The Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series, finishing with a 98-64 record and winning the National League West.
After winning the World Series, the Dodgers kept the pressure on as they made several big acquisitions this offseason to further improve their 2025 roster.
Some of these acquisitions include starting pitcher Blake Snell, relief pitcher Tanner Scott and starting pitcher Rocky Sasaki.
Sasaki’s lottery pick was filled with drama as three teams were involved in negotiations for him, including the Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays.
According to Foul Territory’s ‘X’, Dodgers star player Shohei Ohtani led the chase for Sasaki.
Shohei Ohtani was reportedly “driving the bus” in the Dodgers pursuit of Rocky Sasaki.
He texted the head of the organization, “We found him,” minutes before announcing his decision to Sasaki.
(Via. @TheAthletic) pic.twitter.com/d2J6HtJDxQ
— FoulTerritory (@FoulTerritoryTV) January 19, 2025
Ohtani reportedly sent a message to top executives in the Dodgers organization letting them know they had received Sasaki just minutes before Sasaki made the announcement.
Sasaki is a 23-year-old starter coming out of MLB Japan this season.
Since Ohtani is also Japanese, it makes sense that he would want Sasaki to join the Dodgers.
With his overseas team in 2024, Sasaki appeared in 18 games and posted a 10-5 record with a 2.35 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 111.0 innings.
Sasaki is said to have an electric arm and is one of the most intriguing free agents this offseason, as he has yet to throw a pitch in the MLB.
If Sasaki is the pitcher everyone thinks he will be, the Dodgers could have the best starting rotation in the entire league.
The Dodgers will be looking to win back-to-back World Series titles for the first time in franchise history.
