MLB analyst claims Roki Sasaki's free agency not comparable to superstar compatriot's (Credits: Getty)
Many have started to compare up-and-coming, young Japanese ace Roki Sasaki's free agency with three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani. Technically Sasaki is a similar international free agent, like Ohtani, who was also under 23 when he was posted in Nov. 2017, needing him to follow international signing rules.
However, Ohtani’s MLB career has set a precedent so unique that comparisons to his compatriot Sasaki may not be entirely fair, according to MLB analyst Dallas Braden. The analyst made his point on Thursday's episode of "Baseball is Dead" podcast hosted by Jared Carrabis.
"Sasaki’s not going to be able to do that," Braden said (27:30 onwards). "Should something happen for him, he’s not just going to DH for Team X, hit 50 homers, and steal 50 bases. That’s just not going to happen. Ohtani was always in a different position—always. That’s why this kind of stuff doesn’t compare. He’s a one-of-one. He’s a one-off. You can’t compare that."
