NL West

Multiple opposing teams view the Los Angeles Dodgers as the future destination for Japanese starting pitcher Rōki Sasaki once he enters free agency, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

"The Dodgers have been the heavy favorites to land Sasaki for the past year, where teams are convinced it's almost a fait accompli," Nightengale wrote on Monday.

Los Angeles added two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani as a free agent following the 2023 season and signed coveted starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a $325 million contract. They both have ties to Sasaki, as all three players were on the same roster during Japan's victory in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

The San Diego Padres are reportedly still "quietly confident" that the team has a "realistic shot" at Sasaki due to his relationship with veteran starter Yu Darvish. Darvish was also a member of the 2023 WBC team.

Sasaki wrapped up another impressive season with Nippon Professional Baseball's Chiba Lotte Marines in 2024, finishing with a 10-5 record to go along with a 2.35 ERA in 18 games. He also struck out 129 batters in 111 innings of work.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred revealed that he expects Sasaki to be part of the 2025 international signing class, meaning that he'll be posted after Dec. 2 and will not sign with a team before Jan. 15.

The Dodgers seem to be heavy favorites to land him once he's available, though.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox are both casting wide nets in their search for starting pitching this offseason, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

Rosenthal reported Thursday that Boston and Los Angeles have met with two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell. The teams are also "talking" with Corbin Burnes and Max Fried.

Snell encountered a much cooler market than he expected last offseason. He and agent Scott Boras were reportedly looking to get as much as $200 million, and he wound up getting a two-year pact worth up to $62 million from the San Francisco Giants.

After posting a 3.12 ERA and a 2.43 FIP in 104 innings with San Francisco, Snell should be in a better position to land a nine-figure payday. ESPN's Kiley McDaniel pegged his value at $124 million over four years.

Burnes and Fried also broke the $100 million threshold, with the former going all the way up to $225 million in McDaniel's view.

Consistency is one of the big selling points with Burnes. Over the past four seasons, he has boasted a 3.08 FIP while averaging 189 innings per campaign and 10.2 strikeouts to 2.4 walks per nine innings, according to Baseball Reference.

Fried has likewise been excellent. His 13.9 WAR since 2021 rank 10th among starting pitchers, per FanGraphs. The injury troubles that limited him to 14 starts in 2023 will be a consideration among his suitors, though.

The Dodgers and Red Sox both saw their rotations pushed to the limit in 2024. Neither Tyler Glasnow nor Clayton Kershaw pitched for L.A. in the postseason, while Boston is still waiting for Lucas Giolito to make his debut after signing last winter. Los Angeles also has Kershaw, Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler hitting the open market.

The two teams figure to make sizable pitching additions in the weeks ahead.

The agent for Roki Sasaki refuted the notion the Japanese starting pitcher already has an informal deal in place with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"While a bunch of executives who should know me better and do a lot of business with me insult my integrity by insinuating that I would be a part of some type of nefarious agreement, in reality, this is just poor sportsmanship," Joel Wolfe said to The Athletic's Evan Drellich.

When Yoshinobu Yamamoto was coming over from Japan last offseason, the Dodgers were the clear favorites to land him due to two big factors. They needed to upgrade their starting rotation, and more importantly, they were one of the few franchises that had the means to easily meet his massive asking price.

However, Sasaki is a much different case.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed Wednesday the 23-year-old is likely going to be included in the 2025 international amateur class. That significantly lowers the cost to sign him because he'll get a minor league contract and have his overall earnings limited by MLB's international bonus pool.

The Dodgers, for example, have a maximum of around $5.1 million they can distribute to international free agents for the 2025 signing period.

This all presents the chance for a smaller-market franchise to theoretically make a run at Sasaki. You'd think the likes of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Miami Marlins, Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds would be aggressive in pursuing the right-hander because an opportunity this good doesn't come along often.

But Sasaki will probably wind up in Dodger blue because the franchise can make a compelling pitch even if it can't offer the best financial package.

Los Angeles just won the World Series and its championship window isn't closing anytime soon. The presence of compatriots Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani in the clubhouse would ease his transition to MLB as well.

There's a reason the Dodgers are believed to be leading the pack and it has nothing to do with a handshake deal.

The Los Angeles Dodgers landed last offseason's biggest prize in Shohei Ohtani, and they are reportedly taking steps toward potentially landing this offseason's top player as well.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported Juan Soto and agent Scott Boras will meet with the Dodgers this week and possibly as early as Tuesday. The meeting will come after the slugger already met with the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets.

Los Angeles signed Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million deal last offseason, although the majority of that money was deferred until 2034.

That could give the team more financial flexibility, which it will need if it is going to sign Soto. Feinsand noted he is expected to sign a contract worth more than $500 million and possibly more than $600 million.

The Dodgers also offer more than just money, as they are reigning World Series champions. Soto knows that all too well, as Los Angeles defeated his New York Yankees in five games in the Fall Classic.

