Japanese RHP Roki Sasaki enters MLB free agency picture

Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki is set to enter free agency after the Chiba Lotte Marines confirmed his posting process was underway on Saturday. But his posting process, because of his prowess and age, will be more nuanced than others.

Sasaki, 23, is viewed as having one of the top young arms in the world with a 100 mph fastball and deadly sinker.

But barring a change in Nippon Professional Baseball guidelines that limit Sasaki to signing a minor league deal in MLB, he could choose to remain in Japan.

Sasaki indicated in a post to X on Saturday that he's ready to be tested in Major League Baseball, thanking his Japanese team for allowing him to post. If he exits Japan, it would be on a similar timeframe Shohei Ohtani followed when he first entered MLB with the Los Angeles Angels.

"There were many things that did not go well during my five years with the Marines, but I was able to get to this point by concentrating only on baseball, with the support of my teammates, staff, front office, and fans. I will do my best to work my way up from my minor contract to become the best player in the world, so that I will have no regrets in my one and only baseball career and live up to the expectations of everyone who has supported me."

By waiting until he's entering his age 25 season in 2026, Sasaki could've been in position to cash in with an enormous initial contract like the one Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for 12 years and $325 million last December.

In Sasaki's case, the Chiba Lotte Marines can claim 20 percent of Sasaki's contract. International bonus pools are hard-capped near $7 million per team.

Teams are allowed to trade for bonus pool money to increase the amount they can pay international players on minor-league deals, but most enter free agency sitting on between $4 million and $6.5 million total.

--Field Level Media