Ken Rosenthal on Roki Sasaki Sweepstakes, Pete Alonso Stalemate & MLB Hot Stove

[@brandondillman5841]

Ken’s response 90% if the time he’s asked a question. “I don’t know” lol

[@leam89]

What else should he say when people ask him to predict the future though

[@josedomingues23]

We are wasting our time watching this garbage

[@dashx1103]

So he's honest?

[@futuretrunks2570]

I mean I’d prefer he admit that he doesn’t know instead of talking out his ass lol

[@josedomingues23]

@dashx1103 So he's worthless.

[@bmason9122]

Ken “It Seems to Me” Rosenthal

[@johndurrer7869]

There is a very big clue where he is going if you just know where to look. For example the San Francisco Giants have agreed to terms with the #2 international free agent. The Mets with the #3. The Padres with #20 #34 and #38. The Mariners with #6. The Yankees with #10. The Dodgers with absolutely nobody in the top 50 (first time ever under Friedman). The fact the Dodgers are telling their best Academy players that they won’t have any money and to look elsewhere is a very big clue. And I think that is the clue that had all the GM’s calling Manfred and complaining so much that he had to launch an investigation. It is in the Dodgers best interest, Roki’s best interest And his agents best interest for this to take as long as possible and make it seem as legit as possible.

[@edgardmartinez6026]

Basically BS. I was thinking the same thing

[@Samuel-zr7vd]

The Dodgers are just going to get everyone next year also

[@Peoriahiker]

Here’s hoping

[@chrisgoodwin2745]

@@Peoriahikerwell they didn’t get Soto & Guerrero is going to sign with the NY Mets next off season.

[@johnmaskovich561]

The dodgers have no need for Soto if they did there's no doubt he would of been signed already. ​@@chrisgoodwin2745

[@mtrmtr6821]

@@chrisgoodwin2745Vladdy isn’t going anywhere. It is a waste of time to talk about this guy. Sasaki is a Dodger. There needs to be a discussion about this Dodger “thing” and how we they are destroying baseball

[@chrisweidner4768]

Cardinals fan thinking he could completely turn around this, once, elite organization with a Sasaki signing.

[@memeanantor5175]

Turn around 😭, Cardinals have not been that bad for too long of a time. The Cardinals have had their fair share of good seasons, they're just going through a rough patch. Trust me as a Pirates fan I know from experience, plus anyone that would turn around a franchise I want them. Pirates have no chance to get anyone, but let's not act like St. Louis has been deprived of good baseball for a long period of team.

[@chrisweidner4768]

@ Well said. We’re spoiled. Best of luck going forward. Hoping Oviedo recovers 100%. Didn’t want to see him go. Happy Cutch is back as well. Cardinals relying on a lot of kids to excel. Hope they do.

[@drewcorry5056]

Outstanding Interview

[@beokayian5378]

The first two games of the MLB season between the Dodgers and Cubs in Japan will see the starting pitching matchups of Ohtani and Yamamoto vs Sasaki and Imanaga. ;)

[@classiccaps628]

Ohtani wont be ready to pitch for that series most likely 😢

[@kingrama2727]

No they won’t

[@anonymousdee3901]

Come to Cleveland Sasaki!!! We will turn you into a Cy Young winner and trade to a big market. What more could you ask for?

[@72garibay]

I’m a dodger fan but .. roki can throw hard what ever… can he throw strikes.. that’s all that matters to me … also as a young pitcher the only team that will teach him and not over pitch him will be the dodgers .. if he picks another team they will over work him knowing that he will leave that team in the future.. so best spot for him and his future in the mlb will be dodgers..

[@DennisK-q9g]

What do you mean not over pitch him? The Dodgers had as much, if not more, pitching injuries than anyone in baseball. Yes, your team is buying the best team in baseball that money can buy, but it’s not like your organization is producing more players then other organizations.

[@littlesame]

US fans are more hype about Sasaki than his NPB status, he’s not won any of 3 prestigious awards and popularity is decent. What happened to small markets are being considered… he needs to go top pitching coaching team to be great in MLB

[@johndurrer7869]

To me he screams closer. Two filthy pitches, not much else. Everything hard. I just don’t understand why he is coming to the states so underdeveloped when most Japanese pitchers come to the states so developed that they are practically teaching the pitching coaches

[@jykim3604]

On the flip side, "Past performance is no guarantee of future results." The lack of accolades in a different league in a different environment (e.g., much hotter and more humid summer weather) may not mean much for someone of his potential. It all depends on how well he adapts here.

