With a triple-digit fastball, slider and one of the best split-finger pitches in the world, the Japanese phenom is among the most highly sought-after free agents. He posted a 10-5 record with a 2.35 ERA while punching out 129 and only walking 32 batters over 111 innings in 2024.
The overwhelming expectation is that the Dodgers will eventually win Sasaki over, but the Braves have a puncher’s chance, and C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic made a pretty damn good case for Atlanta as a landing spot.
The Reds beat writer did this exercise to showcase how a small market club could lure Roki Sasaki, and in the process, he made an excellent point as to why the Braves should be considered among the top landing spots. His criteria came down to four factors — history of success, small media market, pitching development and access to Japan. Rosecrans ranked each team one through 30 based on a specific metric:
Team winning percentage, 2021-24 (2nd – 29 points)
Small media markets (13th – 18 points)
Cy Young votes, 2021-24 (3rd – 28 points)
Direct flights to Japan (15th – 16 points)
Final totals (3rd – 91 points)
Only the Padres and Astros finished ahead of the Braves by this criteria, and while nobody truly knows what Sasaki values the most, Atlanta’s organization offers a lot of what his agent has described as important factors in his decision.
I would still be shocked if the Dodgers didn’t eventually win the Sasaki sweepstakes, but the Braves make a lot of sense if he decides to do something different.
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Photographer: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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