Cubs have a better chance at landing Roki Sasaki than you might initially believe

If you're a Chicago Cubs fan disenchanted with the front office and ownership shying away from big-ticket free agents, there's cause for hope. Twenty-three-year-old Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki is looking to sign with an MLB team this winter - but given how early he's being posted, the price tag will pale in comparison to the deal Yoshinobu Yamamoto inked with the Los Angeles Dodgers last winter.

Yamamoto set an international free agent record, signing a 12-year, $325 million deal - and if this were a similar situation and money was all that mattered, Sasaki to the reigning World Series champs would feel like a done deal. However, due to him coming to the U.S. before his age-25 season, he's restricted to a minor-league deal with a bonus that comes from a club's international bonus money.

That levels the playing field, giving all 30 clubs a chance to land the young right-hander, who is coming off a career in Japan that's left no doubt he's ready for the challenge posed by MLB hitters: a 2.02 ERA across 414 2/3 innings of work and single-game performances that have been awe-inspiring.

So what is Sasaki looking for? According to The Athletic (subscription required), he's looking for "stability, lifestyle, comfort and a team’s track record with player development." Those all bode well for the Cubs, a team that calls a world-class city home and has drawn rave reviews from high-profile Japanese players in recent years, including Shota Imanaga, Seiya Suzuki and Yu Darvish.

Darvish could have a huge impact in where Sasaki signs, as the two are reportedly close. That might make you think the Padres have a clear edge in challenging the Dodgers, the perceived front-runner for his services, but the Cubs may actually get a boost from the veteran.

“The respect he has from the Japanese players is pretty incredible," Jed Hoyer told Marquee Sports Network this summer. "When you talk to them, who he was in Japan as a pitcher, the way he made the transition, the success he’s had but also how he carries himself and I think he really likes to mentor guys.”

He helped recruit Suzuki and Imanaga to Chicago even after he left the organization - a testament to the experience he had during his time with the club. He's a legend among Japanese players and I wouldn't count out the possibility he helps Hoyer lure Sasaki to the North Side.