CHICAGO -- The Cubs believe they have created an environment that is enticing for Japanese players looking to make the jump to Major League Baseball, as evidenced by the signings of lefty Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki in recent offseasons.

Even so, it looks as though star pitcher Roki Sasaki will not be added to that list.

Sasaki¡¯s camp has narrowed his field of suitors, informing multiple teams that they are no longer in the running, per multiple reports on Monday. As first reported by ESPN¡¯s Jeff Passan, the Padres, Dodgers and Blue Jays are the finalists, meaning the Cubs are no longer in the mix.

? Sasaki narrows list to trio of teams with decision coming soon (report)

In addition to the Cubs, teams recruiting Sasaki included the Yankees, Mets, Giants and Rangers. Throughout Monday, reports trickled out that each ballclub in that group had been told it was no longer in the running to land the pitcher, who has until Jan. 23 to make his decision.

Sasaki, who was posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball, has a 45-day negotiating window, and he opted to wait until the 2025 international signing period opens on Wednesday to sign. That gave his camp (led by agent Joel Wolfe) time to weigh the 23-year-old¡¯s priorities, set up meetings with teams and take a methodical approach to narrowing the field.

During the Winter Meetings in December, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer -- who has personally scouted Sasaki in Japan -- acknowledged that Chicago had submitted an initial presentation to Sasaki¡¯s representatives. The Cubs were also reported to have been granted an in-person meeting.

The Cubs have history with Wolfe, who also represents Suzuki, who was recruited prior to the ¡®22 season and signed to a five-year, $85 million contract by the North Siders. Last winter the Cubs reeled in Imanaga with a four-year, $53 million deal, and the lefty turned in a brilliant rookie performance (fourth and fifth in voting, respectively, for the National League¡¯s Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards).

Unlike Suzuki and Imanaga, who signed free-agent deals, Sasaki is subject to MLB¡¯s international bonus pool restrictions because of his age. That made this signing process more about meeting his preferences rather than simply being the team with the largest bid. (The Cubs have a bonus pool of $6,261,600 for the upcoming period.)

Sasaki posted a 2.02 ERA and averaged 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings over four seasons in NPB and shined on the national stage in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He would have been a major addition to the Cubs¡¯ rotation, which has a solid trio at the top in Imanaga, Justin Steele and Jameson Taillon.

Chicago has bolstered its starting staff this winter with the additions of Matthew Boyd and swingman Colin Rea in free agency and has righty Javier Assad as a favorite for a rotation job right now. There are young arms on the way as well in Ben Brown, Jordan Wicks and highly touted prospect Cade Horton (No. 3 Cubs prospect and No. 42 on the Top 100).

Without Sasaki, the Cubs could rely on the depth they have in place, but one more rotation piece could really strengthen the group. Jack Flaherty tops the list of free agents still available. The Cubs were reportedly in on Jes¨²s Luzardo before the Phillies acquired him from the Marlins and were reported to have checked in with the Mariners on Luis Castillo¡¯s potential availability earlier this winter.