Report: Padres in ‘Strong Position’ to Sign Sasaki
Young Japanese ace Roki Sasaki will be posted during the international free agency period that begins on Jan. 15, and the 23-year-old will be highly sought after. Most reports leading into this offseason believed the Los Angeles Dodgers were the favorite, but a new report from Francys Romero (a reporter well-known for his coverage of IFA) says several folks he talked to in the industry believe the San Diego Padres are in a strong position to sign Sasaki.
This is a reminder that because Sasaki has been posted this offseason before he turns 25, he is subject to amateur free agent rules that cap his potential contract at each team’s bonus pool. The top bonus pools for the 2025 period is $7.5 million, with the Athletics, Brewers, Mariners, Marlins, Rays, Reds, Tigers, and Twins having that amount.