{"id":3671,"date":"2024-11-23T03:30:41","date_gmt":"2024-11-23T03:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=3671"},"modified":"2024-11-23T03:30:41","modified_gmt":"2024-11-23T03:30:41","slug":"breaking-dodgers-mvp-shohei-ohtani-makes-roki-sasaki-recruitment-admission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=3671","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: Dodgers’ MVP Shohei Ohtani makes Roki Sasaki recruitment admission"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shohei Ohtani lets everyone know about his ‘recruiting’ Roki Sasaki for the Dodgers.<\/p>\n

\n
\"featured-image\"<\/p>\n
As anticipation builds for\u00a0Roki Sasaki\u2019s entry into Major League Baseball,\u00a0Shohei Ohtani\u00a0has weighed in on speculation surrounding the Dodgers\u2019 potential pursuit of the Japanese pitching phenom. Sasaki, whose posting by the Chiba Lotte Marines makes him one of the most sought-after players heading into the 2025 season,\u00a0has sparked rumors about his MLB destination. Among them is the belief that Ohtani might be helping the Dodgers secure Sasaki\u2019s signature. However, Ohtani\u00a0firmly denied those claims.<\/p>\n

\u201cShohei Ohtani said he has not been recruiting Roki Sasaki to join the Dodgers but considers him a great friend\u201d via Bob Nightengale on X, formerly Twitter.<\/p>\n

While Ohtani\u2019s comments downplay any active role in Sasaki\u2019s recruitment, it\u2019s not surprising given the legalities around tampering. Still, the Dodgers are\u00a0widely seen as the frontrunners\u00a0to land the 23-year-old pitcher, thanks to their existing connections to Japan and their success in developing international talent. The team already boasts Ohtani, the reigning NL MVP, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, another standout pitcher from Japan, on their roster.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I haven\u2019t really been recruiting him in any way,\u201d Ohtani said, per Beth Harris of AP. \u201cI consider him a friend, so we\u2019ll talk every so often about baseball in general and life. I\u2019ll respect his decision wherever he wants to sign and I think he\u2019ll do well wherever he goes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dodgers continue to pursue high-name free agents<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Sam Navarro-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sasaki\u2019s potential arrival in Los Angeles would make an already formidable Dodgers roster even more robust. The right-hander has dominated Japan\u2019s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), compiling a career 2.10 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 505 strikeouts across 394.2 innings. At just 23 years old, Sasaki\u2019s combination of youth and elite performance makes him a unique prize on the international market.<\/p>\n

The Dodgers\u2019 development system, proximity to Japan, and ability to leverage media opportunities make a compelling case for Sasaki to join. The familiarity and camaraderie he shares with Ohtani and Yamamoto from their time as teammates on Team Japan during the 2023 World Baseball Classic\u2014where they won the championship\u2014further strengthen their appeal.<\/p>\n

While the Dodgers are the favorites, Sasaki\u2019s decision is far from a foregone conclusion. Some believe he may prefer a smaller market to avoid being overshadowed by Ohtani and Yamamoto. There\u2019s also speculation that a smaller stage could provide Sasaki with better sponsorship opportunities.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, Sasaki\u2019s timeline complicates matters. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed that Sasaki will be part of the 2025 international signing period, starting January 15. This shift eliminates the advantage the Dodgers had in having the most remaining bonus pool money for the 2024 period. While their new bonus pool will increase to $5.1 million, other teams\u2019 pools will also reset, opening the door for broader competition.<\/p>\n

The Dodgers\u2019 pursuit of Sasaki remains a storyline to watch this offseason. Ohtani\u2019s denial of active recruitment doesn\u2019t necessarily diminish the Dodgers\u2019 chances, but Sasaki\u2019s final decision will likely hinge on a mix of financial terms, development opportunities, and personal preferences.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Shohei Ohtani lets everyone know about his ‘recruiting’ Roki Sasaki for the Dodgers. As anticipation builds for\u00a0Roki Sasaki\u2019s entry into Major League Baseball,\u00a0Shohei Ohtani\u00a0has weighed in on… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3672,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3671","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nBREAKING: Dodgers' MVP Shohei Ohtani makes Roki Sasaki recruitment admission - 24\/7 News America<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=3671\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"BREAKING: Dodgers' MVP Shohei Ohtani makes Roki Sasaki recruitment admission - 24\/7 News America\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Shohei Ohtani lets everyone know about his ‘recruiting’ Roki Sasaki for the Dodgers. 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