Roki Sasaki (23), who is considered the biggest fish among pitchers, has also met with the Chicago Cubs. Will Shota Imanaga be able to form a relationship with the team that Shota (Chicago Cubs) and Yu Darvish (San Diego), his idol, have passed this year.스포츠토토
The Athletic, a U.S. sports media outlet, said on the 21st (Korea time), "The Cubs met with Japanese star pitcher Sasaki," adding, "As a result of confirmation by The Athletic's sources, the Cubs got the opportunity to give Sasaki a presentation as expected and tried to persuade him of his vision for the future."
If Juan Soto (New York Mets) is the best star in the Major League (MLB) stove league, it is Sasaki, a monster with a maximum speed of 165 kilometers per hour among pitchers. All clubs are paying attention to him because he is entering the U.S. as an amateur with a contract under the age of 25.
Earlier, New York's "Metro Derby" rivals Yankees and Mets met with Sasaki. "He certainly has a tremendous talent," said General Manager Brian Cashman, who attended the official press conference for joining Max Fried. "It would be great if Yankee Stadium became his home stadium, but the decision is up to him. All we can do is share everything."
The Mets, who have already invested 765 million U.S. dollars (1.1094 trillion won) in 15 years by recruiting Soto, also met with Sasaki. The Mets, who have recruited Soto after Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes, are expressing their determination to challenge for the presidency by adding Sasaki.
While the Los Angeles Dodgers, which were considered the most likely destination for Sasaki, have not made a big move yet, the Cubs have come forward this time.
"In the baseball industry, we don't necessarily see the Cubs as the frontrunner," The Athletic said. "The Cubs have a strong presence in Japan and are one of a few teams with successful track records of players recruited from the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Such credibility led to the meeting."
Sasaki's agent has signed contracts between Darvish and Seiya Suzuki (Cubs) in the past. Not only Suzuki but also Darvish are Japanese stars who have played for the Cubs. It is also proof that Sasaki's agent has a friendly relationship with the Cubs.
Imanaga's success may also be a factor that can persuade Sasaki. Imanaga, who signed a four-year contract worth 53 million U.S. dollars (76.8 billion won) with the Cubs through the posting system after the last season, was ranked first in the Rookie of the Year award and the Cy Young Award in nine games since the season's opening with an ERA of 0.84. He slowed down a bit heading into the middle of the season, but eventually showed impressive performance with ERA of 2.91 and 174 strikeouts due to his outstanding performance of 15 wins and 3 losses.
The Athletic said, "Imanaga, who was selected as an All-Star as a rookie in the Cubs, is an example of the team's pitching infrastructure and the team's willingness to help players from Japan adapt." "At last week's MLB Winter Meeting, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said the team prepared Gunnell's introduction materials to Sasaki."
Hoyer refrained from specific stories but appealed, saying, "We are a team with a lot of Japanese players who have gained good experience in Chicago."
Sasaki is 23 years old and can only sign amateur contracts, so the contract amount is bound to be limited. Nevertheless, big clubs such as Dodgers, Yankees and Mets are still considered more likely destinations. This is because there is a high possibility that Sasaki's amateur contract will end, and there are advantages in various environments.
The most important thing, however, is Sasaki's opinion. Citing sources, The Athletic introduced Sasaki's four priorities on June 11. They included stability, lifestyle, security, and performance in fostering players.
The media also listed the names of eight teams, including the Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, San Diego Padres, Yankees, Boston, Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Cubs, and predicted, "Maybe he doesn't want to join the same group as Ohtani or Yamamoto. He will want to throw with Darvish in San Diego or become an ace in a small team and dream of winning the Rookie of the Year award in the Cubs."
The Cubs are as good a team as the Dodgers to help Sasaki adapt, given that Imanaga and Suzuki are active, and the case of Imanaga, who performed very well in the first year of his big league transfer, can also give a big score to Cubs' player development performance.