The New York Yankees have a rare second chance in sports, one they can’t afford to waste. After the New York Mets disrupted their offseason by signing Juan Soto — a move that left Hal Steinbrenner red-faced — it appeared the Mets were set to one-up their rivals again. Reports surfaced Thursday that Mets’ GM David Stearns had already met in person with Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki, seemingly outpacing the Yankees just a day after Brian Cashman announced their interest in the star.
However, it seems the Mets may not have outmaneuvered the Yankees after all. The latest twist in the Roki Sasaki saga offers a glimmer of hope for Yankees fans, calming nerves for the moment. It also sets the stage for another monumental free-agent showdown between two of baseball’s wealthiest franchises.
Roki Sasaki puts Mets, Yankees head-to-head one more time this winter
Just as it appeared the Mets had taken the lead, Jon Heyman of the New York Post clarified the situation, revealing that both the Yankees and the Mets had met with Roki Sasaki in Los Angeles on the same day, Thursday. This revelation rebalances the race for the sought-after Japanese ace, keeping both New York teams firmly in contention.
The specifics of what the Mets and Yankees discussed with the 23-year-old right-hander and his team remain shrouded in mystery. In fact, Sasaki’s own priorities as he prepares to transition to the Majors are equally unclear. Even his agent, Joel Wolfe, acknowledged during the Winter Meetings that he is still in the process of understanding his client’s preferences as this journey unfolds.
What is clear is that Roki Sasaki may be the most impactful signing of the offseason outside of Juan Soto. His talent is undeniable—arguably one of the best pitchers in the world right now. Over four seasons with Nippon Professional Baseball’s Chiba Lotte Marines, Sasaki posted a remarkable 2.10 ERA, a 0.894 WHIP, a 29-15 record, and 505 strikeouts against just 88 walks in 394.2 innings. Armed with a blazing triple-digit fastball and a devastating splitter, his skill set is MLB-ready.
What makes him even more intriguing is his potential value. As an international amateur free agent, Sasaki is subject to international bonus pool rules, meaning teams can sign him at a fraction of the cost of a typical free-agent ace. This structure ensures he’ll be paid at a Minor League level during the early years of his MLB career, making him one of the most enticing bargains on the market.
Roki Sasaki will be eligible to sign only during the international signing period, which runs from January 15 to January 23. However, the process of narrowing down potential suitors is already underway. While all MLB teams were allowed to submit virtual presentations to Sasaki and his team, in-person meetings are by invitation only. Notably, the New York Mets, New York Yankees, and Chicago Cubs have been confirmed as teams granted this opportunity. Meanwhile, others, such as the Philadelphia Phillies, did not make the cut. The race for the coveted Japanese ace is clearly heating up, with the list of contenders growing smaller by the day.
While it’s entirely possible that Roki Sasaki, like many Japanese stars before him, may have a preference for the West Coast and could ultimately end up with the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Diego Padres, his interest in hearing out the Mets and Yankees signals that New York is still very much in the picture. For Brian Cashman, this presents a crucial opportunity to demonstrate that missing out on Juan Soto doesn’t mean the Yankees have conceded the spotlight to the Mets. The chance to land Sasaki would allow Cashman to prove the Yankees’ continued dominance in the city’s baseball scene and show they are still the top contender despite recent setbacks.
