Roki Sasaki’s offseason signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, while anticipated, was reportedly marked by an unusual process, according to insights shared by MLB executives. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic detailed the involvement of Dentsu, a Japanese advertising agency, which played a significant role alongside Sasaki’s agent, Joel Wolfe.
The agency’s influence raised concerns among rival teams. “Dentsu had an agenda and it just never felt like we truly fit with whatever that agenda was,” one baseball executive told Rosenthal. “We’re skeptical moving forward when they represent a player.” Another executive added, “It was hard to get a sense of who was controlling everything . . . of what they actually were valuing.”
Los Angeles Dodgers: Report Details Agency Involvement In Roki Sasaki Deal
Dentsu, described by The New York Times in 2021 as “hard-wired into nearly every major institution in Japan,” is a global agency employing over 71,000 people. While not directly involved in contract negotiations, they work closely with athletes like Sasaki on marketing opportunities. “There’s no comparison [in the US]. I can’t even give you an analogy,” one MLB official told Rosenthal. “They’re ubiquitous.” Rival executives suggested that Dentsu’s apparent preference for Sasaki to join the Dodgers made the outcome seem “predetermined.”
Sasaki’s first MLB start will occur in his native Japan during the Tokyo Series, where the Dodgers will face the Chicago Cubs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start game one for Los Angeles, followed by Sasaki in game two against Chicago’s Justin Steele.
Sasaki’s spring training performances have been promising. He had two tune-up games and several bullpen sessions, and the Dodgers have been pleased with his progress. In seven Cactus League innings, he has not allowed an earned run, striking out seven and allowing only three hits.
“Just trying to get him acclimated to, one, the U.S. style of baseball and practices and meetings and different things. … These first couple weeks is really both of us trying to get to know each other, and then try to progress from there,” Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said in late February about the plan for Sasaki. “Get him dialed in with some things that he wants to work on.”