Mar 20, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Japan starting pitcher Roki Sasaki (14) delivers a pitch during the first inning against Mexico at LoanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
The Phillies have not been shy about their interest in 23-year-old Japanese pitching prospect Roki Sasaki, but unless there was a lost email somewhere, it doesn't sound like they are going to get the opportunity to make their pitch to him.
Phillies' President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski held a press call via Zoom to announce the signing of outfielder Max Kepler to a one-year contract. Reports are that it is worth $10 million.
But as is often the case in these press calls, the conversation didn't just stick with the primary purpose of the call, and Dombrowski was asked several questions - including one about if the Phillies will be given an opportunity to speak to Sasaki.
The answer was far from encouraging.
""We have not been invited to talk to him at this point," Dombrowski said. "I'm not making any proclamations, because we haven't been told, but it's probably running a little late if we're going to be invited to the table.
"We've sent in our original information to him that was requested. They know that we very much would like to have a presentation, but so far we haven't been invited to the table."
No Roki Sasaki for the Phillies: pic.twitter.com/IpRKYAzuNV
It's frustrating for the Phillies as one of the haves in major league baseball, as only the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers have more money committed to players for 2025 than the Phillies, and they are desperate to win a championship, but a lot of the talk around the sport is that ultimately Sasaki will choose between the Dodgers and San Diego Padres.
New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman said that his team has been invited to speak with Sasaki and two other dark horse candidates - the Chicago Cubs, who have been active this offseason, and the Seattle Mariners could come into play.
The Phillies have never signed a Japanese player out of Japan and have only had two Japanese players ever to don the red pinstripes - So Taguchi and Tadahito Iguchi.
They were aggressive last winter in pursuit of pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but Yamamoto chose to sign a similar deal with the Dodgers.
Dombrowski did say that the Phillies would like to add another starting pitcher to the mix this offseason, adding that they would like a guy who could serve as a swingman and also be a long man out of the bullpen. That wouldn't be the case with Sasaki. He would be a bit of a game-changer as far as the rotation goes.
Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like the Phillies are going to have a chance to tell him that.
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