Chicago Cubs may look to upset Dodgers in sweepstakes for next Japanese phenom

Jed Hoyer, in recent seasons, has worked extensively to establish a pipeline between the Chicago Cubs' organization and talent making the transition from Japan to Major League Baseball.

It is an infrastructure that was established after the 2017 season when the Cubs signed starting pitcher Yu Darvish but has continued in recent seasons with the additions of Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga. Darvish, even though he was with the San Diego Padres, played a pivotal part in the Cubs successfully recruiting Suzuki. In turn, Suzuki's experience with the Cubs played a factor in Imanaga falling in love with the Cubs last offseason.

The Cubs are hoping their efforts with Darvish, Suzuki, and Imanga will lead to their next superstar pitcher.

It's a payoff that the Cubs are hoping to see this offseason. There appears to be momentum toward 23-year-old Japanese starting pitcher Roki Sasaki being posted this offseason. As we've touched on previously, given his age, he would be subject to the international free agent rules If Sasaki were to join a Major League team this offseason, it would be on a minor-league deal and for no more than $8MM.

While the Cubs sat out of the sweepstakes for Yoshinobu Yamamoto last offseason, the circumstances would suggest that the team would be very much involved in the sweepstakes for Sasaki this winter.

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Still, the prevailing thought in the industry is that the Dodgers loom as the favorite. Sasaki’s exact preferences, though, are not yet known. The New York Mets and Chicago Cubs are among the teams that have heavily scouted him.

The Dodgers will be the obvious favorites due to their successful recruitment of Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani last offseason. That being said, the idea of money doesn't work in the Dodgers' favor when it comes to Sasaki considering the limitations around the deal that the starting pitcher can sign this winter.

Signing Sasaki would be a massive coup for the Cubs' front office this offseason. For a team looking for a starting pitcher to place at the top of their rotation and not interested in Corbin Burne's price, Sasaki would be an ideal fallback option.