### Dodgers Favorite to Secure Japanese Pitching Phenomenon Roki Sasaki

Dallas Keuchel, 2015 AL Cy Young winner, spent the final months of the recently ended season alongside Roki Sasaki on the Chiba Lotte Marines. Impressed by Sasaki's abilities, Keuchel remarked, "There is nothing he can't do." The Chiba Lotte Marines announced that the 23-year-old Sasaki will be posted this offseason, marking a significant step towards his potential MLB career.

Sasaki will be subject to specific signing conditions due to his age, similar to when Shohei Ohtani joined MLB post-2017. Unlike Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who signed for a record $325 million over 12 years, Sasaki will follow Ohtani's path, potentially signing a minor league contract and receiving an international bonus. This bonus falls between $5 million and $7.5 million, with teams able to trade for additional cap space. Despite the financial nuances, Sasaki is anticipated to draw fervent attention across MLB, being touted as a talent capable of surpassing the likes of Ohtani, Yu Darvish, and Hideo Nomo.

The Dodgers are seen as strong contenders to secure Sasaki, fueled by their successful history with Japanese players, including Ohtani and Yamamoto. Dodgers' merchandise, particularly their distinctive "D" hats, has become commonplace in Japan, as noted by Keuchel. He shared his belief in the Dodgers' favorable position, referencing industry speculation about Sasaki’s potential move to Los Angeles.

Keuchel discussed Sasaki's impressive performance, highlighting standout statistics from his four seasons in Nippon Baseball, which include a 2.02 ERA and 524 strikeouts over 414 2/3 innings. Sasaki's talent was also on full display at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where he struck out 11 batters in 7 2/3 innings.

Using a scouting scale, Keuchel rated Sasaki highly: a 70 for pitchability, noting his versatility with fastballs, sliders, and splitters; a 65-70 for his fastball that often reaches over 100 mph; and a 70 for his slider, with potential to reach 80. Keuchel also praised Sasaki's mentality, emphasizing his maturity and readiness for MLB at 23, an age when many pitchers are still developing.

In addition to his on-field prowess, Sasaki's intellectual curiosity and positive clubhouse presence were discussed, including his efforts to learn English. Keuchel concluded that Sasaki possesses the determination to become one of the greatest pitchers and believes he will thrive in MLB.

As teams gear up to vie for Sasaki, the Dodgers' established connections with Japanese baseball talents place them in an advantageous position, making them a probable front-runner in the pursuit of this promising pitcher.