Padres plot new course without Sasaki

SAN DIEGO -- So now what?

Roki Sasaki was the Padres' Plan A this winter. They hoped desperately to woo the ace Japanese right-hander as an anchor of their starting rotation for years to come. They made that much known from the moment he was posted last month.

As of Friday afternoon, it's time to pivot.

Sasaki announced that he intends to sign with the Dodgers, in an Instagram post on Friday. The news is a stark blow for the Padres, who were one of three finalists for Sasaki, along with the Blue Jays. Making matters worse is that Sasaki did not sign with Toronto -- but rather is headed to a fierce division rival, the reigning World Series champs.

Which leaves the Padres with an awful lot of work to do this winter.

In October, they pushed the Dodgers to the brink during a tense five-game National League Division Series. But since then, the Padres have done little, their transactions limited to Minor League deals and a Rule 5 Draft pick, pitcher Juan Nuñez. The Dodgers, meanwhile, have flexed their financial might throughout the offseason, making numerous impact transactions.

Of course, the Sasaki decision was different. Because he was posted by his former club, the Chiba Lotte Marines, prior to his 25th birthday, he will make only a rookie salary, plus international bonus money (a number capped below $10 million). The Padres were bullish about their chances to sign Sasaki, especially so because of the unique nature of his free agency, which was never going to be driven by money.

That only makes Sasaki's decision sting more. The Padres must now regroup. Their primary objective? Shoring up their rotation in the short- and long-term. Michael King and Dylan Cease are slated to become free agents after the season. Joe Musgrove is coming off Tommy John surgery and will miss the 2025 campaign. Yu Darvish is entering his age-38 season.

The Padres’ rotation has plenty of upside. But it certainly could it have used a long-term anchor like Sasaki.

In the meantime, with Sasaki's decision official, the Padres can turn their immediate focus to the international market, where their entire bonus pool remains available. They have been rumored as suitors for multiple prospects, and those deals could come together quickly. (Come back together quickly, really, as the Padres can return to agreements they put on hold while Sasaki remained available.)

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Sasaki’s decision isn't a complete death knell for the Padres’ offseason. They’ve been rumored to be involved in numerous trades, and they’re still looking to add multiple pitchers and multiple bats. General manager A.J. Preller has swung his share of blockbusters before -- a number of which have come late in the offseason or even into Spring Training.

Only last offseason, the Padres were largely left for dead when they dealt Juan Soto to the Yankees and otherwise trimmed payroll significantly. But Preller maneuvered deftly and built the best roster of his 10-year tenure in San Diego. He did so with shrewd signings and trades to supplement the Padres’ star-laden core.

That core remains intact. There is, again, a clear path to contention for the Padres in 2025. But it likely will require more transaction wizardry from Preller, particularly if the Padres are set on remaining under the first competitive balance tax threshold.

Considering his contract situation, Sasaki could have gone a long way toward easing those burdens. His presence would have also helped the rotation’s long-term question marks.

Now, with less than a month until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training, the Padres have work to do.