MLB Rumors: Roki Sasaki's Timeline to Be Posted for Contract Remains Unclear

Japanese superstar Roki Sasaki is going to be an enticing option for MLB teams when he gets posted, but there remains uncertainty within the league about when exactly that might happen.

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, "no one knows" when Sasaki is going to be posted because he wanted it to happen last offseason, but the Chiba Lotte Marines declined since they have him signed through 2026.

The most-likely time period for a decision from the Marines will be in mid-November after the NPB season wraps up.

Sasaki had a breakout moment on the international stage last year as part of the Japanese team that won the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He started two games in the tournament, finishing with a 3.52 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 7.2 innings.

The right-hander struck out 19 in a perfect game against the Orix Buffaloes as a 20-year-old in April 2022. He also threw eight perfect innings in his next start before being removed after tossing 102 pitches.

Passan noted Sasaki wanted to be posted last offseason, but the Marines declined and "damaged" their relationship with the right-hander in doing so.

Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reported in May that MLB executives are "planning" for Sasaki to be posted this offseason.

There are financial incentives for both the Marines and Sasaki to wait. Since he will only turn 23 on Nov. 3, he will be subject to international signing restrictions.

International free agents who are at least 25 years old aren't subject to the international signing rules, so players can sign for as much money as an MLB club is willing to offer. The player's original team would receive a percentage of the guaranteed value of the contract that is paid separately from what the player is owed.

For example, Yoshinobu Yamamoto's $325 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers cost them an additional $50 million posting fee paid to the Buffaloes.

Shohei Ohtani's original deal with the Los Angeles Angels in December 2017 saw them pay him just $2.3 million in a signing bonus because he was only 23 years old at the time.

Even though Sasaki would almost certainly be able to earn more money if he waited until after the 2026 NPB season to be posted, he could end up hitting MLB free agency after the 2030 season when he would be 29 if he arrives in 2025.

The value of a potential front-line starter who becomes a free agent before his 30th birthday is usually extremely high.

Sasaki did miss time earlier this season because of discomfort in his pitching arm. He's having a down year by his usual standards, but his body of work remains impressive with a 2.45 ERA and 91 strikeouts over 77 innings in 13 appearances this season.