There is one free agent available for pennies on the dollar, and he’s the type of starting pitcher that would immediately slot into the top of the Twins’ rotation. And not only would he provide desperately needed support on the field, but he’d also bring a fanfare to Target Field unlike anything we have ever seen before.

That player is Japanese phenom, Roki Sasaki, who can only sign a minor league deal with his first MLB team. At just 23 years old, Sasaki is the latest Japanese superstar, coming over to the MLB early, as an international free agent.

Because Roki Sasaki is limited to bonus pool restrictions, the maximum contract he can sign is for just over $12 million. That’s a lot more than what Shohei Ohtani’s first major league deal was worth, with the Los Angeles Angels, at $2.3 million.

But in today’s MLB, $12 million can be found in the couch cushions of any major pro sports facility in America, especially for what Sasaki is expected to bring on the field, for whoever he chooses to sign with. Even the cheap Pohlads wouldn’t let that kind of money in between them and the value Sasaki would add to the sale cost of the Minnesota Twins.

Agent provides hope for Minnesota Twins chances at landing Roki Sasaki

Still, as of Tuesday morning, most around the MLB expected Sasaki to choose a west coast team, and a path to stardom already paved by Ohtani. That was until his agent, Joel Wolfe, spoke with media members at Winter Meetings and revealed an issue his client has had with pressure, over in Japan, going as far as to say “it might be beneficial for [Sasaki] to be in a smaller market”.

Media coverage in Japan has been challenging for Sasaki per Wolfe:
“There’s been a lot of negativity directed toward him … it’s been very detrimental to his mental state”

Sasaki hasn’t closed doors, but possible “it might be beneficial for him to be in a smaller market”

— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) December 10, 2024

Money isn’t going to be a primary factor for Sasaki. If it becomes a differentiating factor, that’s good for a team like Minnesota, who is in a group that could offer him the most. More than anything though, it will be on Derek Falvey to bring haymakers when meeting with Wolfe.

Related: Minnesota Twins Might be Able to Pay Roki Sasaki More Than Most MLB Teams

In four Nippon Professional Baseball seasons with Chiba Lotte, Rosaki owns a 2.10 ERA. His 0.894 WHIP is ridiculous and he has struck out 11.5 batters per nine innings in nearly 400 frames of action.

102.

Roki Sasaki is not messing around tonight 😳🔥 pic.twitter.com/yIP4FHjCbh

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 20, 2023

Sasaki pitched a pair of games for Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and gave up just three earned runs with an 11/2 K/BB across 7 2/3 innings. Aside from Ohtani, he was the best arm on the team. Strapped for cash, there is no avenue for the Twins to get better in a more financially responsible avenue than by adding Sasaki.

Why would Roki Sasaki pick Minnesota?

Don’t let me kill your optimsm, but it’s still highly unlikely the Minnesota Twins actually land Roki Sasaki, in the end. That said, this is more of a level playing field for a team like the Twins, than any shot they had at landing a free agent like Juan Soto… or really anyone who would get fans excited for the upcoming season.

Joel Wolfe, the agent for Roki Sasaki, says Sasaki “has paid attention to how teams have done as far as overall success both this year and in years past. He does watch a lot of major-league baseball.”

Sasaki asks questions about weather, comfortability and pitching development.

— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) December 10, 2024

It wasn’t that long ago, the Twins were involved late into the process on Shohei Ohtani, before they ultimately lost out, and traded their bonus pool money to the Seattle Mariners. The Twins will have one chance to make a first impression. If Falvey & Co can nail that encounter, then who knows what could happen.

Related: Minnesota Twins Sign Familiar Starting Pitcher to Compete for Rotation Spot

After this latest news, Falvey should be in the pocket of Roki Sasaki’s agent, the rest of his time down in Dallas, at the MLB Winter Meetings. Until he is told, ‘leave us alone, Roki is not coming to Minnesota’ he should be trying to convince them that the Twins are THE small market team he wants to land with.

Something GMs may want to take note of on Sasaki: “He doesn’t necessarily love people who are verbose,” according to Wolfe, who describes the pitcher as witty and particular.

— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) December 10, 2024

President of baseball operations Derek Falvey will have to pull out an offseason miracle. Make his team better without any additional funds to do it. But hey, there are avenues in which he can pull the miracle off. The most appealing route is somehow finding a way to sign 23-year-old Japanese phenom starting pitcher, Roki Sasaki

The assumption is that Roki Sasaki will find his way to the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he could play with fellow countryman Shohei Ohtani. The west coast is always the most ideal landing spot for those who want to be as close as possible to Japan.

Ohtani isn’t the only Japanese star to sign with the Dodgers recently. Top international free agent Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed a big free agent deal there last offseason. Normally, Dodger interest (along with every other MLB team) would pretty much eliminate the Twins from any free agent conversation… but maybe not Sasaki.

Roki Sasaki could cash in with the Minnesota Twins?

If Sasaki wants to maximize his earnings over the next two seasons, his best landing spot (among a handful of other teams) is Minnesota. MLB insider Jeff Passan explained the situation in detail as part of a column he wrote at ESPN on Tuesday.

“If the Chiba Lotte Mariners wait until a few days into December to place Sasaki in the posting system, it would make him eligible to sign in the new international period (which starts Jan. 15, 2025) in lieu of the current one (which ends Dec. 15), increasing the amount he can receive. In the 2025 scenario, the absolute maximum Sasaki can receive would be $12,088,800 — and only from the eight teams (Cincinnati, Detroit, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Oakland, Seattle, Tampa Bay) with the maximum amount of international bonus pool space.”

Jeff Passan on Roki Sasaki’s free agency (ESPN)

Sasaki’s posting date has yet to be revealed, and that’s the linchpin in many of these discussions. It stands to benefit both the player and his Japanese team, should they wait until the 2025 international signing period. If he is posted prior to December 15, then he’d be part of the 2024 international pool. If he waits until after that date, he’ll enter the 2025 pool.

Related: Don’t Count the Twins Out on One Top Free Agent

It’s not unfathomable to believe that the Twins could get in on the race for the rookie arm. It’s worth noting, however, that they were involved with a courtship of Ohtani, when he was posted a handful of years ago. Minnesota doesn’t have significant spending power from a payroll perspective.

How good is this dude? Really, really good…

But because Sasaki is under 25-years-old, he has to sign a minor league deal to come over to the MLB. That limits how much teams can pay him. The Twins can pay him more, due to technicalities. They just have more international signing bonus money available to them in 2025 than most other teams.

Roki Sasaki's 30 fastest pitches in 2 tracked games from the 2023 WBC:

101.9, 101.9, 101.9, 101.8, 101.7, 101.7, 101.6, 101.3, 101.3, 101.2, 101.1, 101, 100.9, 100.9, 100.9, 100.9, 100.8, 100.8, 100.8, 100.8, 100.7, 100.7, 100.7, 100.7, 100.7, 100.7, 100.7, 100.6, 100.6, 100.5 pic.twitter.com/PYlCqwI6nD

— Jacob (@JacobE_STL) November 9, 2024

Every team in baseball will be tripping over themselves to get a meeting with the 100-mph throwing Japanese phenom. Ultimately, they remain a longshot for Sasaki’s final rose. But unlike most situations, they may actually be able to stack the deck financially in ways most others cannot.

Related: Minnesota Twins Front Office Jockeying for Vacant GM Job

If Derek Falvey were able to somehow pull off this sort of signing, it could have ripple effects throughout the clubhouse and fanbase that not even he understands. And hey, the Twins PoBO shocked the baseball world when he landed Carlos Correa (twice). Maybe he can do it again.

Roki Sasaki should be Minnesota Twins top target

Coincidentally, Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki has been posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines, and he could give the Minnesota Twins an avenue to add a top-3 starter, without paying a fortune. At just 23 years old, Sasaki is not eligible to sign a major league deal like Yoshinobu Yamamoto did last season.

His deal would have to be of the minor league variety, and more along the lines of Shohei Ohtani’s first pact with the Los Angeles Angels ($2.3 million). Unlike traditional free agency, Minnesota can compete with anyone on the international free agency market.