[@yo2trader539]

Sasaki was not eligible for awards in NPB as a starting pitcher because league minimum is 143 innings per season. Sasaki is one of 3 pitchers that I remember who was able to pitch over 160km/h in high school. The other two were Fujinami Shintaro and Ohtani. Sasaki's raw talent and potential as a pitcher is higher than that of Ohtani, Yamamoto, Senga, or Darvish. According to his pitching coach, YOSHII Masato, Sasaki will be perfected when he is about 27 or 28 years old. He still has a lot to learn, which is why he is prioritizing pitcher development in his team selection.

[@jykim3604]

@@johndurrer7869 He has three pitches, not two.

[@johndurrer7869]

@@jykim3604 I said two filthy pitches. I understand he has an average slider too. Everything he throws is hard though. He must develop a change or curve. Big league hitters are going to sit on the fastball and be able to foul off the slider and splitter on two strike counts. They need the threat of something soft to keep them off balance.

[@camelliasan2293]

Sasaki prioritize pitching development and the place he can focus his goal. He wants to be the best pitcher of all time Quietly. Can’t think of other than SEA.

[@Daniel-rc2bu]

There's another team in the AL west with outstanding pitching development and they're in houston. Constantly finding these diamond in the rough pitchers in the Dominican league and Latin America in general.

[@camelliasan2293]

Sasaki is not a rough pitcher. He has already been shining like diamond though.

[@ca9495]

Watch out for the AZ DBacks for Sasaki. They know they are going to lose Gallen and Kelly to free agency after this upcoming season. What better way to blunt those losses than to have Corbin Burnes and Roki Sasaki to replace them. This would give them a HUGE advantage over the Dodgers with a 2024 rotation of Burnes, Gallen, Sasaki, Kelly, and Rodriguez. Note I didn't even mention Brandon Pffadt, Ryne Nelson, and the soon to be gone Montgomery. There would be no better starting rotation than the DBacks.

[@israelhoffman8074]

Don’t forget Yilber Diaz and Yu-Min Lin coming up from the minors as well

[@michaelplowman8674]

I think the only thing the Dodgers have going against them is that they already have 4 starters set and about a half dozen other guys set to compete for the last spot. I'm not saying he doesn't go there, just that if he doesn't, that could be why. Now, if the report I heard about was true, then one of the reasons why he came to MLB now is Imanaga's success. So, as a Cubs fan, I have a slight hope.

[@Lenin-d4e]

Lets go METS

[@Tom-hc5iv]

And Imanaga...man maybe the acubs deserve the dis but it's true...Imanagas year is being mentioned as a reason Sasaki chose now.

[@justified1free2]

You didn't mention the Tigers and Chris Fetter about Roki Sasaki

[@DionysusAlS]

He didn't mention the Cubs either and there have been subtle indications they're the frontrunner.

[@a.a677]

@@DionysusAlS lmao nice joke 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Roki Sasaki is a Los Angeles Dodger.

[@mtrmtr6821]

@@a.a677yep he is. There needs to be a discussion about how the Dodgers are destroying baseball

[@Tom-hc5iv]

​@a.a677 God this pompous arrogance is why I hope he goes ANYWHERE but the Dodgers...this fan base needs some sobering.

[@Tom-hc5iv]

I think it's because the Tigers were not granted an interview

[@gatorbite9816]

Sasaki will be facing Yamamoto as a Cub

[@Sportswithmailgaming]

Hope fully 🙏

[@justinnoceda2115]

I hope this comes true man 🙏

[@YK-he7jc]

After looking at Roki Sasaki's development and performance here in Japan, he is over evaluated, I think! He could be one of the best starters in MLB or he could be way short of expectations. One thing certain is he is cheap enough to try to get for any teams in whatever the cases.

[@gurujr]

Dodgers consider the MLB baseball draft a little bonus. They get most of their players through domestic and international free agency. Dodgers drafted players are well developed to be used in later in blockbuster deals a. lot of the time.

[@bronsonbamnallen1633]

just another reason why the Mariners need to make that Castillo for Casas/Yoshida. Bringing in Yoshida could be what lands us Sasaki.

[@thomasarquina1667]

They need to subject the Japanese players to the MLB draft like the USA players, otherwise Japan will be an extended farm system for the Dodgers!

[@arthurleanos2381]

I agree. Not talked about however 5:33

[@dashx1103]

Apparently the Dodgers are negotiating with Godzilla's agent.

[@yo2trader539]

Is that why Senga signed with the Mets, Imanaga with the Cubs, Darvish with the Rangers, Tanaka Masahiro with Yankees, Matsuzaka with Red Sox, Iwakuma with the Mariners, Matsui Yuki with the Padres, and Sugano with Baltimore?

