Roki Sasaki's MLB Posting, 5 Big Free Agent Predictions & More

[@FlippinBatsPod]

Where will Roki Sasaki go?

[@jessehill5866]

@@FlippinBatsPod as a Dodgers fan I want to say LA but as a realist, I see the Padres because of the Darvis connection

[@Elephant2024]

If it is within their budget and he is motivated by the inducement of playing with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, I would say the Dodgers.

[@hopespringseternal2624]

He is going to the Padres.

[@mickwinslow5848]

He’ll probably be a Dodger. Joining the Dodgers just creates an imbalance for Baseball. KD Warriors of Baseball.

[@guest-wx4nc]

I think Sasaki will go to the padres. Because the pitching coach is excellent and can play against Ohtani. He declared that he would go to America to become the best player in the world so that he would not regret his one-time baseball life. 😌If he moves to the Dodgers, I think it will be the 2031 season. The contract date is after January 15, 2025. I'm looking forward to Spring Camp now.

[@brianyakata1978]

Sasaki is going to the dodgers. What people don’t understand is it’s not about the money. Americans don’t understand that, because it’s all about money in the United States. It’s about playing with the best player in history and winning titles. He would have waited if he wanted money. He wants to be part of the best team in history.

[@Ben_Verlander]

I do agree that it's not about the money. There was no financial benefit in him coming over now

[@CAxALLDAY]

i wouldnt play anywhere other than LA as a japnese player. got several different japanese grocery stores and japanese food made by actual japanese people. dodgers are going to be on TV in japan all the time so why would he join some random team.

[@yo2trader539]

I don't know. Sasaki's choices are odd in Japanese standards. He could've waited 2 years but he didn't. He could've gone to any strong private highshool like KIKUCHI Yusei and OHTANI Shohei, yet he chose a public highschool to stay close to his family and friends. While having direct flights to/from Japan, access to Japanese restaurants, supermarkets, and schools, and less than average racism is appreciated by all Japanese expats/athletes, the ultimate question is does Sasaki want to play with Ohtani or play against Ohtani. If I can throw 160km/h, I'd like to pitch against Ohtani and strike him out. Obviously, he'll have to judge the infrastructure, staff, team finances, team recognition in Japan, etc. It has to be a well-known team for Japanese TV to purchase airing rights in Japan...which will impact media exposure and value of endorsements too. He's young but not naive.

[@hopespringseternal2624]

@@CAxALLDAY Padres GM speaks Japanese and Yu Darvish is his mentor. I think he is going to the Padres.

[@hopespringseternal2624]

The Dodgers are not the best team n history until they win 27 World Series like the Yankees.

[@charlestran6265]

Ben, your podcast is the only one that I listen all the way through every time. Most podcasts I just hit the highlights or give up partway through. But I always do the full episode when it comes to Flippin’ Bats.

[@WayneJackson-s4m]

Nobody develops players better than the Dodgers

[@phigher1]

Ohtani went to the Angels because NL didn’t have a DH at the time so he went to the team closest to the dodgers. I know everybody is surprised that Roki is getting posted this year, but you know who isn’t surprised? The Dodgers, the guy who even leaked the story about Roki getting posted, (yeah the same headline that you adamantly said was not true 😅) is a family member of Roki but also a business associate and close friend of Yamamoto. Even Dallas keuchel (Roki’s teammate in japan) recently said how it’s always been the plan for him to go to the dodgers. Even Lotte knows, this agreement to post him early has been in place before he was even drafted, why else would they do it 😂

[@SleazyDonny]

One can’t help but admire Sasaki for his desire to play with the best players in the world and become the best player possible. He is still young and developing. Hopefully he goes to the team that will develop him the best.

[@dmiller9786]

Sasaki has not been posted. His team announced that they will post him.

[@kounterfit21]

Hoping you put this in the ether. The Rays should play next season in Puerto Rico. It's still in the SE region, it would likely sell out all the time and it would be buzzing.

