The Padres Are Out and the Roki Sasaki Sweepstakes Is Down to Blue Jays and Dodgers

[Davy Andrews]

Good morning, and I hope you're not sick of this same old picture from the photo services (© Sam Navarro-Imagn Images, thank you for your service). It appears that Roki Sasaki is now deciding between only the Blue Jays and the Dodgers. This morning, Francys Romero reported that multiple sources have told him the superlative 23-year-old Japanese pitcher is no longer considering the Padres.

Sasaki announced just a few days ago that he was down to three finalists. In case math isn't your specialty, today's news leaves just the Blue Jays and the Dodgers standing in the Roki Sasaki Sweepstakes, bringing Toronto's chances from one-third to one-half.

Well, we actually have no idea what the Blue Jays' chances are. We're busy chasing theories. The smart money is still on the Dodgers, who boast their own Japanese superstar, a juggernaut of a team that contends for a World Series ring year in and year out, a deep farm system, a cutting-edge player development department, deep pockets, closer proximity to Japan, and at this point, I think you get the picture so I will pause for a moment to breathe into a paper bag.

Ok, so the Blue Jays are still plucky underdogs here. However, they clearly have something that interests Sasaki. Even if they don't land him, at least they didn't finish in third!

Fingers crossed. Everything crossed. I need another paper bag.

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[Eat My Shatkins]

All we need today to complete this saga from last off season is someone from his agency to hop on a private jet and start flying to Toronto complete with a grainy picture of sasaki in an airport terminal.

[mphenhef]

Still not getting my hopes up.  I can’t do that again!

[saskjayfan]

13 minutes ago, Eat My Shatkins said:

All we need today to complete this saga from last off season is someone from his agency to hop on a private jet and start flying to Toronto complete with a grainy picture of sasaki in an airport terminal.

If by some small miracle he chose the Jays and Robert Herjavic had a great sense of humour they'd have him fly to LA and escort Roki and his team to Toronto and when he lands he could get out in with all the media and say....Ah...I'm just messing with you.  Come out young man!

[Brownie19]

14 minutes ago, saskjayfan said:

If by some small miracle he chose the Jays and Robert Herjavic had a great sense of humour they'd have him fly to LA and escort Roki and his team to Toronto and when he lands he could get out in with all the media and say....Ah...I'm just messing with you.  Come out young man!

Now that would be hilarious.

[jerb]

 

[Krylian]

4 minutes ago, jerb said:

 

How much extra money could they really find?  In the grand scheme, it's peanuts compared to what he'll eventually sign for.  What logical reason would there be for Roki to sign with Toronto rather than the Dodgers?

[saskjayfan]

12 minutes ago, Krylian said:

How much extra money could they really find?  In the grand scheme, it's peanuts compared to what he'll eventually sign for.  What logical reason would there be for Roki to sign with Toronto rather than the Dodgers?

Holy crap...the jays just traded for 2 mil in international bonus pool money as per Shi

[Jimcanuck]

It's possible the extra IFA money is to sign the guys the Dodgers had a deal with

[Laika]

12 minutes ago, Jimcanuck said:

It's possible the extra IFA money is to sign the guys the Dodgers had a deal with

Would have to be a pretty sexy prospect to take on $10M for Straw as well. 

[Jimcanuck]

2 minutes ago, Laika said:

Would have to be a pretty sexy prospect to take on $10M for Straw as well. 

For sure, and it's more likely the $2M is to increase the likelihood Sasaki chooses TO, with getting more IFA prospects the fallback.

Plus Straw does have some value, just not $10M worth

[Jimcanuck]

It will be funny if after all this, Sasaki decides to stay in Japan for 2 more years

[G-Snarls]

OMFG this is nuts

Just ONCE could one of these signings that we're scared to ne hopeful for work out?!?!?!?!

[Krylian]

5 hours ago, G-Snarls said:

OMFG this is nuts

Just ONCE could one of these signings that we're scared to ne hopeful for work out?!?!?!?!

No.