baseball – will be interested in is Japanese ace Roki Sasaki.
This week, Sasaki’s American agent had to dispute rumors that he has an under-the-table agreement for the right-hander to sign with the Dodgers, to the Athletic’s Evan Drellich.
“While a bunch of executives who should know me better and do a lot of business with me insult my integrity by insinuating that I would be a part of some type of nefarious agreement,” Wolfe told the outlet, “in reality, this is just poor sportsmanship.”
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said he expects Sasaki to sign as part of the 2025 international signing class. That means he won’t sign before January 15, if his Japanese club posts him as expected.
Just 23 years old, Saski has to be signed under MLB’s international signing bonus pool rules, meaning he would sign a minor-league deal and then receive a bonus via international pool money. Currently the Dodgers have the most money ($2,502,500) in their international signing bonus pool. The Yankees have $1,487,200 in international bonus money to spend.
Steinbrenner told reporters that he has only seen highlights of Sasaki, but thinks he is a “tremendous pitcher.”
“We have not had any real discussions at all about any possible postings of Japanese players yet,” Steinbrenner said. “But like every other club, I’m sure we will.”
Sasaki’s fastball has reportedly touched 102 mph while sitting in the 98-100 mph range. He also features a devastating splitter and an above-average slider. One international scouting director even believes Sasaki has No. 1 upside in the future.
“He’s as good as advertised,” the anonymous scouting director told MLB.com. “He has an ideal projectable, lean and athletic frame. He has excellent arm action and delivery, with three plus power pitches with control over command. He has No. 1 upside.”
The Yankees have starters Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt, Luis Gil, Nestor Cortes, Carlos Rodon and Marcus Stroman signed for the 2025 season.
