Report: Sasaki to be posted at MLB winter meetings

Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki is expected to be officially posted at the upcoming MLB winter meetings, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.

The posting will open a 45-day window for teams to negotiate with Sasaki before the international amateur signing period begins Jan. 15.

The 23-year-old right-hander will only be eligible to receive a modest contract as a foreign pro under the age of 25 with less than six years of experience. The situation is similar to the Los Angeles Angels signing Shohei Ohtani in 2017.

Teams can grow or shrink their pools by including international bonus money in trades but can't exceed 50% beyond the bonus pool limit, per the collective bargaining agreement.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants are expected to be among the most serious suitors for Sasaki, according to Passan.

Sasaki was excellent during four seasons in Japan's top professional league, posting a 29-15 record with a sparkling 2.10 ERA and 11.5 K/9 across 64 appearances. He also looked sharp at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, registering a 3.52 ERA with 11 strikeouts in two starts.