Japanese starting pitcher Roki Sasaki Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

It's time for Phillies to make a run for this Japanese star

By Lauren Amour | Last updated Dec 10, 2024 12:07 PM ET

The Philadelphia Phillies have never signed a Japanese star. In recent years, they’ve missed out on pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Kodai Senga (New York Mets), outfielder Seiya Suzuki (Chicago Cubs) and OF/DH Masataka Yoshida (Boston Red Sox),

Now they have a prime opportunity to tap into the Japanese market by signing pitching phenom Roki Sasaki, who was posted during the MLB winter meetings in Dallas. He has until Jan. 23 to sign with a big-league club.

"The signing ... will take place sometime between the 15th and 23rd (of January)," Sasaki agent Joel Wolfe said, per Yardbarker's Kevin Henry.

The 23-year-old right-hander spent four seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. In 414.2 innings with the Marines, Sasaki had 524 strikeouts and a 2.02 ERA.

Sasaki pitched for Team Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, which put him on the radar of MLB teams, who were awed by his 100+ mph fastball and intimidating 6-foot-3 frame.

102 MPH from Roki Sasaki! #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/88UdKCkYGV
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 20, 2023

Sasaki has several potential suitors, with the Dodgers being the favorite, per Baseball America, as Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani were Sasaki's teammates on Team Japan.

The Phillies must remain firmly in the mix, although they don't have Los Angeles' draw. Philadelphia needs another starter, and slotting Sasaki in its rotation with Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola and Christopher Sanchez would make it one of the best in baseball.

At some point in 2025, top Phillies prospect Andrew Painter will make his way to the big leagues, where he'll become a member of the starting staff and likely fulfill the fifth starter role.

Ranger Suarez, who struggled in the second half last season after an impressive first half, could be a reliever again — placing the left-hander in a bullpen that added former Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano on Monday.

Pitching was one of Philadelphia's strongest assets for most of 2024. However, adding Sasaki would further fortify its rotation and make the Phillies a prime contender in the NL.

Lauren Amour

Lauren Amour is a writer and editor based in the Greater Philadelphia area. She currently works as an editor and writer at Yardbarker, covering MLB and the Philadelphia Phillies.

More must-reads: