MLB.com is keeping track of the latest news and rumors surrounding Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, who is seeking an MLB opportunity via the posting system.

At 23 years old, Sasaki is subject to international bonus pool money restrictions, which are placed on foreign-born players unless they are at least 25 years of age and have played as a professional in a foreign league recognized by Major League Baseball for a minimum of six seasons.

Sasaki is not expected to sign until the 2025 international amateur signing period begins on Jan. 15. His negotiating window runs through Jan. 23. If he doesn't have a deal in place by then, he will return to the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball for the 2025 season.

Jan. 8: Mystery team involved in Sasaki sweepstakes?
The Sasaki sweepstakes are entering the home stretch, with a week to go before the start of the 2025 international amateur signing period on Jan. 15 and 15 days remaining before the right-hander¡¯s posting window is due to close on Jan. 23.

We last heard from Sasaki¡¯s camp on Dec. 30, when agent Joel Wolfe told reporters that the coveted pitcher had returned home to Japan to mull over his decision after meeting with teams in Los Angeles.

To this point, Sasaki has met with seven known clubs: the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, Giants, Rangers and Padres. However, those might not be the only teams Sasaki is considering.

Wolfe said that 20 teams submitted presentations when Sasaki was posted by his NPB team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, on Dec. 9, and MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi reported Tuesday that at least one other club beyond the aforementioned seven has spoken with the hurler.

While it's unknown which other team was granted the opportunity to speak with Sasaki, Morosi said Wednesday that he's keeping an eye on the Mariners, who have a long history with Japanese players as well as a proven track record developing young pitchers.

Adam Jude of the Seattle Times reported in December that Seattle's pitch to Sasaki was expected to involve the legendary Ichiro Suzuki, who spent 14 seasons with the Mariners after coming over from his native Japan to play in MLB. Kazuhiro Sasaki, Hisashi Iwakuma, Kenji Johjima, Yusei Kikuchi and Shigetoshi Hasegawa are some of the other Japanese-born players who have suited up for the M's over the years.

Dec. 30: Sasaki's agent gives update on selection process
Sasaki's agent, Joel Wolfe, met with reporters on Monday via Zoom webinar. He provided an update on the Japanese star right-hander's selection process as he continues to consider which Major League team to sign with following four seasons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.

Wolfe said that 20 teams submitted presentations when Sasaki was posted by his NPB team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, on Dec. 9. Some of those clubs were granted in-person meetings with Sasaki in Los Angeles, though Wolfe did not specify which ones. Seven teams have reportedly met with the 23-year-old: the Cubs, Dodgers, Giants, Mets, Rangers, Yankees and Padres.

Sasaki has returned to Japan, Wolfe said, where he will continue to mull over his upcoming decision. Wolfe said that Sasaki is not likely to sign with a team right when the international signing period begins on Jan. 15. He has until Jan. 23, which will be 45 days since he was posted, to reach a deal with an MLB club, otherwise he will return to Japan to pitch for the Marines in 2025.

One area that Wolfe stressed is important to Sasaki in his deliberations is pitching development. Wolfe said that his client not only wants to make the jump from NPB to MLB, but he wants to become one of the best pitchers in the game. More >

Dec. 28: Dodgers have met with Sasaki (sources)
The Dodgers are the sixth known team to have had an in-person meeting with Sasaki, multiple sources told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. The other clubs who have reportedly met with the 23-year-old phenom are the Mets, Yankees, Cubs, Rangers and Giants.

The Dodgers and Padres are viewed as the favorites to land Sasaki, though given how relatively affordable he will be, there will likely be many other teams making a play for him. Sasaki's agent Joel Wolfe said during the Winter Meetings that Sasaki may prefer a mid-to-small-market club, ostensibly opening up the bidding to all 30 teams.

The Dodgers already boast a pair of star Japanese pitchers in their starting rotation -- two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who made the jump from NPB to MLB last season. That could be a significant advantage for the club, but the Padres also have some Japanese ties that could help in their pursuit of Sasaki -- Yu Darvish, whom Sasaki has long admired, and Hideo Nomo, who is a special assistant in the organization.

Dec. 23: Rangers met with Sasaki, Giants 'believed to have met' with him (reports)
The Rangers met with Sasaki last week, general manager Chris Young told reporters on Monday. While Texas has what appears to be a complete starting rotation after re-signing veteran right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, Sasaki is the type of superstar that any club would like to be able to sign, particularly since he'll be signing as an international amateur and therefore won't be as expensive as other recent pitchers from Japan, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga.

The Giants, meanwhile, are "believed to have met" with Sasaki, according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco is looking to fill the vacancy atop its rotation left by ace left-hander Blake Snell, who signed with the Dodgers.

Dec. 20: Mets, Yanks meet with Sasaki; Cubs meeting with him soon (reports)
The Sasaki sweepstakes have advanced to their next stage: in-person meetings. The Japanese phenom met with the Yankees and the Mets on Thursday, according to a report in the New York Post. The Cubs are expected to have an in-person meeting with Sasaki in Los Angeles on Friday, according to a report from Bruce Levine of 670 The Score.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer made it known during the Winter Meetings that the Cubs had already submitted their initial presentation to Sasaki and his agent, Joel Wolfe.

Wolfe said at the Winter Meetings that MLB teams' meetings with Sasaki would likely begin this week and continue after the holidays in the teams' respective cities.

Sasaki, 23, is the latest Japanese star pitcher to seek to make the jump to MLB, following Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga last year. Sasaki posted a 2.02 ERA and struck out 32% of the batters he faced as a member of the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball from 2021-24. The Dodgers and Padres have been considered favorites to sign Sasaki, but many other teams will be making their pitch.