[@Dan-tt8sn]

⁠@@yo2trader539 Your argument is so stupid. These players that are under international restrictions are all going to be signing with the dodgers bc the dodgers are the Japanese’s favorite team and money isn’t even a factor and there is no bidding war. Even the ones with restrictions will automatically choose the dodgers if they come even close to another teams offer. The Mets offered more to Yamamoto, yet he chose the dodgers bc that’s every Japanese players preference. They also all want to be on the west coast so that eliminates 90% of teams right there. The players that are not subject to large contract bidding will simply choose to go there and no other team has the chance to sway them with money. Hence, it definitely is an extension of the dodgers minor league system. All the players you mentioned were not under international restrictions and went for the biggest money they were offered where every single mlb team had a fair shot to bid the highest. Senga signed with the Mets bc he wasn’t under international restrictions and the Mets offered the most money. Same with Yu Darvish and Texas. Same with Tanaka and the Yankees. Same with Matsuzaka and the Red Sox and the same with every other player you mentioned 🤡 All these top Japanese prospects that are basically the same as minor leaguers where money isn’t a factor will choose the dodgers. No one can be that dumb to not know the difference.

[@Dan-tt8sn]

@@yo2trader539all those players you mentioned weren’t on international restrictions and were subject to a bidding war where the teams you mentioned outbid everybody else and won the player and they actually had a fair shot from the beginning. Nobody has a fair shot to get these players under international restrictions because they’re just automatically going to go to the Dodgers. These young players that are still under international restrictions where money isn’t a factor and there will never be a bidding war will all automatically choose the Dodgers. So he is correct that they are all going to go to the Dodgers like it’s an extension of their minor league system. Even the players that aren’t international restrictions will choose the Dodgers if they even come close to another team’s bed. Last year the Mets offered more to Yamamoto, but he preferred the West Coast and the Dodgers because Japanese people love the Dodgers. So you have most of the players that are up for bidding that are gonna choose the Dodgers and all of the players that are under international restrictions choosing the Dodgers. Hence, it is an extension of their minor league system just like this poster said. No one can be this stupid.

[@ney7515]

Korean INF Hyeseong Kim, Dodgers agree to a 3-year, $12.5M deal with a two-year option for ‘28-29, source -Not Ken

[@DanNguyen-ey5tw]

Lmfao not ken lol

[@milton480h]

Who? Never heard of him.

[@reno-san87]

​@@milton480honly one of KBO's #1 best players of the last few years defensively, super utility player (can play multiple positions), has a great bat with above average power and a low strike out rate which means he's gets on base. Japan and Korea BLEED BLUE 🤑🤣💙💪🏽

[@benl9775]

@@reno-san87Above average power is another way of saying “no pop”. Guy weighs 120 pounds. Hell have fun on the bench watching Ohtani and Yamamoto.

[@craigturkel5624]

Pete Alonso to Arizona! Ball would fly along long way & 50 + HRs

[@SportsFanEli]

Senga can be his mentor

[@seizethecarp_]

Whats stopping rich teams like the Mets, Yankees or Dodgers telling Sasaki that they would sign him to a big "extension" if he signs with them?

[@Teremei]

The CBA. They literally can’t extend him.

[@kingrama2727]

Nothing

[@HellaADZ]

He’s gonna end up a dodger and make 15 an hour while deferring 200 million to 2125

[@eddielee3928]

Hard not to think Roki isn't going to either LAD or SD.

[@stevengarrison1019]

If he goes to the dodgers it wouldn't be fair

[@adamb1229]

It’s so wild that the Greater Golden Horseshoe area(Toronto) has over 10 million people, and yet because Roger’s runs the club in such a Mickey Mouse way we are thought of as a small market. We are larger than Chicago, over the next 10-15 years we’ll surpass Los Angeles in population…. Yet, we act like Kansas City or something….So, I don’t blame American baseball fans for the misconception

[@bunuel38]

Pete's nickname is ''the Polar Bear" and not Pistol, whatever, dude.

[@christophercampbell2929]

Easy. Dbacks offer Sasaki whatever they think Gallen would turn down.

[@israelhoffman8074]

Pretty much. Could double up and supplement his salary with whatever Kelly would get as well.

[@carlososcarcomedy]

The rules are going to change in 2027 under a new CBA, they will retool the parameters of signing bonuses, deferred salary, and tiers of lux tax if not even a hard salary cap

[@kingrama2727]

None of this is going to happen

[@michaelplowman8674]

I think they will look hard at how much can be deferred and have tougher penalties for going over the CBT, but they'll never have a hard cap. Too many teams who won't play by those rules.