[@howdyruso]

astros should keep kikuchi. framber, brown, kikuchi, garcia, arrighetti, and blanco are a great pitching staff. tucker alvarez altuve and diaz have offense too. people are crazy to think the astros are done. bar was just set very very high

[@YK-he7jc]

Roki is going to Dodgers. Already been talking with Yoshinobu whom he rely on as an elder brother. He respects and his ideal model is Shohei rather than Yu. And Dodgers is the perfect fit for him. Padres is little too rough for his character. He will sigh by the end of December.

[@justinllamas1]

even if LA adds roki sasaki I believe they still add another top tier starting pitcher. whether that be burnes, fried or snell.

[@yoshinot6131]

Also, I want Brother Barlander to aim for two consecutive championships with Shohe

[@Elephant2024]

Not getting as much coverage as Soto, Alonso, Burnes, etc, but wonder where Willy Adames is going. Would love to see a Rays reunion with him because they have not had a topnotch SS since Wander Franco. But it is probably not happening because of fiscal restraints. Brewers could definitely use him back. Mets will likely be in play for him. Other possible destinations for Willy Adames could possibly be the Braves and Red Sox.

[@htxseth]

Fingers crossed Bregman stays in Houston 🙏🙏🙏

[@Ben_Verlander]

We shall see! They need him though

[@AdautoVasquez]

Fuck Trastros your Little doesn't count

[@annunakian8054]

The intensity that Roki has is something different. Similar to Chris Paul in that regard, whose father was murdered.

[@dodgedforgottenn]

Sasaki will be a Japangeles Dodger!

[@johnvonjasper7893]

Clever

[@ryancirrone3343]

Wasn’t Max Fred having lunch with all the Dodgers players last week? 🤔

[@satoshiwatanabe2840]

Sasaki is a Cy Young caliber pitcher. The only worry I have is that he is a little fragile like Glassnow and he cannot pitch full season.

[@dorothymcgrew4422]

Hey heeeey Ben!

[@Ben_Verlander]

Hiii

[@ryanc9876]

The only reason why I think Dave Roberts deserved top 3 spot is just how the team had to navigate injuries. This loaded lineup wasn't loaded for half the year. It wasn't until mid August before the team you saw in the playoffs was formed offensively. And by that time, Glasnow went down, and Yamamoto wasn't back until early-mid September. And by the time Yamamoto was back Kershaw and Stone were down for the year. Oh and Freddie also was dealing with a broken finger just after coming back from the family health crisis. And just as the finger injury seemed to be getting better, the ankle happened. Yes, Ohtani was still up and he's the 700m dollar man, 350m of that was on the IL since he wasn't pitching. I do think the starting pitching was better than 2023 leading into October, but this year was way tougher up and down the roster.

[@dmiller9786]

It's wild how most people still believe that the manager runs the team. That has not been true since moneyball. A baseball manager is hired as the public face but is one of a group that make and plan for every big and little move. A manager today only has sole discretion on the timing of pitcher changes during the game. Roberts is perfectly willing to always respond to questions as if he is the boss. If you listen to other pressers many managers no longer try to create that impression.

[@Elephant2024]

Ben, do you think the White Sox will trade Garrett Crochet?

[@roseberrytreeservice6712]

Savanah bananas for soto

[@harmonydavis6784]

It seems like I agreed with you almost all episode... Is that weird Ben?

[@yoshinot6131]

I am an MLB fan. In order to rebuild the strong Yankees, please definitely get Sasaki😊Sasaki's process so far makes me cry. I am a player who I really want to succeed

[@AY2121-i4y]

I thought Yankees fans hated Asians. Laughing and calling Ohtani names when he got hurt on national TV. To Asians that what it meant seeing that on TV

[@yo2trader539]

Masahiro TANAKA returned to Japan due to the extreme racism his family experienced in NYC during the pandemic. TANAKA was Sasaki's idol as a kid, so I'm sure he has heard the reason. To be honest, I think it would be a west coast team due to the flight hours to Japan.

[@dodgedforgottenn]

Braves only sign players if they’ll agree to sign for less than they’re worth.

