The Los Angeles Dodgers win the eighth World Series in franchise history after finishing the season 98-64.
Although the Dodgers won the World Series, they continued to improve their pitching staff this offseason, adding starting pitcher Blake Snell.
The Dodgers may not add to their rotation, however, as MLB analyst Xavier Scruggs revealed that he believes the Dodgers are the clear number one option for free agent Rocky Sasaki.
“Rocky Sasaki has seen success with the Dodgers. The Dodgers pitching system and their bullpen are top notch,” Scruggs said via Sirius XM’s MLB Network Radio.
“The #Dodgers The development system and their pitching lab is top notch.”@Xavier_Scruggs on why the Dodgers should be the clear No. 1 option for Rocky Sasaki;
🔗https://t.co/fGPbvbjGlC pic.twitter.com/siDb59vKYb
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) December 30, 2024
Scruggs notes that not only will Sasaki join fellow Japanese-born pitchers Shohei Otani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but he’ll also have the opportunity to develop with one of MLB’s best teams.
Sasaki is just 23 years old and is coming off MLB Japan in free agency this season.
Sasaki appeared in 18 games with his overseas team in 2024, where he had a 10-5 record with a 2.35 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 111.0 innings.
Scruggs believes Sasaki won’t come to MLB as the clear-cut number one guy in the rotation, but he could develop into an ace starting pitcher with the stuff he has.
The Dodgers already have plenty of solid starting options, but they’ve struggled to stay healthy in recent years.
Sasaki is one of the best starting free agents remaining on the market, and the Dodgers should be the number one option to sign him through the 2025 season.
NEXT: Analyst reveals what Rocky Sasaki will land for the Shivers
