Roki Sasaki's Agent Gives Seattle Mariners Fans Hope That Japanese Ace Could Sign with M's

The Mariners are known to be suitors for Sasaki, and this piece of information could help them in their pursuit.

Hat and glove of Seattle Mariners center fielder Dee Gordon (9) sits in dugout during the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in 2018. | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

We heard on Monday that the Seattle Mariners are pursuing free agent pitcher Roki Sasaki this winter. It still seems like a long shot that Sasaki would come to Seattle, and he's long been rumored to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Diego Padres, but M's fans were given a glimmer of hope on Tuesday because of comments made by Joel Wolfe, Sasaki's agent.

Wolfe said he hasn't really spoken to Sasaki about market size but he did indicate that a smaller market could be better for Sasaki because of the reduced media scrutiny.

Roki Sasaki's agent Joel Wolfe spoke at the winter meetings today

Here's what he had to say on the idea of Roki pitching in a smaller market pic.twitter.com/NpFzUzNdV0

— Marine Layer Podcast (@MarineLayerPod) December 10, 2024

First and foremost, Seattle isn't a "small" media market, but the media pressure isn't as great as in a place like Los Angeles, New York, or Boston. Usually, we'd take this as a negotiating ploy to get smaller-market teams in the bidding so that the price gets driven up on big-market teams, but that doesn't really apply here since Sasaki's contract is bound by international signing bonus money.

Therefore, there could be a degree of truth to this, and that should give the Mariners slightly more optimism that they can sign him. In addition to market size and media pressure, the M's can also tout their pitching development over the last several years, the success of Japanese players in Seattle and the ability to insulate Sasaki through a potential six-man rotation.

Sasaki has officially been posted for major league teams and will start meeting with them next week, though he's not expected to sign until mid-January.

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