Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki is signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he announced Friday on Instagram. Sasaki, 23, was considered to be the best pitcher in the world not already under the employment of an MLB organization.

If top third base prospect Matt Shaw hits the ground running, and Chicago signs, say, Jack Flaherty before Spring Training, this team has the lineup depth and the star power at the top of the rotation to be awfully dangerous.

Right-hander Roki Sasaki, the covered Japanese free agent, has whittled down a list of suitors to two finalists, according to a report by veteran MLB reporter Francys Romero.

As the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes enter their final week, the Jays are giving it their best shot to give the Japanese pitcher the largest signing bonus possible.

Roki Sasaki was expected by many to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers. They were right. The flame-throwing right-hander from Japan agreed to a deal with the Dodgers on Friday, according to a post on his Instagram account.

The Padres will sign left-hander and international amateur free agent Carlos Alvarez, according to The Athletic's Will Sammon. That's an intriguing development given that the Padres are considered one of the three finalists (alongside the Dodgers and Blue Jays) in the running for Japanese ace Roki Sasaki.

Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki chose to sign with the Dodgers, he announced. That leaves the Padres to face an uncertain path in the months leading up to the 2025 season and to face the reality of their closest and most irksome rival going forward with yet another star player.