[@kingrama2727]

@ the players and owners bot like deferred money. It has been in baseball since 1990/1 it’s not going to change and baseball will never have a hard cap

[@DennisK-q9g]

@@kingrama2727it’s true that deferred money has been around, but never used to were 90% of the contract is paid after the player will be retired. I think they will adjust the percentage that can be deferred. Like 50-50 or something like that?

[@kingrama2727]

@ why would they do that. The owners don’t care and the player love it…

[@edwardgarcia3718]

Sasaki to the Mets.

[@adamhawn2523]

Any of the 30 MLB teams that don’t try to sign him are dumb as hell. His initial contract in MLB is not going to break the bank like Yamamoto last year putting even small market teams in play.

[@automaton3889]

The current front office has destroyed the Jays. Totally mismanaged. Trade 'em all, get rid of the FO, and start again. Time to rebuild the brand.

[@everetttauscher8377]

[@michaelpaulsen5420]

I mean Dodgers 100%

[@stevengarrison1019]

He's gonna go to San Diego or the Cubs

[@stanfromwestport2024]

Roki will be a METS playah...Senga has translators/Initial deal means nothing $$$-wise since the first year is capped and minimal compared to his long-term contract value/Roki and Wolfe know Steve Cohen has the deepest pockets and will enter into the most lucrative long-term contract for any pitcher in MLB history/Roki wants to improve and is intrigued by the Mets Pitching Lab/If Roki can learn the ghost fork from Senga and add that pitch to his arsenal, he will be unhittable and he knows that/Roki and his advisers know the METS are building a sustainable Dynasty to challenge the LAD/Roki wants to distinguish himself away from Ohtani & Yamamoto for the many commercial and endorsement opportunities in Japan and the US...Look for this deal to be announced between Jan 15th - Jan 23rd...ps. Roki and his advisers said "he will visit the cities he is interested in after January 1st"...so, watch his travel plans, if those travel plans are made public

[@marcsimon3275]

Mets are no longer in on Bregman???

[@everetttauscher8377]

[@portcreditswag]

the bluejays are imminent!

[@mtrmtr6821]

Won’t go there HWY10/Lakeshore Rd Guy. The Dodgers will continue to destroy baseball. It’s even a waste of time to talk about him going anywhere else.

[@knowledgeuntamed9177]

This guy really hates the Cubs

[@BleedCubbieBlue77]

Why all the talk about sasaki still another 12 days until he can sign

[@joeywho534]

Roki Sasaki? Isn’t that Splinter?

[@ricknofzinger]

Wild guess....Dodgers. Cause LA gets whoever LA wants.

[@anthonyfam5469]

I think he will go to a team that has an owner not afraid to spend money on other players. I’m sure he doesn’t want to be like Ohtani 2.0 being stuck on a really bad Angels team for 6 years.

[@yo2trader539]

That really bad team is where Ohtani earned 2 MVPs, proved himself as a 2-way player in the MLB, and earned a huge contract after his free agency. When Ohtani was 23 in Japan, he was earning US$ 30mn in endorsements alone. In the final year with the Angels, he was making double the amount. I'm fairly sure Ohtani is more than grateful to the Angels and its fanbase.

[@DAD29]

@@yo2trader539nice comment 👍🏽Go Angels

[@WestPoint2011]

Lol the distance to Tokyo is way overblown. Scott needs to look at a globe, not a Mercator Protection Map. LA ->Tokyo: 12 hours. NYC -> Tokyo: 14.5 hours. Sure, New York is further, but it's not like LA is half the distance 😂

[@805fillmore]

Ummm New York to LA is a 5 hour flight…

[@johndurrer7869]

The plane also has to stop in LA before taking back off to New York. It’s more like 6 to 8 hours longer

[@WestPoint2011]

@johndurrer7869 no, you fly near the north pole to fly to Asia from NYC. You don't stop in LA at all

[@johndurrer7869]

@@WestPoint2011 it is much longer though. It shows nine hours and 40 minutes from Tokyo to Los Angeles. In 14 hours and 20 minutes to New York

[@johndurrer7869]

@@WestPoint2011 also another reason why Japanese players prefer the West Coast is because it’s in a better time slot for people in Japan to watch. Night games on the East Coast starts at 9am in Japan and 12 PM on the West Coast. And day games start at 3 AM on the east coast and 6 AM on the West Coast. The day games are usually on the weekends when the ratings would be at the highest. The more eyeballs that watch them the more endorsement money they can make

[@scotttild]

MLB needs a salary cap ASAP or fans will just start walking away.

