MLB Rumors: Padres Eyed as Rōki Sasaki Landing Spot Among Execs Despite Dodgers Buzz

The Rōki Sasaki sweepstakes appear to be centralized in Southern California.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, "While the Los Angeles Dodgers have been the heavy favorites to sign Sasaki for the past year, with some teams convinced he already made up his mind, the San Diego Padres have emerged as the new choice among executives."

The Padres have had a very quiet offseason, which hasn't been the norm in the AJ Preller era, so it wouldn't be a surprise if a splash was coming.

Sasaki would fit that bill. The 23-year-old went 10-5 in in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball in 2024, posting a 2.35 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 129 strikeouts in 111 innings (18 games). He also made two appearances in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, going 1-0 with a 3.52 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 11 strikeouts in 7.2 innings.

At this point, he's the most intriguing starting pitcher on the market. The Padres signing him would not only bolster their rotation, but would also keep him away from their primary rivals.