Dodgers get second chance at Roki Sasaki

The Los Angeles Dodgers are getting another chance to sell their organization to Japanese star pitcher Roki Sasaki.

According to Fabian Ardaya and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Dodgers will have a second meeting with Sasaki. This comes on the heels of Sasaki reportedly meeting with the Padres in San Diego over the weekend. Video purportedly showing Sasaki throwing in Padres gear had surfaced on social media but has since been removed.

Sasaki has been narrowing down his options as his signing window draws to an end. The Blue Jays, Dodgers and Padres are reportedly the finalists as Sasaki looks for his future home.

Each team has something unique to offer. Yu Darvish, Sasaki's mentor who helped turn his slider into a weapon, is part of the Padres organization. The Padres have also displayed a knack for getting the most out of their pitchers, turning the likes of Seth Lugo and Michael King into All-Star-caliber starters.

The Blue Jays can offer an entire country to Sasaki. He would pair with first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as the face of the franchise. Meanwhile, he will face less media scrutiny, an important factor as he struggled with the constant pressure from Japanese reporters.

The Dodgers have their advantages. Superstars such as Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts call Los Angeles home. The Dodgers seemingly have unlimited funds, allowing them to add any player who could be an upgrade. The Dodgers also won the 2024 World Series, giving Sasaki an immediate chance to win a championship in 2025.

The second meeting may be the Dodgers' final chance to convince Sasaki to sign in Los Angeles.