The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki bid is alive and well, but there are two other teams with their hearts set on the Japanese phenom as well.
Sasaki, 23, officially became eligible to sign with a Major League Baseball team on Wednesday, and his decision is expected before Jan. 23. At any given moment, the Dodgers could find out whether they are or aren’t getting a new cost-controlled fireballer.
Though Sasaki would arguably be the crown jewel of a Dodgers offseason that included the signing of two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell, LA can still field baseball’s best rotation if they don’t land him. However, that scenario may lead them to pivot to pursuing a reunion.
The Dodgers haven’t been linked too frequently to the righty who started Game 1 of the World Series for them, former trade deadline acquisition Jack Flaherty. But if Sasaki signs with the San Diego Padres or Toronto Blue Jays, would Flaherty be back on the table for his hometown team?
Noah Camras of Newsweek certainly thinks so. Camras predicted Wednesday that Flaherty would return to the Dodgers, but only if Sasaki turns them down first.
“Flaherty is reportedly open to a short-team deal… which should expand his market quite a bit,” Camras wrote. “One team who makes the most sense for Flaherty is the incumbent Dodgers, but if they sign Sasaki, it’s hard to imagine they also spend on Flaherty.”
The 29-year-old Flaherty had a 3.17 ERA in 28 starts last season between the Dodgers and Detroit Tigers. He struck out 194 batters, his highest total since his excellent 2019 season, and stayed healthy for a second straight year after injury-plagued seasons in 2021 and 2022.
Spotrac projects Flaherty for a three-year, $63 million contract, and Flaherty could choose to pursue a deal with a player option if he wants to bet on himself to have another strong year.
With Shohei Ohtani returning to the pitcher’s mound in 2025, the Dodgers are getting set to deploy a six-man rotation. That should leave room for Flaherty if and when Sasaki turns LA down, though they’d much rather have the younger, cheaper righty.
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