Sources: Dodgers, Padres and Blue Jays, finalists to sign Roki Sasaki

While the Yankees, Rangers, Mets and Giants are on the way, Dodgers, Padres and Blue Jays dispute the signing of Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, according to sources
He star japanese right-handed pitcher Roki Sasaki plans to sign with Los Angeles Dodgersthe San Diego Padres or the Toronto Blue Jays sometime over the next week, sources told AM850, while another group of big-name teams have been informed in recent days that they are no longer being considered to sign one of the most talented pitchers in the world.
The New York Yankees, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers have been informed that Sasaki will no longer be available, sources said, leaving the two early favorites — Los Angeles and San Diego– along with a surprise participant in Toronto.
Sasaki, 23, whose 100-plus mph fastball and devastating spread-fingered fastball made him one of Japan’s best pitchers, was signed by the Chiba Lotte Marines in December, opening a 45-day window for that he signed. Because Sasaki is under 25 years old, he must sign as an international amateur. The new international signing period begins on January 15, although Sasaki is not expected to sign until perhaps closer to January 23, when his transfer window closes.
Toronto’s appearance comes shortly after Sasaki’s visit to the city on Thursday and Friday, which was first reported by The Athletic. Sasaki also visited San Diego over the weekend, bringing even closer to the conclusion of a process that has involved teams from across baseball.
The prospect of signing Sasaki is tempting. Doing so at a greatly discounted price — international signings are capped at around $10 million on Sasaki’s signing bonus — offers teams immense value, as Sasaki would play the next three seasons earning approximately minimum league salary and then would spend three more years in an arbitration system that reduces salaries. The finalists, aware of the rarity of a player like Sasaki, are exploring the possibility of negotiating for extra bonus money beyond the amount allocated if they are chosen.
High-ranking MLB executives were regular attendees at Sasaki’s games with Lotte over the past two seasons. In 111 innings last year, Sasaki struck out 129 and walked 32 while posting a 2.35 ERA. He posted even better numbers in the previous two seasons, and Lotte signed him despite understanding that if he had remained with the team for two more years, he would have been in position to receive a nine-figure contract that would include a significant signing fee paid to the equipment.
With Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers already employ two of Sasaki’s Samurai Japan teammates and are coming off a World Series win. While they have been a crowd favorite from the start, sources warned that the Padres, with right-hander Yu Darvish — who has played a mentoring role for Sasaki — were a major threat to sign him.
The Blue Jays, who are the third team, surprised the management throughout the game. Toronto is coming off a last-place finish in the American League East, has an average minor league system, has not reached an agreement on a contract extension with its founding player, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and has been rejected by several high-profile free agents, from Ohtani to Juan Soto and Corbin Burnes.
Still, Toronto came away from its meeting with Sasaki confident, sources said, hoping that, as one of baseball’s biggest decisions in recent memory approaches, the feelings will be mutual.