MLB Executives Suspect Foul Play in Dodgers' Roki Sasaki Deal, Says Former GM
One former front office executive is suggesting potential foul play in the Dodgers' recent signing of Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki.
Shortly after the Asian ace announced on Instagram that he would be joining the Dodgers for the upcoming season, former MLB general manager, Jim Bowden, shared his concerns during a conversation on Foul Territory. Bowden speculated that the deal might prompt an investigation.
“I think you’re going to find that multiple teams will ask the commissioner’s office to investigate this particular signing,” Bowden said on Foul Territory. “Numerous front offices believed there was a pre-arranged agreement between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Roki Sasaki before the official negotiation window opened. This, of course, has been denied by his camp.”
The Beginning of the Drama
In November, Sasaki’s agent, Joel Wolfe of Wasserman, publicly denied allegations of an unwritten agreement. “While many executives, who should know me better and frequently do business with me, insult my integrity by insinuating I’d be part of some nefarious agreement,” Wolfe told The Athletic, “in reality, this is just poor sportsmanship.”
When questioned about the allegations that same month, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed skepticism about the claims of a private deal but assured that his office would investigate if necessary. “If there’s any reason to believe a rule was violated, you can rest assured we will thoroughly investigate and get to the bottom of it,” Manfred said to The Athletic.
What Happened During Sasaki’s Free Agency?
During Sasaki’s free agency, discussions about where he might sign initially suggested a small-market team, according to Bowden.
“We heard that a small market might make sense because of the difficulties he (Sasaki) had media attention in Japan,” Bowden said. “We were also told endorsements played a significant role.”
Jim Bowden in ESPN - Photo: Bowden excited Tebow is interested in baseball - ESPN
Now, Sasaki joins a Dodgers pitching rotation already stacked with talent, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow, with Shohei Ohtani expected to return from injury.