December 09, 2024

MLB rumors: Phillies 'in the mix' for Japanese star pitcher Roki Sasaki

The Phillies need to respond to the Mets' Juan Soto signing and Roki Sasaki could be their answer.

By Evan Macy
PhillyVoice Staff

How do you respond to your division rival and the team that ended your World Series hopes signing Juan Soto to the richest deal in sports history?

How about signing a 23-year-old stud pitcher from Japan?

The Phillies are reportedly among the teams interested in signing Roki Sasaki, who is being posted (given a 45-day window to sign with an MLB team) at the MLB Winter Meetings.

Roki Sasaski is now expected to sign with an #MLB team between January 15-23rd. #Padres #Mets #Yankees #RedSox #Rays #Cubs #Dodgers #Phillies among the teams in the mix. Potential income from endorsements, chances to win & pitching development will be 3 key factors in his…
— Jim Bowden⚾️ (@JimBowdenGM) December 9, 2024

Widely heralded as one of the "world's most talented pitchers," Sasaki would be a huge boost for the Phillies starting pitching staff, which is missing a fifth starter and could use a little youth as well.

The Phillies would be getting a bargain if they are able to ink a deal with the hurler, as he'd be capped by international signing pool restrictions which would probably net him around $7 million.

In 69 games pitched in Japan over his career, most of them for the Chiba Lotte Marines, Sasaki has a 2.02 ERA and has 524 strikeouts to just 91 walks in 414.2 innings pitched. Those are some absolutely insane numbers.

The Phillies have no track record of signing players from Japan so this would be their first.

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