Baseball: World Baseball Classic - Semifinal Japan vs Mexico - Source: Imagn
The race for Japanese ace Roki Sasaki's signature continues as several teams have reportedly sent their pitches to the young star. Sasaki took the unusual route by being posted by his parent NPB club, the Chiba Lotte Marines, well before his eligibility for a big contract.
As a result, the 23-year-old will be considered an international free agent, only eligible for a minor league deal. This move has potentially cost him upwards of $200 million for his first major league contract, along with less compensation for the Marines, who will receive a smaller posting fee.
In recent updates from MLB insiders, Sasaki's agent, Joel Wolfe, shared the logic behind the ace's early posting.
