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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Tom Dierberger

Roki Sasaki Explains Decision to Sign With Dodgers Over Other MLB Teams

Roki Sasaki Dodgers MLB Blake Snell Shohei Ohtani Yoshinobu Yamamoto Japan Padres
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and pitcher Roki Sasaki talk during a press conference at Dodger Stadium. | Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

Roki Sasaki addressed the elephant in the room while getting officially introduced as the Los Angeles Dodgers' latest star free-agent signing on Wednesday.

Sasaki, a 23-year-old right-handed pitcher from Japan, arrived to MLB as an amateur international free agent, meaning his first contract will include six years of club control and a rookie salary in 2025. That allowed every MLB team to be in the mix to sign Sasaki, but like so many other star free agents the past few years, Sasaki chose to sign with the defending World Series champions.

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