The Texas Rangers have an exciting opportunity this offseason with the news that Rōki Sasaki, widely regarded as Japan’s top pitching talent, is coming to MLB.
The Chiba Lotte Marines announced they’ll make Sasaki available via the posting system, giving the Rangers (and every other MLB team) a chance to add this incredible arm to their rotation.
As a Rangers fan, the thought of adding Sasaki to our rotation is incredibly exciting, especially given the bargain he’d be compared to the usual cost for elite pitchers.
Why Sasaki is So Highly Regarded
Sasaki, who just turned 23, is one of the most talented pitchers on the planet. With a fastball that can hit triple digits and a devastating splitter, he dominated in NPB, posting a 2.10 ERA over nearly 400 innings in his career.
Even in what some call a “down year,” he managed a 2.35 ERA, a 29% strikeout rate, and a 7.1% walk rate.
Affordable Talent with Major League Upside
One of the most exciting aspects for MLB teams is Sasaki’s capped earning potential. MLB considers players who are under 25 and sign out of a foreign league as amateurs. So MLB teams can sign him to a minor league contract with a capped bonus, allowing even smaller-market teams to pursue him.
Not that the Rangers are a small-market team but they should absolutely be in the mix here—Sasaki’s price point puts him within reach, and his talent is undeniable.
Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News wrote a detailed article explaining the posting process.
If we think about how much teams are willing to invest in potential aces, landing Sasaki on a reasonable contract for six years of control is almost too good to be true.
With Nathan Eovaldi entering free agency and no guarantees he’ll return, Sasaki would be an ideal fit to fill that role in our rotation.
What Sasaki would Bring to the Rangers Rotation
Sasaki has all the tools we need. His fastball averaged 97.1 MPH this year (down slightly from 99 MPH in 2023), but evaluators say his low-90s splitter is his best pitch. The slider is solid too, and scouts project him as a legitimate ace.
Yes, there’s some concern over his recent injuries—he pitched 111 innings this past year. But for me, that’s a risk worth taking. A talent like Sasaki could transform the Rangers’ rotation and help put them right back into playoff contention.
Potential Rotation with Sasaki
Imagine a rotation with Jacob deGrom, Roki Sasaki, Kumar Rocker, Cody Bradford, and Tyler Mahle. Even if Nathan Eovaldi doesn’t return, a deGrom-Sasaki-Rocker, one-two-three punch would rival any rotation in baseball.
And with Jon Gray potentially taking on a swingman role, the Rangers could have the depth to stay competitive all season.
Competition for Sasaki’s Signature
While speculation suggests that the Dodgers and Yankees are favorites for Sasaki’s signature, I believe the Rangers are serious contenders.
Winning is clearly a priority for Sasaki, and Texas has shown that they’re able to compete, especially after a World Series win in 2023.
With Bruce Bochy at the helm and Chris Young leading the front office, the Rangers have a vision that could appeal to Sasaki. After all, Young was able to sell the vision to stars like Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, and talk Bruce Bochy out of retirement, so why not Sasaki?
Sasaki’s talent, coupled with his affordable contract, makes him a perfect fit for Texas. This offseason could be the turning point for the Rangers’ rotation, and I’m here for it.