"He's going to commit to a team for at least a decade, so that's not surprising," an American League executive said when discussing how the possibility to win will play into Soto's decision. "Even if there's an opt-out in the contract, you're probably looking at the next four or five years. He's going to get paid no matter where he goes, so if he can feel good about his chances of winning, that's going to make a big difference."

With teams presumably willing to spend major money and a clear understanding of which clubs offer the best chance to win, it might not take long for Soto to make a decision.

Feinsand noted that decision could even come before the Winter Meetings start on Dec. 9.

The rest of the league surely wouldn't love him signing with the Dodgers.

After all, they just won the World Series without Soto in their lineup and could be even better in 2025 if Ohtani pitches after he just focused on hitting in 2024 as he recovered from surgery. A lineup featuring the likes of Mookie Betts, Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Soto is a downright terrifying prospect for opposing pitchers.

Perhaps Los Angeles being in the sweepstakes will motivate other teams to offer even more to Soto as their pursuit continues. Because the Dodgers would surely be the World Series favorites once again if they landed him.

The Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs were listed as potential suitors for free-agent starting pitcher Walker Buehler by MLB Network's Jon Morosi.

Morosi reported on Monday that the Braves have "some interest" in Buehler while there's also also a "possibility" that the Cubs sign him (1:05 mark).

Buehler has spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Dodgers since he joined the majors in 2017, which included the organization's 2024 World Series victory over the New York Yankees.

The 30-year-old made just 16 starts in 2024 as he missed nearly two months with right hip inflammation. He struggled throughout the year, finishing with a 1-6 record to go along with a 5.38 ERA. Buehler also racked up 64 strikeouts and 28 walks in 75.1 innings of work.

His 2024 postseason didn't get off to a hot start either, allowing six earned runs during a loss to the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series.

Buehler gradually started to look like his old self as the Dodgers eventually clinched the NL pennant, though.

In his final three appearances during the postseason, he didn't allow a single earned run while opposing hitters owned a mere .433 OPS against him (via Baseball Reference). This included a save in Game 5 of the Fall Classic, clinching Los Angeles' World Series victory.

Injuries have slowed down Buehler in recent years, missing the entire 2023 season after undergoing the second Tommy John surgery of his career

Still, his All-Star history and recent postseason success should make him an intriguing option for teams searching for rotation help.

The Braves could sign Buehler to replace former pitchers Max Fried and Charlie Morton, as both players are currently free agents. Chicago could also target him in an attempt to get over the hump and return to the postseason, as the Cubs have reached 83 wins in each of the past two years.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will be without a key reliever in the early stages of the 2025 season.

The Associated Press reported that relief pitcher Brusdar Graterol is set to miss the first half of the 2025 season after undergoing surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder on Thursday.

The 26-year-old is arbitration eligible through the 2026 season and is set to make $2.7 million in 2025.

He was limited to just seven appearances during the 2024 regular season, earning a 2.45 ERA in 7.1 innings. He returned in the World Series, making three appearances and registering a 3.86 ERA.

Graterol missed that time due to shoulder inflammation and a hamstring injury that bothered him throughout the season. The surgery should allow him to fully heal that right shoulder and hopefully be ready for a healthy second half of the 2025 season.

With Graterol shelved for half of the season, Los Angeles could turn to the free agent market to add bullpen depth. Some of the top available arms include Tanner Scott, Jeff Hoffman, Clay Holmes and Aroldis Chapman.

Two of the most impressive players in baseball took home a coveted award on Thursday.

Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge were named the 2024 Hank Aaron Award winners.

Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers won it in the National League while Judge of the New York Yankees took it home in the American League.

It marks the second time each player has won the award. Ohtani won it in the AL last season when he was with the Los Angeles Angels while Judge claimed it in 2022 when he broke the AL home run record.

Both players had outstanding years and ultimately finished their seasons in the World Series—Ohtani and the Dodgers came out on top as he won his first championship.

Ohtani, in his debut season with the Dodgers, had 54 home runs, 130 RBI, 38 doubles and seven triples. He had career-highs in homers, RBI and doubles while also posting a career-best .310 batting average. His 1.036 OPS was the second-best in the majors only behind Judge.

But Ohtani was more than just power at the plate this year as he also showed off his speed. He stole 59 bases, smashing his previous career-high of 26. He became the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.

Judge was his usual self at the plate in 2024. He blasted 58 homers, 144 RBI, 36 doubles and one triple. He had the best OPS in the majors at 1.159 while recording the third-best batting average at .322.

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani won the 2024 Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award.

Ohtani has now earned the honor in four straight seasons after he was named the top designated hitter from 2021-23 with the Los Angeles Angels. His latest win doesn't come as a large surprise, as he was already selected as a finalist for the National League MVP award following his stellar inaugural year on the Dodgers.

With his fourth win, Ohtani only trails Baseball Hall of Fame members David Ortiz (eight) and Martinez (five) for the most victories since the award was implemented in 1973.

The 30-year-old thrived in the Dodgers' lineup, helping them finish with the most home runs and second-most runs among all National League teams in 2024.

