According to reports from Sports Hochi, Yahoo Japan, Dylan Hernández of the Los Angeles Times and Andy Martino of SNY, the Mets were among a group of eight teams to send team reps to scout Roki Sasaki‘s latest start in Japan.
The 22-year-old Japanese ace is one of the best starters in Japan, with a 2.00 ERA and 376 strikeouts through 283 ⅔ innings over the past three years in the NPB league. He’s played for the Chiba Lotte Marines since 2021, where he pitched a perfect game in 2022 and has been a two-time All-Star.
Sasaki first made international waves when he pitched for Team Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic with fellow countrymen Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He drew attention this previous offseason when rumors swirled about being asked to be posted for MLB teams, even though MLB teams do not allow players under 25 with less than six seasons of professional ball to sign a major league contract. They do permit a minor league contract, however.
While teams like the Mets, Yankees and Cardinals sent scouts to watch Sasaki, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that Sasaki is inclined to sign with the Dodgers when he’s eligible.
The Mets are in desperate need of pitching help, and Sasaki would be an invaluable addition to their rotation when he’s eligible. He throws a fastball, curveball and slider, and like Kodai Senga, a forkball, is considered his best off-speed pitch.
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