The Lotte Marines have announced they are posting right-handed pitcher Roki Sasaki, Kyodo News is reporting.

— Jim Allen (@JballAllen) November 9, 2024

As a 22-year-old, in Japan, Sasaki owned a 2.35 ERA and racked up 129 strikeouts in just 111 innings. He had a lower 1.78 ERA in 91 innings during 2023, and his 173 strikeouts during 2022 came in just 129 1/3 innings.

Related: Minnesota Twins PoBO Publicly Welcomes Trade Offers for Carlos Correa

Sasaki was a standout, alongside Shohei Ohtani, for Japan during the World Baseball Classic. He wields a triple-digit fastball, and his pitching development should only ratchet up with major league coaching. Sasaki won’t immediately push for 200 innings, he’d immediately slot in as one of the Minnesota Twins’ better starters.

Roki Sasaki from Iwate🇯🇵 same Japanese prefecture as Ohtani.

26/29 fastballs in WBC vs. Mexico were +100 mph. Max: 102.5.

🏆:
Pitched perfect game (2022)
2x NPB All-Star (2022+2023)
19 Strikeouts single game (NPB)
🌐 World Record Holder.
🥇 2023 WBCpic.twitter.com/lyPIv6E0Kg

— Japan.gg | ★★★★★ (@JapanggX) November 4, 2024

Although he doesn’t hit like Ohtani, Sasaki is the embodiment of a free agent that is the dream for every front office. The cost is minimal and the upside is immense. Of course he must choose your organization, but that becomes Falvey’s top priority this winter.

How realistic is Roki Sasaki for the Twins?

The assumption is that Sasaki will sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Their payroll outlay is at the top end of Major League Baseball. There should be a slight pause there because money is not close to the determining factor here. Each club has a set international bonus pool. Currently the Dodgers have the largest remaining balance for 2024, but Sasaki’s posting date is not yet determined.

It is noted that Roki Sasaki would fall under the 2024 bonus pool. The Dodgers have the largest remaining international signing bonus pool left at $2.5 million, meaning they could make the largest offer to him.

— Mark Bartlett (@mark_a_bartlett) November 9, 2024

If Chiba Lotte waits until December 15th to post Sasaki, they would open him up to the 2025 International Free Agent class. That would mean the fee paid to the Japanese club would be higher, and Sasaki could sign for a greater amount as well.

Minnesota is in line for a league high $7.5 million pool during that period. For the 2024 period, the Twins have less than $2 million in spending power remaining. MLB’s Mark Feinsand shared a comment from an American League executive that understands just how this process will go.

“Teams are going to have to sell themselves, not just write the biggest check. It still may not be a level playing field because every team won’t have what he’s looking for, but the size of your payroll isn’t necessarily as important.”

Anonymous executive on Roki Sasaki’s free agency (MLB.com)

West coast teams are still going to have the best shot. Los Angeles has Ohtani, and the San Diego Padres have signed Japanese players in the past. That said, Minnesota did dabble relatively deeply with Ohtani. Thad Levine’s familiarity with Yu Darvish, and his time with the Texas Rangers, likely played into that.

Related: MLB Teams are Supposedly Interested in Oft-Injured Minnesota Twins Starter

He is no longer with the organization, but it wasn’t until Ohtani cut down his final list that Minnesota bowed out. Ultimately they traded bonus pool money to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for prospect David Banuelos. Jerry Dipoto believed his club was in contention for Ohtani.

Coming soon to MLB: Rōki Sasaki 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/nWEfIQmMNl

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) November 9, 2024

The pitch made by the Twins will be an interesting one. They don’t currently have a single player from Japan on the 40-man roster. Sasaki probably doesn’t know that Minnesota exists either. Still, whatever presentation they can make, they should be seeking to hit out of the park.

With limited spending and a need to improve, there is no player that would be a better fit for the Twins’ circumstances. Fans shouldn’t hold their breath for Sasaki to choose the Twins. That doesn’t mean that Minnesota doesn’t have a legitimate chance, and even their self-imposed restrictions won’t hold them back.

Related: Top Twins Prospect Recovering from Thumb Surgery: Here’s What We Know