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Starting pitcher Rōki Sasaki announced his intention to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers in an Instagram post on Friday.
According to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez, Sasaki will receive a $6.5 million signing bonus from the Dodgers. Los Angeles traded Dylan Campbell to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for international bonus pool space on Friday, per ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel.
The reigning World Series champions will be adding another key piece to their pitching staff after previously signing two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell to a five-year, $182 million contract on Nov. 26.
Here’s how Los Angeles’ 2025 rotation will look.
Dodgers 2025 projected starting rotation
- Shohei Ohtani
- Blake Snell
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto
- Tyler Glasnow
- Rōki Sasaki
The Dodgers had $272.8 million allocated to their 2025 payroll and $276 million in projected payroll allocations prior to adding Sasaki, via Spotrac.
The right-hander is coming off another impressive season with NPB’s Chiba Lotte Marines in 2024, finishing with a 10-5 record. He also compiled a 2.35 ERA and 1.036 WHIP in 18 appearances, striking out 129 batters while allowing a mere 32 walks in 111 innings of work.
Sasaki already has some familiarity with a few other members of Los Angeles’ projected rotation, as he was teammates with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the Team Japan roster that won the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
The 23-year-old looked sharp during the WBC, maintaining a 3.52 ERA with 11 strikeouts compared to two walks in 7.2 innings across two starts.
Mutual interest between Sasaki and the Dodgers was evident throughout the offseason. On Dec. 5, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that there was “widespread industry belief” the pitcher had already picked a team that was “most likely” the Dodgers.
Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani didn’t take the mound in 2024 after undergoing elbow surgery, but he’s expected to return during the 2025 season. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts doesn’t envision him being ready by Opening Day, though (via MLB.com’s Sonja Chen).
Ohtani should immediately headline Los Angeles’ rotation when healthy, as the three-time MVP owns a career 3.01 ERA to go along with a 38-19 record.
Snell posted a 3.12 ERA and 1.048 WHIP in 20 starts with the San Francisco Giants in 2024, while Yamamoto racked up 105 strikeouts in 90 innings during his inaugural season in the majors.
As the Dodgers attempt to become the first team to win consecutive World Series titles since 2000, they added another talented starter to their loaded rotation on Friday.
