The Dodgers are viewed as the favorites to sign Sasaki. But based on his conversations with league sources, Jim Bowden doesn't agree.

For years, Seattle was regarded as a premier destination for Japanese players making the jump to Major League Baseball. The Mariners had strong ties across the Pacific: They had a longtime owner, Hiroshi Yamauchi,

Major League Baseball executives, media and fans have grown each day on where former Chiba Lotte Marines pitcher Roki Sasaki will be playing in the 2025 season. Since he is an international amateur free agent under the age of 25,

The Dodgers have sought to, in the words of manager Dave Roberts, “paint the country of Japan blue” through their leveraging of last winter’s Japanese signings, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They’ve fostered a strong relationship with Sasaki’s agent,