[@jasona9]

The current Collective Bargaining Agreement only runs for two more seasons. Many have predicted a labor stoppage in baseball. We'll see.....

[@JackGeezy]

Dodgers him will sign soon

[@bakajon]

Come on guys.... there is only one "Pistol Pete," that's Pete Maravich. Ya need to come up with a different name for Alonso.

[@surfwriter8461]

More non-news from a source of zero information. As for Sasaki's agent, I think he's irresponsible. In his first major media gathering, he essentially said he didn't really know what his client wanted, and still he blathered for maybe 30 minutes to further muddy the waters and show how disconnected he was from his client at the time. I'd like to see Roki sign with the Dodgers, but I get the feeling that he prefers being with a team where he can stand out more and create his legacy without having to deal with major stars around him like his countrymen Shohei and Yamamoto. That's just my sense of Sasaki's attitude, which is roughly as authoritative as what little Ken Rosenthal jabbers about.

[@john670]

Will someone please give me a Pirates rumor? Please? Anything?

[@reno-san87]

SIKE!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@dashx1103]

I heard a rumor that Skenes had one leg amputated and will play next year with a peg leg ... and also an eye patch. He's really into the whole Pirate thing.

[@Peoriahiker]

They’re signing Johnny Bench

[@milton480h]

- Jim Leyland Bobblehead Nite in July - - Pittsburgh Pirates Pillbox Hat Nite in August - - Livvy Dunne on the ... (gotcha🤭)

[@ThePrayinmantiz]

Bobby Bonilla is batting leadoff....It's true I saw it on the internet.

[@chrismukai4284]

Alonso will go to RedSox

[@JonathanRose24]

Definitely the dodgers, they just seem to get everyone…

[@dashx1103]

I think the hope for any team other than the Dodgers on Roki is simply that he might want to be a more prominent "star" with whatever team he lands with, instead of being in other superstars' shadows. If I had to bet right now, I'd wager on San Diego. LA would be second. Neither would surprise me.

[@JonathanRose24]

@ makes sense to me. Id bet LA is most likely, then SD, then maybe a distant third the Yankees

[@ebenfoster9587]

Yup unfortunately

[@jordandimarzio6322]

Dodgers are just backing up the brinks truck and buying whoever they want its why mlb needs a salary cap super teams are bad for baseball as they prevent everyone from being able to be competitive

[@adamexenvironmental4468]

Why is Ken Rosenthal famous? How is this guy a respected journalist? It’s a tough decision for me to decide whether he or Joe Buck is the worst commentator that I’ve ever seen or heard.

[@HarvUp]

Sure seems like mainstream media has been pushing that other teams are involved. When in reality this has always been Roki to Dodgers. Kenny doesn't want to get dodgers in trouble

[@danielmarrero1397]

Sorry but this guy doesn’t know what teams are doing there not calling him come on. Dumb if you think about it.

[@thebigcnel]

Everyone and their mother knows Riki is going to the dodgers.

[@davemccall1134]

My mother knows he's going to be a Met

[@mtrmtr6821]

No shit Sherlock. The Dodgers are destroying baseball and soon people will walk away from the sport if things don’t change.

[@thebigcnel]

@@mtrmtr6821 not sure what your attitude is for lmao

[@adamhawn2523]

Who told the teams to not bother? What foolish advice! All 30 teams should have been going after him hard.

[@hiramnoone]

"Awesome", currently the most overused, overworked, inappropriately applied word in the English language.

[@eddya.3776]

Gotta disagree with Ken about the Red Sox. Full disclosure I'm a Yankee fan always have been but coming in to this next season Boston scares me. Did Ken even mention Walker Buehler? He didn't forget how to pitch he was coming back from a long injury layoff and like most pitchers in that spot he struggled but he seemed to be putting it together in the playoffs. Boston is about to add a couple serious prospects into the fold and with Duran, Rafaela, and Casas being healthy they make me nervous. Alex Bregman is a huge mistake he has buyer's remorse written all over him. Boston is saving room for deadline acquisitions. I watched them play a bunch last year living in the area and they are a young fiery group.

[@eddya.3776]

Kristian Campbell=Mookie 2.0

[@theoperry3236]

@@eddya.3776racist 😂

[@btk1213]

Here's the answer...THE YANKEES NEXT WEEK.

[@portopottybreath9375]

This guy knows nothing.

[@michaeljordan6008]

Dodgers - 90% Mets - 10%

[@KROMO50]

Rangers

[@pitowil6321]

LET'S GOOOOOO YANKEES