Report: These 4 Teams "More Likely" To Sign Roki Sasaki Than Dodgers

It looks like the long-expected coronation of Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki as a Los Angeles Dodger is not the forgone conclusion it was thought to be. 

According to MLB insider Jim Bowden, it's "unlikely" the pitching phenom ends up with LA, and there are actually no less than four teams that are seen as having a better chance at signing Sasaki than the Dodgers. 

The big money of Hollywood won't be a factor in his decision, since due to his age (23), he's considered an international “amateur” free agent and can only sign a minor-league deal with a bonus paid from a team’s international pool, which in its entirety tops out at $7 million. So Sasaki will only get a portion of that $7 mill. 

That means any team, large or small market, could be in the running. In addition, Sasaki would be second (or third) fiddle in the Los Angeles market to Shohei Ohtani and another countrymate Yoshinobu Yamamoto. 

Here are the 4 teams that Bowden's sources tell him are "more likely" to sign Sasaki than the World Champs:

San Diego Padres

Yu Darvish was one of Sasaki's heroes as a youngster, and is said to be like a godfather to him. Darvish could take him under his wing and help pave the way for a Sasaki arrival in San Diego. 

Atlanta Braves

The Braves could lose Max Fried in free agency this winter, plus the return of their other ace Spencer Strider will be taken slowly and carefully, coming off Tommy John surgery. Sasaki would be very much relied on on a rebuilt Atlanta staff.

Tampa Bay Rays

Here's one of those small-market teams that sees themselves on the kind of equal footing they're not used to when competing for big-time available players. One advantage for the Rays is the clear history they have in bringing the best out of pitchers, young and old. Sasaki could be the star of Florida on the baseball scene if he was to sign there. 

New York Mets

If Sasaki is looking for the biggest market for huge endorsement deals to make up for his low salary to start, the Big Apple would be the place. Not to mention the fact that the Mets do have a fellow Japanese hurler on hand to help him with the transition, in Kodai Senga. 

Photo Credit: Orixbaseballclub, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons