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However, the Padres' recent spending habits have been a point of concern, as they have not been as active in the free agent market as they were a few years ago when they signed a 31-year-old shortstop to an 11-year contract. This has led some to believe that San Diego may not be as big a player in the Sasaki sweepstakes as other teams.
Nonetheless, Sasaki's arrival in the MLB is highly anticipated, as he represents a new generation of Japanese players who are not bound by the same restrictions as their predecessors. Unlike players like Daisuke Matsuzaka, who had to go through an expensive posting system, Sasaki will be able to join the MLB as a free agent, which could open the door for a wider range of teams to compete for his services.