The Chicago Cubs improved mightily in the latter stages of the 2024 season, and they're looking to carry that momentum into the offseason with a colossal free agent signing.
Chicago's president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has made an earnest and effective effort to explore the market for talent in Japan. The Cubs' recent signings of Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga are evidence of that, and both players have panned out for Chicago.
Previously, the Cubs made a huge play for Yu Darvish but didn't end up winning the sweepstakes for the pitcher.
Case in point, the Cubs are heavily invested in Japan, which puts them in better position than most to land the nation's next great talent, 23-year-old pitcher Roki Sasaki.
The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma recently discussed Chicago's chances to sign Sasaki, whose timeline around entering the Major Leagues is still not clear.
"Sasaki will turn 23 in November, but it’s still unclear whether he’ll be posted this winter," Sharma said. "The Cubs, along with every team in baseball, will be very interested in acquiring his services."
"Sasaki has been throwing a triple-digit fastball since he was 17. He’s been a sensation since then, having become one of the most famous athletes out of Japan and his potential arrival in the U.S. would arguably be the most anticipated since Shohei Ohtani."
"At his best, Sasaki sits 99-101 mph with his fastball, but he’s often at 97-99. He attacks hitters with the pitch that has good, not elite, carry. But it’s his splitter that is the standout offering, with one scout suggesting it may be the best pitch in the world."
"Will Sasaki join an MLB team this winter? And if so, could the Cubs lure him to Chicago?"
The Los Angeles Dodgers are widely seen as favorites to land Sasaki, but the Cubs could sneak their way into the forefront of the conversation in the coming months.
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