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SEATTLE MARINERS ESCAPE THE HEADACHE OF PURSUING ROKI SASAKI: A “WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN” STORY<\/strong><\/p>\n \ud83d\udea8 A TURN OF FORTUNE FOR THE MARINERS<\/strong>: As Seattle Mariners<\/strong> fans reflect on the 2024-25 offseason<\/strong>, one significant storyline has taken an unexpected turn. What began as a failed pursuit<\/strong> of Roki Sasaki<\/strong>, the highly touted pitching prospect from Japan, now seems like a fortunate escape<\/strong> for the Mariners.<\/p>\n Sasaki, widely regarded as one of the top prizes of the offseason, caught the attention of every MLB team<\/strong>, including the Mariners, who used their connection to Ichiro Suzuki<\/strong> in an attempt to sway the young right-hander. Given the strong relationship between Ichiro and the Mariners, it appeared to be a slam dunk<\/strong>. However, Sasaki didn\u2019t even take a meeting with the Mariners, opting instead for a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers<\/strong>\u2014a choice that, at the time, felt like another significant step in the Dodgers\u2019 perpetual quest for dominance.<\/p>\n What followed was far from the fairytale story Mariners fans had hoped for. Sasaki\u2019s MLB journey started with some serious complications, including a shoulder injury<\/strong> that sidelined him for several months. But now, a year later, Sasaki’s situation with the Dodgers has turned into something far more volatile than anyone could have predicted.<\/p>\n As the Dodgers<\/strong> enter spring training<\/strong>, Sasaki’s role remains unclear. Despite his promise and potential, the 24-year-old is struggling to secure a spot in the rotation, with manager Dave Roberts<\/strong> emphasizing that Sasaki\u2019s fastball and forkball alone won\u2019t be enough to earn a starting role. \u201cFor me,\u201d Roberts said, \u201che needs to develop a third pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n Sasaki does technically have a slider<\/strong>, but it wasn\u2019t effective in 2025, especially against right-handed batters. His struggles with the pitch led to a .250 batting average<\/strong> in those right-on-right matchups, and it\u2019s unclear if a curveball or a sweeper<\/strong> would be the right fit to round out his arsenal.<\/p>\n What\u2019s more, some evaluators question whether Sasaki\u2019s delivery<\/strong> will even allow him to develop a third pitch. His individualistic approach<\/strong> has led to challenges in building a strong relationship with the Dodgers’ coaching staff. Roberts mentioned that Sasaki needs to be more open<\/strong> and show humility<\/strong> in accepting new ideas if he wants to continue his development with the team.<\/p>\n Sasaki\u2019s early struggles in the majors are hard to ignore. With a 4.72 ERA<\/strong> and a 1.485 WHIP<\/strong> in his first full season as a starter, the writing seems to be on the wall for Sasaki. While the Dodgers are a two-time World Series champion<\/strong>, Sasaki\u2019s resistance to adjusting his game could ultimately undermine his success.<\/p>\n If Sasaki remains unwilling<\/strong> to collaborate with the Dodgers\u2019 coaching staff, he will be at a major disadvantage<\/strong>. The Dodgers have had success in shaping pitchers into elite talents, but even they will struggle to unlock Sasaki’s potential if he doesn’t adapt.<\/p>\n So, what does this all mean for the Seattle Mariners<\/strong>? In reality, not much. Sasaki is not on the Mariners’ roster, and they already have a deep starting rotation<\/strong>. Despite the Mariners\u2019 pursuit of Sasaki, their pitching staff is well-regarded, and they\u2019ve found success developing young pitchers without the Japanese phenom.<\/p>\n However, it’s still intriguing to look back at what might have been. Sasaki joining the Mariners would have added another high-ceiling arm to an already impressive pitching development system. But now, with Sasaki encountering hurdles in Los Angeles, it\u2019s possible the Mariners may have avoided a significant headache. Instead of dealing with the same developmental struggles<\/strong> the Dodgers are facing, the Mariners can focus on their current pitching staff<\/strong> and continue to build from within.<\/p>\n In the end, it may be a case of “sucks to be them”<\/strong> for the Dodgers. But if Sasaki<\/strong> figures things out in the future, the Mariners\u2019 failed pursuit will likely return to looking like just another bummer<\/strong> that didn\u2019t materialize.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SEATTLE MARINERS ESCAPE THE HEADACHE OF PURSUING ROKI SASAKI: A “WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN” STORY \ud83d\udea8 A TURN OF FORTUNE FOR THE MARINERS: As Seattle Mariners fans… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":152214,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-152212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nSASAKI’S ROLLER COASTER START WITH THE DODGERS<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nTHE STRUGGLE FOR SASAKI’S SUCCESS<\/strong><\/h3>\n
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN FOR THE MARINERS<\/strong><\/h3>\n