[@Ben_Verlander]

Lol. True

[@ORDIN58]

ソトは過去に一度もMVP取れてない。 しかも大谷翔平の半分の能力＝投手以外よりも劣るので、10年3億ドルくらいだろう？ なぜ球団経営を傾けるような高値掴みしようとするの？

[@中山達也-p1y]

I would like to see Roki going to Padres, but like you said, he is going to sign with Dodgers. I personally think there would be too many Japanese players in a team. I'm a big fan of Ohtani and the team, but I dont like Roki even though he would be the one of the best. He doesn't have stamina like Ohtani and Yamamoto, and his contribution to Lotte was not good. He didn't earn any titles like they did. Even if he is allowed to pitch every 10days, he wouldn't be healthy I think, but signing him doesn't cost dodgers, and if they train well to be a good fit in their rotations, then yes I would cheer for him.

[@am3lagrimas410]

Let Roki develop in LA with his boys .

[@Echo-yr1cr]

Roki Sasaki will be signed by the LA Dodgers from Japan. The trifecta is inevitable: Ohtani-Moto-Saki. Done deal. Book it.

[@am3lagrimas410]

Muramaki next year after

[@n.h9940]

@@am3lagrimas410muramaki not so good as the others. Too chubby and weak against pressure. むらまき=筒香

[@laurenwillett8515]

Yankees act like they hate the Astros until some of their players are on the table. It’s okay to talk shit. It’s part of the game but come on. Astros could really use Pete Alonso but if we sign bregman there won’t be any money. Need a first baseman though real bad!

[@dorothymcgrew4422]

Aaallllex!!! I HOPE HE STAYS IN HOUSTON!

[@dorothymcgrew4422]

Pete Alonzo should go to Astros since they need 1st baseman. BUT he will stay with Mets.

[@Ben_Verlander]

That short porch in LF would be great for him

[@jessehill5866]

They haven’t posted him yet. Please do research because it does matter when he gets posted makes it where more teams get money in their international poll….

[@Passionately44]

That would be the Mariners. They have the most International pool if he gets posted in mid December.

[@GHKim-bo9mf]

Ben If you don't mind 😮 Please don't make any predictions 😢 So far, your World Series & Roki predictions are totally absolutely WRONG INCORRECT ERRONEOUS INACCURATE 😂😅

[@dorothymcgrew4422]

Stankees needs to leave Breggy alone! Cashman does not like Astros.

[@oliverbrooks996]

The reason Sasaki may not chose the Dodgers is ambition. If he has the will inside him to want to go against the best, defeat them and win the world series, he will choose a different team.

[@peejaygarcia9509]

You're absolutely dreaming if you believe he won't sign with the Dodgers. He will sign with Japan's favorite MLB team. :)

[@Mykall777]

​@@peejaygarcia9509 Yu Darvish was Rokis idol growing up. Plus are the Dodgers gonna have a 8 man rotation?

[@duketogoth]

Being a Japanese that had lived in US over 15 years, I’ve watched so many games both in Japan and US. Unlike Darvish, Ohtani, and Yamamoto, Sasaki has never kept rotation for a year. Of course he’s never pitched qualified innings. I do understand this kid might have great potentials. However, all of the players I mentioned proved so much to public that they didn't have anything to prove. Then they reached MLB with big back ups from public. I’d assume majority of Japanese fans feel Sasaki has been way overrated and too selfish leaving literally nothing to Mariners. Yes, Ohtani crossed the ocean to sign a minor contract but his team was able to receive $20M. Now the rules have changed. Rumors speculate he believes he could earn a lot from endorsements. But there won’t be many Japanese companies that would sponsor him knowing his public image. Next year we won't find his name on opening roaster! Then he will find out what the reality is.

[@1TightMinute]

I wonder if Sasaki has a gambling problem also.

[@Ben_Verlander]

I don't get it

[@dodgedforgottenn]

I wonder if you have a brain damage problem

[@dodgedforgottenn]

I wonder if you have a brain damage problem also

[@harmonydavis6784]

@@Ben_Verlander he's a moron that's implying Otahni has a gambling problem

[@gsmarcom]

Wow this is racist