{"id":28352,"date":"2025-01-22T17:59:06","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T17:59:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=28352"},"modified":"2025-01-22T17:59:06","modified_gmt":"2025-01-22T17:59:06","slug":"report-padres-were-willing-to-pay-roki-sasaki-more-than-10-million-to-sign-but-he-still-chose-dodgers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=28352","title":{"rendered":"REPORT: Padres Were Willing to Pay Roki Sasaki More Than $10 Million to Sign, But He Still Chose Dodgers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Mar<\/p>\n

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One of the most interesting offseason storylines in MLB is finally over.<\/p>\n

The chase for Roki Sasaki was down to the San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Los Angeles Dodgers.<\/p>\n

The reasons for the Sasaki sweepstakes being so odd were a combination of the international bonus pool restrictions, the ‘unspecified homework assignment,’ and even the fact that players weren’t allowed in the initial round of meetings.<\/p>\n

Before Sasaki narrowed his decision to three teams, his agent Joel Wolfe commented on the initial offerings of 20 interested teams submitted back in December.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was like the Roki film festival,” said Wolfe.<\/em><\/p>\n

Power points, books, and short-form movies were all sent over in an attempt to woo the 23-year-old before the initial in-person meeting at a neutral location, Wolfe’s office in Wasserman Sports Agency headquarters in Westwood, CA.<\/p>\n

It is here where the unspecified homework assignment was revealed. Per\u00a0The Athletic, Sasaki had asked each team’s executives that he met with a perplexing question that even the phenom couldn’t figure out last season: Why did his velocity fall off?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Each team presented their answers while also pitching why their baseball club would be the most ideal for Sasaki to join in the 90 minutes given to each team.<\/p>\n

During the second round of interviews, that is where players were able to attend, and where many believed San Diego had the edge.<\/p>\n

Yu Darvish \u2014 known to be viewed as a godfather figure among Japanese players \u2014 Manny Machado, Joe Musgrove, and Jackson Merrill were in attendance.<\/p>\n

The Padres also brought a teenage prospect, Ethan Salas, who is believed to be their future everyday catcher, in hopes to spark an early bond with Sasaki.<\/p>\n

The phenom toured Petco Park and even threw on the field in Padres gear.<\/p>\n

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