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.

Eight teams are known to have met with Sasaki in person: the Dodgers, Padres, Cubs, Giants, Rangers, Yankees, Mets and Blue Jays. However, the Dodgers, Padres and Blue Jays have been reported to be the finalists to sign Sasaki, which would mean the Giants, Rangers, Yankees, Mets and Cubs are out of the running.

Jan. 14: Dodgers, Sasaki meeting for a second time Tuesday (report)
Sasaki's list of suitors has been reportedly whittled down to three clubs: the Padres, Blue Jays and Dodgers. He met with each club last month and has reportedly held a second meeting with San Diego and Toronto over the past week.

Now it's the Dodgers' turn to make their pitch again. According to Fabian Ardaya and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subscription required), the Dodgers are holding their second meeting with Sasaki today. The meeting in Los Angeles will also include several of the team's star players, per Ardaya and Rosenthal.

Sasaki is eligible to sign with an MLB team starting on Wednesday when the 2025 international signing period begins. However, he is expected to make his decision closer to the end of his posting window, which closes on Jan. 23.

Rosenthal predicted on Tuesday that Sasaki will ultimately join the Dodgers while MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi ranked the Padres as the right-hander's most likely landing spot.

• Key pros and cons of 3 finalists vying for Sasaki

Jan. 13: Sasaki sweepstakes down to 3 finalists (report)
The Sasaki sweepstakes are entering the home stretch, with two days to go before the start of the 2025 international amateur signing period on Jan. 15 and with 10 days remaining before the right-hander¡¯s posting window is due to close on Jan. 23.

According to a report from ESPN's Jeff Passan on Monday, the list of finalists to sign Sasaki is down to three teams: the Dodgers, Padres and Blue Jays.

The Japanese phemon was reported to be narrowing down his potential choices on Monday, after holding in-person meetings with at least eight teams. The Yankees, Mets, Rangers and Giants were all crossed off the list earlier Monday, and the final three-team list would rule out the eighth team, the Cubs, as well.

The Mariners were also reported to be pursuing Sasaki by The Athletic (subscription required), which noted Seattle's long history with Japanese players as well as a proven track record developing young pitchers. But the Mariners aren't among the finalists, per Passan.

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 >