White Sox will make their pitch for Japanese ace Sasaki

This story was excerpted from Scott Merkin’s White Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- White Sox fans did not disappoint after news was disseminated of the team planning to make a presentation to Roki Sasaki.

Numerous fans were hesitantly encouraged across social media. Others were skeptical in Sasaki’s White Sox interest. And then, some humorously suggested everything from deep dish pizza to the Guaranteed Rate Field’s Campfire Milkshake as ways to influence the recently posted 23-year-old right-hander. They are an understandably displeased support system but haven’t lost their collective edge.

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Adding Sasaki would be a major plus for a rebuild adding four significant prospects to the core via a trade of Garrett Crochet to Boston at the end of the Winter Meetings. But Sasaki's pursuit also represents a Pacific Rim talent path, from Japan to Korea to Taiwan, for the White Sox to travel internationally to keep their organization strong and replenish their base.

“Each and every team is trying to find competitive advantages, and one of those advantages can be knowing the marketplace over there and also utilizing our bonus pool money to acquire those players,” said David Keller, a special assistant to the general manager, who was hired away from the Mets to run international scouting, during a Winter Meetings interview.

“Obviously it’s a premium talent,” Keller added of Sasaki. “His performance and what he brings to the table in terms of youth and ability, it’s really exciting. The opportunity to acquire that for the price point is something that I’m sure every team is going to be looking to do.”

There are those who have watched Sasaki who list him as one of the best young arms to throw a baseball, comparing him in the same stratosphere as Paul Skenes, the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young finalist. Others see an extremely talented work in progress, pointing to Sasaki’s innings totals checking in at 129 1/3, 91 and 111 over the last three dominant years in Japan, respectively, as he’s dealt with shoulder and oblique injuries, as mentioned by agent Joel Wolfe, who held court at the Winter Meetings.

“He’s his own induvial pitcher and talent,” said Keller, who has watched Sasaki. “What I can tell you is he’s still a young pitcher and one who will attempt to demonstrate health, and when he can do that, his stuff and his ability will speak for itself.”

The White Sox have $6,261,600 presently listed in their 2025 international bonus pool allotment, which Sasaki is subject to through Major League Baseball’s international amateur guidelines because of his age. But what could the White Sox sell via their organization’s opportunity?

They are a young crew where Sasaki could pair with pitchers such as Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith, MLB Pipeline’s top two left-handed pitching prospects at No. 16 and No. 30, respectively, at the top of the White Sox rotation and really at the top of their organization. There’s a mutual connection with Tadahito Iguchi, who played second base and hit second for the 2005 World Series champion White Sox and managed Sasaki with the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2021 and ‘22.

Iguchi has visited White Sox Spring Training in Glendale, Ariz., for the past couple of years since moving into the media and is held in high esteem by the club. Ultimately, Sasaki might not want the White Sox, as a team coming off 222 losses combined over the past two seasons and being at least three projected years away from playoff contention.

An effort must be made, though, as part of the increased international presence for the team.

“We plan on putting together a presentation for Sasaki,” White Sox general manager Chris Getz said. “He’s obviously a very sought after pitcher. We’re going to get a crack at it and see if we can convert.”

“Every team has to take a significant look at him and see where they are from an international perspective,” Keller said. “I think he’s going to be interesting to all 30 teams.”