Roki Sasaki Chooses Dodgers as Blue Jays come second yet again
It appears that the Blue Jays have lost once again. Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki has chosen the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Reporter Francys Romero first announced the signing, which was also posted to Sasaki's personal instagram.
This hardly comes as a surprise to most, given LA's History.
Toronto was one of the final three teams along with the Dodgers and San Diego Padres who were eliminated yesterday.
The deal is actually a minor league contract, per Sasaki's instagram, but there is little doubt that he will start in the major leagues.
While many around the league are hardly surprised by the decision - the Dodgers had been the favourites from the beginning - the fact that the Blue Jays were so close yet again adds an extra element of sting.
Adding to disappointment was the Blue Jays earlier trade with the Guardians for more international bonus pool money, which many took as a sign that they were close to signing the World Baseball Classic hero.
Sasaki now becomes the third Japanese pitcher in the Dodgers vaunted rotation, behind Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamato, and doesn't cost the Dodgers nearly as much due to his amateur status. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are also members, which leaves franchise icon and future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw without a home.
With Sasaki now officially off the market, expect the Blue Jays to start signing their promised International Free Agents soon, starting with Christopher Polanco. With the extra $2M acquired from Cleveland, they have more to offer their potential players.
Although nearly everyone expected Sasaki to end up in Dodger Blue, this one will hurt the Jays for a while.
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