Ohtani finished the regular season with 54 homers, 130 RBIs and 38 doubles to go along with a .310/.390/.646 slash line. He also stole 59 bases, becoming the first player in MLB history to reach 50 steals and 50 home runs in the same season.

His 1.036 OPS was the best among NL players and the No. 2 mark in the majors, only trailing New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.

While he wasn't able to continue the momentum throughout the entirety of Los Angeles' postseason run, he still finished with 10 RBIs in 16 appearances and came up with several clutch hits as the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in five games to clinch their eighth World Series title.

After signing a massive 10-year contract with a total value of $700 million to join the Dodgers in free agency, Ohtani has already exceeded expectations in one season.

The two-way star should be pitching again during the 2025 season, although he may not be ready to take the mound on Opening Day after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum.

Still, Ohtani should continue to provide immense value as one of the best hitters in the majors after winning his fourth consecutive Outstanding Designated Hitter honor.

Japanese ace Roki Sasaki isn't the only pitcher the Los Angeles Dodgers have been connected to in free agency.

The Dodgers are also "looking into" free agent pitchers including Blake Snell, Corbin Burnes and Max Fried, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

"Word is that assuming they land Sasaki, they'll try for one more big pitcher," Heyman wrote.

The Dodgers are already returning two other Japanese stars to the rotation in Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani is expected to pitch for the first time since 2023 next season, although his November shoulder surgery could delay his return to the mound, per Ronald Blum of the Associated Press.

Tyler Glasnow, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin are also under contract for the 2025 season, as well as young starters like Bobby Miller and Landon Knack.

The Dodgers could also potentially return two free agents in Walker Buehler, whom Heyman said the team will "consider re-signing," and Clayton Kershaw, who declined his 2025 option in Los Angeles but is expected to return.

That already leaves the Dodgers with one of the most stacked rotations in the MLB heading into the 2025 season.

Add in Sasaki, who pitched a 2.02 ERA through four seasons in Japan, and the Dodgers will set themselves up to be favorites to become the first repeat World Series champions since the New York Yankees in 2000.

The Dodgers aren't guaranteed to land Sasaki, however, in part because they can't offer him a deal anything near a contract like the 12-year, $325 million agreement they inked with Yamamoto in 2023 because of his age.

The 23-year-old will enter the league as an international amateur, rather than a foreign professional. That means he'll be signing a minor-league contract with a bonus restricted by each team's international signing pools, which are hard capped at around $7 million, (h/t The Athletic's Jim Bowden.)

Teams' international signing bonus pools reset on Dec. 15, so teams will be able to dip into their 2025 pools in order to make offers for Sasaki when the international signing period opens on Jan. 15.

The San Diego Padres are also expecting to be "one of the leading suitors" for Sasaki, MLB.com's Shaun O'Neill recently reported. The Dodgers will hope the successful additions of Yamamoto and Ohtani will help them in their bid to beat out this NL West rival.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are potentially willing to "eat" part of Jordan Montgomery's salary in order to find a trade partner for the left-handed starter, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Montgomery signed a one-year deal with the Diamondbacks after helping lead the Texas Rangers to the World Series in 2023. Earlier this month he exercised a $22.5 million vesting player option for the 2025 season.

Passan described Montgomery as "near the top of the list of players likeliest to get dealt" after he fell out of the Diamondbacks rotation in late August. He finished the season with a 6.23 ERA through 25 appearances and 117.0 innings pitched.

Montgomery had recorded a 3.48 ERA over three prior seasons split between the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals and Rangers.

He did not sign with the Diamondbacks until March 29, leading him to miss spring training. The pitcher acknowledged early in the 2024 season that absence made it difficult for him to find a rhythm with his new team.

Montgomery's struggles continued as he logged a 6.25 ERA through his first 18 starts heading into an Aug. 21 start against the Miami Marlins. Facing a chance to pitch for his place in the rotation, Montgomery allowed six earned runs in 5.2 innings against a weak Marlins offense.

That start, combined with several strong performances from Ryne Nelson, was enough for the Diamondbacks to shift Montgomery to the bullpen two days later in what Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo called an "agonizing" decision.

After the conclusion of the season, Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick was harshly critical of the offseason signing of Montgomery, telling Arizona Sports it was "a horrible decision to have invested that money in a guy that performed as poorly as he did."

"It's our biggest mistake this season from a talent standpoint, and I'm the perpetrator of that," Kendrick said in October.

Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said earlier this month that he had met with Montgomery following Kendrick's comments, and expressed appreciation for Montgomery being "accountable" for his struggles in 2024.

Although Hazen did not shut the door on the possibility of Montgomery returning, the Diamondbacks have enough starting depth to look to move on from the struggling left-hander. As noted by the Associated Press' David Brandt, Arizona could be returning Nelson alongside other starters including Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt and Zac Gallen.

Hazen told reporters in August that the size of Montgomery's contract had not factored into the team's decision to remove him from the starting rotation, and that the D-backs would "deal with anything we have to" in order to have a better chance to win, per the Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro.

The Diamondbacks might have to continue embracing that attitude if they are considering paying part of Montgomery's salary for him to play somewhere else next season.