2 Teams Had Interesting Reactions After Being Rejected By Roki Sasaki

March 18, 2025 ,

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that some MLB teams had strong reactions after losing out on Roki Sasaki, who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Jan. 17. 

One team requested that Sasaki delete its presentation from an iPad before returning the device, while another revoked access to an online presentation link upon learning it was out of the running. 

“Dentsu had an agenda, and it just never felt like we truly fit with whatever that agenda was,” one anonymous executive said, referring to the powerful Japanese advertising agency that played a role in Sasaki’s recruitment.

Sasaki ultimately chose the Dodgers over the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays, citing the organization’s stability as a key factor. 

The Dodgers had scouted Sasaki for six years, and with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto already on the roster, the move felt inevitable to some around the league. 

While MLB investigated whether Los Angeles had a prearranged deal with Sasaki, no wrongdoing was found. 

Still, some executives believe the process was controlled by Sasaki’s Japanese representative, Tomoki Sakai, and Dentsu, rather than his American agent, Joel Wolfe. “It was hard to get a sense of who was controlling everything,” another executive said.

Despite higher offers from other teams, Sasaki signed a minor-league contract worth $6.5 million with the Dodgers. 

Rival teams remain frustrated with how the process played out, but Sasaki has quickly impressed in spring training, striking out seven over seven scoreless innings. 

His regular-season debut with the reigning champions is set to take place in Tokyo, where the Dodgers will open their title defense against the Chicago Cubs.

Photo Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

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