Padres Target Roki Sasaki Has Informed Another Major Contender They Are Out of Sweepstakes

Valentina Martinez | Jan 13, 2025

Mar 20, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Japan starting pitcher Roki Sasaki (14) celebrates with teammates after the first inning against Mexico at LoanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The San Diego Padres have one less team to worry about in the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes. The New York Yankees were informed Sasaki won't be signing with them, an indication the Japanese phenom's free agency is nearing its conclusion.

Another one bites the dust. https://t.co/fSygNy56mG

— 97.3 The Fan (@973TheFanSD) January 13, 2025

The San Francisco Giants are also out of the running, general manager Zack Minasian announced Monday.

Giants general manager Zack Minasian said the Giants were told that they would not be Roki Sasaki's destination.

— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) January 13, 2025

Based on Sasaki's known meetings, the remaining teams that are being considered by the 23-year old pitcher are the Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays, and Texas Rangers.

Based on Roki Sasaki's known meetings, here's who appears to be in and out of the sweepstakes according to all the latest reports:

In: Dodgers, Padres, Cubs, Blue Jays, Rangers

Out: Giants, Yankees, Mets

Sasaki has until Jan. 23 to sign with an MLB team. pic.twitter.com/cIDdGtpeQL

— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) January 13, 2025

Although the Yankees and Giants have been eliminated from the Sasaki sweepstakes, the Padres' biggest competitor remains the Dodgers.

Padres manager Mike Shildt exuded much confidence surrounding the team's chances of signing Sasaki during the Winter Meetings.

"We should be very legitimate contenders," Shildt said on MLB Network Radio. "We fully expect to be right in the mix and actually, at the end of the day, have Sasaki be a Padre. We've got a lot of inroads to get to Sasaki. know we're gonna put the full-court press to make it happen and we're very optimistic."

"We feel like, just in general, not from any one specific player, but when we talk to free agents … a lot of people want to be here and play," he added. "They want to be part of an amazing atmosphere, want to be part of a team that I think everybody in the game feels like can win a world championship.”

In four NPB seasons, Sasaki had a 29-15 record with a 2.10 ERA and 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Last season, he dealt with some injury issues but had a 10-5 record with a 2.35 ERA. While a starting pitcher with Sasaki's talent isn't typically cheap, Sasaki is the best bargain in baseball.

The Padres have been very quiet this offseason and it's likely because the organization is waiting for Sasaki to sign before making any other signings or trades. The bleak financial situation in San Diego has to be resolved by the time spring training rolls around, indicating there are several moves to be made by the Padres before the end of the offseason.

President of baseball operations A.J. Preller had a hopeful view of the organization's chances to land the Japanese star at the Winter Meetings.

"We just talk about wanting to put our best foot forward and presenting our situation,” Preller said. “If things are meant to be, they line up. From our standpoint, we feel like we have a lot to offer. ... Like anything, it should be a good process."

The Sasaki signing has huge implications for San Diego. It's finally nearing its conclusion.