One of Japan’s top pitchers, Roki Sasaki is on his way to the MLB as the Chiba Lotte Marines are posting the 23-year-old flamethrower. It’s expected that several top MLB teams will be bidding huge amounts of money for his services.

Bookies.com veteran oddsmaker Adam Thompson has put together hypothetical MLB odds for what MLB team will land Sasaki in free agency this offseason. See the odds below.

Roki Sasaki 2025 Team Odds

Odds are projected and do not reflect any odds that may be available at legal betting sites or betting apps.

MLB Teams Likely to Pursue Roki Sasaki

Thompson has zeroed in on several teams that may be interested in signing him. Once Sasaki is posted, all 30 teams have 45 days to negotiate with him. Sasaki is expected to sign once the international amateur signing period begins on Jan. 15, and he must have a deal in place by Jan. 23 or he is returned to the his home team for 2025. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are strong "co-favorites" to land Sasaki. Many Japanese and Korean imports prefer the West Coast teams for the distance. The Dodgers are the defending World Series champions, while the Padres gave L.A. its toughest test to the crown and have the revered Yu Darvish on the roster. Each would be an enticing destination for Sasaki. 

The New York Yankees and New York Mets are both strongly interested in adding Sasaki to the rotation. While this is a bidding way to be certain, the money must come from the international bonus pool, and so teams like the Yankees and Mets (and Dodgers) cannot simply outbid others as is often the case in free agency. 

The Yankees are poised to make another run to the World Series, while the Mets are highly motivated to get back to the postseason (the signing of Juan Soto proves that) and does have top Japanese pitcher Kodai Senga already in the fold.  

MLB insider Jim Bowden noted that priorities from Sasaki's camp includes endorsement potential, win chances and pitching development are all factors. That likely doesn't hurt any of the four aforementioned teams. 

The Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays have all been mentioned as possible serious suitors. 

The San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners could be enticing to Sasaki, and while the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies may be outliers not as high on Sasaki's wish list, those teams have already reportedly shown interest. 

There are other MLB teams in the field that could make a run at Sasaki, including the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers, two teams with playoff aspirations that could use starting pitching.