It looks like the Boston Red Sox are falling behind in the race for international free agent Roki Sasaki.
SNY MLB insider Andy Martino reported that the New York Mets had a meeting with the talented right-handed pitcher Thursday. This came after New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman revealed Wednesday that they have an in-person meeting with Sasaki in the works.
It’s unclear if the Red Sox have a meet-and-greet on the books with the 23-year-old. They are viewed as “very serious about making a pitch to the Sasaki team,” according to MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo.
The Red Sox have had their eyes on the Japanese star for a while now. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow went to Japan during the season to personally scout Sasaki.
Breslow has made it well known that the Red Sox are still in the pitching market even after trading for southpaw Garrett Crochet. It’s clear why they like Sasaki as he features a filthy pitch mix, which includes a terrific splitter and a fastball that averaged 96.8 mph during the 2024 campaign. Sasaki got the results to back up his talent, posting a 2.35 ERA with 129 strikeouts and just 32 walks in 111 innings for the Chiba Lotte Marines of NPB this past season.
There’s also the cost factor when it comes to Sasaki. He is an international amateur, making him a cheaper option than Corbin Burnes, who is likely to get paid well over $200 million, or Jack Flaherty since Sasaki will sign a minor-league deal with a lucrative signing bonus.
Sasaki isn’t expected to sign until the international signing period opens on Jan. 15, giving the Red Sox more than enough time to make up ground in their pursuit of the potential ace.
