Sasaki, 23, agreed to a minor league contract with Los Angeles in January that included a $6.5 million signing bonus. He was thought-about a world beginner free agent beneath Main League Baseball guidelines, leaving the Pacific League’s Chiba Lotte Marines beneath the posting system.
Had Sasaki waited two extra years, he might have commanded a nine-figure contract as a free agent.
Sasaki is certainly one of three Japanese gamers with the Dodgers, becoming a member of Yamamoto and Nationwide League MVP Shohei Ohtani.
Sasaki might pitch within the staff’s second sport of the common season in opposition to the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo on March 19.
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The Dodgers are anticipated to take a cautious method with Sasaki after he was hampered by accidents over the previous two seasons. He had some shoulder irritation final yr and an indirect harm in 2023.
The staff plans to make use of a six-man rotation at instances this season to create extra relaxation for its beginning pitchers.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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