The Los Angeles Dodgers have been seen as the front-runners to land the coveted pitcher Roki Sasaki. But Sasaki left the door open to several teams.
Based on new reporting another team has entered the fray. The Toronto Blue Jays, known for their aggressive yet unsuccessful pursuit of top free agents in recent offseasons, are actively vying for the services of the Japanese right-hander.
Blue Jays Competing With Dodgers For Roki Sasaki
According to sources briefed on the matter, Blue Jays officials recently hosted Sasaki in Toronto as part of their efforts to secure his signature.
The 23-year-old Sasaki, eligible to sign with a Major League club starting Wednesday, is expected to thoughtfully consider his options before making a decision by the January 23rd deadline.
The competition for Sasaki’s services is fierce, with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, and Chicago Cubs among the teams actively pursuing his signature.

Blue Jays may not be the most obvious fit for the young pitcher.
Sasaki, whose prime desire is to develop into a top-tier pitcher, is likely to prioritize a team with a strong track record of developing young pitching talent. The Blue Jays, while competitive, have not consistently cultivated homegrown pitching success in recent years. Marcus Stroman, who made 30 starts in consecutive seasons in 2016 and 2017, represents a notable exception, but his development occurred under a previous front-office regime.
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That said, Sasaki is not afraid to ignore conventional wisdom. Signing with a team like the Blue Jays would allow him to pave his own way rather than being forced to stand in the shadow of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The Blue Jays’ pursuit of Sasaki comes amidst the lingering memory of their high-profile pursuit of Ohtani last offseason. The team made a significant effort to attract Ohtani, even hosting him at their spring training complex in Dunedin, Florida.
Ohtani’s departure from Dunedin, adorned in Jays gear and accompanied by his dog, Dekopin sporting a Canada jacket, generated significant excitement among Blue Jays fans. However, Ohtani ultimately signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers, dashing the team’s hopes of acquiring the two-way superstar.