With the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes in the home stretch, it appears the Japanese phenom has narrowed down his choices. According to a report from MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, the Dodgers, Padres and Blue Jays are the three finalists to sign Sasaki.

Sasaki began informing teams that were out of the running on Monday. The Yankees were among those clubs, a source told MLB.com¡¯s Mark Feinsand, as were the Mets, per reports. So were the Giants, according to Giants general manager Zack Minasian. The Rangers are out, too, sources told MLB.com¡¯s Kennedi Landry, as are the Cubs, per reports.

The eight aforementioned clubs make up the list of teams known to have met in person with Sasaki, who was posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball on Dec. 9.

The Dodgers and Padres have long been considered frontrunners in the Sasaki sweepstakes. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, have newly emerged as a serious competitor to land the coveted right-hander, with the Athletic reporting Monday morning that club officials hosted Sasaki in Toronto last week.

Sasaki¡¯s highly anticipated decision could come soon after the 2025 international amateur signing period begins on Wednesday.

• How a potential deal with Sasaki could transform Blue Jays

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. The MLB team that ends up signing him will have him under club control for six years before he will be eligible to test unrestricted free agency.

If Sasaki doesn't have a deal in place by the time his negotiating window closes on Jan. 23, he will return to the Marines for the 2025 season.