Roki Sasaki Next Team Prediction: Will Padres Sign Star SP?

The offseason became much more interesting once it was announced that Roki Sasaki intends to make the leap from NPB to MLB in 2025.

Now that the Juan Soto sweepstakes has ended with a $765 million contract, teams will be fighting for their chance to land the 23-year-old Japanese ace this winter. 

Sasaki will be much cheaper because he’s leaving before turning 25, meaning he’s too young to sign anything other than a contract from a team’s international bonus pool – like Shohei Ohtani did in 2017, inking a deal with the Los Angeles Angels.

But which MLB team will land Sasaki? Here’s a look at my pick to sign the star pitcher:

Roki Sasaki Next Team Odds: Padres Favored to Land SP

The BetMGM online sportsbook doesn’t offer odds on Roki Sasaki’s next team, but the San Diego Padres have emerged as favorites to sign the highly sought-after right-hander.

Francys Romero reported on social media on Wednesday, Dec. 4, that “several industry sources believe the San Diego Padres are in a strong position to land Japanese ace Roki Sasaki.” This marks a significant shift in the sweepstakes for Sasaki’s services.

The Los Angeles Dodgers were initially seen as frontrunners, especially if Sasaki had been posted during the 2024 international signing period when Los Angeles held the largest remaining international signing bonus pool. 

However, with Sasaki being posted for 2025, the playing field has opened up, allowing more teams to join the race. This could result in a bigger payday for the star pitcher. The 2025 international signing period begins on Jan. 15, and Sasaki must sign with a team by Jan. 23 after being posted on Dec. 9.

A potential Padres signing would intensify their rivalry with the Dodgers. San Diego has already had opportunities to knock Los Angeles out of the postseason, and acquiring Sasaki could shift the balance further.

From Sasaki’s perspective, the move to San Diego also makes sense. Veteran pitcher Yu Darvish, a cornerstone for the Padres, could provide valuable mentorship and help Sasaki transition to MLB and life in a new country.

While it would have been exciting to see Sasaki join a small-market team, his likely move to San Diego over Los Angeles is a positive development for baseball overall.

Roki Sasaki’s Next Team Prediction: Padres

Roki Sasaki NPB Stats

• Seasons: 4
• Record: 29-15
• ERA: 2.10
• Strikeouts: 505
• Walks: 88
• Innings pitched: 394 2/3