The Yankees face another setback as Roki Sasaki chooses other teams over them
New York: The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes are wrapping up, and guess what? The Yankees didn’t even make the cut. The 23-year-old star has picked the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and Toronto Blue Jays as his finalists. It’s a bummer for the Yankees, who are losing out on another Japanese talent.
Aaron Boone praised Sasaki, noting his impressive 2.02 ERA over four seasons in Japan. He called him a unique talent with top-of-the-rotation potential. But now, it looks like he won’t be donning the Yankee pinstripes.
This rejection is part of a worrying trend for the Yankees. The once-coveted allure of playing for the Yankees seems to be fading, even for players from Japan. In the past, stars like Hideki Matsui and Masahiro Tanaka jumped at the chance to join the Yankees, but that’s not the case anymore.
Recent Japanese stars have turned down the Yankees. Shohei Ohtani didn’t even consider them when he made his move to MLB. Yoshinobu Yamamoto also chose the Dodgers over the Yankees last offseason. Now, Sasaki is likely heading to the West Coast too.
It seems Japanese players are leaning more towards the West Coast, where teams like the Dodgers have built a strong reputation. The Yankees are no longer the only team that can offer winning and money.
Looking ahead, slugger Munetaka Murakami is expected to make the jump to MLB next offseason. He’d be a perfect fit for the Yankees, boasting a .938 OPS and 241 homers in seven seasons. But the Yankees need to change their approach if they want to land him.
Murakami’s swing would be a dream come true for the Yankees, but they’ll have to step up their game and offer a competitive contract. The allure of the Yankees isn’t enough anymore; players are looking for the best deal.
Sasaki’s decision is a clear sign that the Yankees need to rethink their strategy. The legacy of the Yankees isn’t enough to attract top talent anymore.
