The Yankees don’t know precisely the place they stand within the arms race for Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, however they do know one factor.
They’ve made it additional on this course of than they did within the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes seven years in the past.
The Yankees have been granted an in-person assembly with Sasaki, basic supervisor Brian Cashman confirmed Wednesday, which is a stage they by no means received to with Ohtani.
“He’s obviously a tremendous talent,” Cashman stated of Sasaki after Max Fried’s introductory press convention at Yankee Stadium.
“I saw him pitch in person, but he was coming back from a rehab. I’ve seen, obviously, his videos over the course of time. I’ve seen his scouting reports come across over the course of time. He’s extremely talented, no doubt about it. He has a chance to be one of the world’s great pitchers.”
Sasaki, 23, is a extremely coveted commodity after the Chiba Lotte Marines posted him final week. He’s eligible just for a minor-league contract since he’s below 25 and has performed fewer than six skilled seasons, thus classifying him as a global newbie.
Groups bidding on Sasaki can due to this fact solely pull from their worldwide signing bonus swimming pools, which vary from $5.1 million to $7.6 million. The Yankees started the offseason with an allotment of about $6.3 million.
Meaning Sasaki, who hurls a 100-mph fastball and nasty splitter, has an opportunity to be one in every of baseball’s greatest bargains.
Sasaki pitched to a 2.10 ERA and 505 strikeouts in 394.2 innings over 4 seasons within the Nippon Skilled Baseball league. He additionally stood out as a starter for Staff Japan throughout its run to the 2023 World Baseball Basic championship.
It’s unknown what number of groups have been granted a gathering with Sasaki, whom Cashman stated the Yankees plan to go to with quickly in California.
“It’s our one shot to separate ourselves,” Cashman stated. “If there is, for instance, West Coast bias, the only way to overcome that is [to show] how we can help support him in any way, shape or form we can. We will be very transparent, and if that still doesn’t get us the player, so be it.”
Ohtani adopted the identical path to the majors however didn’t grant an in-person assembly with the Yankees or another East Coast workforce earlier than signing with the Los Angeles Angels earlier than the 2018 season.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, in the meantime, was 25 when he left Japan, permitting him to signal a 12-year, $325 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers final yr.
Final week, Sasaki’s agent, Joel Wolfe, urged his flame-throwing consumer may benefit from becoming a member of a small-market or mid-market workforce after damaging experiences with the media in Japan.
Requested if he believed he had a reputable likelihood to signal Sasaki, Cashman replied, “All I can tell you is I appreciate having the opportunity to connect, and then after that, ultimately it’s an individual choice.”
CLOSER CALL
Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone plans to deploy the newly acquired Devin Williams as his nearer this season, he confirmed Wednesday.
It was an anticipated determination, contemplating Williams owns the second-lowest ERA (1.83), the second-lowest batting common in opposition to (.156) and the fourth-highest strikeout price (14.32 per 9 innings) amongst certified relievers since 2019.
The transfer shifts Luke Weaver again to a setup function after he excelled because the Yankees’ nearer throughout their run to the World Collection.
“Luke Weaver turned into a monster in the pen last year,” Boone stated. “I think that’s who he can be moving forward, so to have him and now bringing in Devin, who’s obviously been about as dominant a closer as there’s been over the last several years, is only gonna serve us well.”
Boone stated he has spoken with Weaver for the reason that workforce’s addition of Williams, who was the Nationwide League’s Reliever of the Yr in 2020 and 2023 with the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Yankees traded starter Nestor Cortes and minor-league infielder Caleb Durbin to amass Williams.
HOLIDAY SPIRIT
Shortly after attending Fried’s press convention at Yankee Stadium, Boone lent a serving to hand Wednesday at a “pop-up” meals and toy distribution at NYPD’s forty fourth Precinct within the Bronx.
Boone helped distribute objects at an occasion wherein 500 neighborhood households acquired contemporary produce and shelf-stable pantry items from the Meals Financial institution For New York Metropolis, in addition to toys from the NYPD.
Aaron Boone distributed snacks at Wednesday’s meals and toy drive within the Bronx. (NEW YORK YANKEES PARTNERSHIP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)
Attendees additionally acquired a $25 voucher for native C-City and Bravo supermarkets.
It’s the third yr in a row Boone and the Yankees have teamed up with the forty fourth Precinct and the Meals Financial institution for New York Metropolis for the occasion.
