Roki Sasaki says no to Yankees in stunning offseason twist

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The New York Yankees have been informed they are no longer in contention to sign Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki, according to Jack Curry of the YES Network. This revelation marks another high-profile rejection, following the San Francisco Giants, who were also told they won’t be Sasaki’s destination. While Andy Martino of SNY suggests the Mets are also unlikely to land Sasaki, it’s unclear if they’ve received a definitive no, as the Yankees and Giants have.

Yankees officially out of the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes

While the Yankees bow out, other teams remain firmly in the race. Sasaki recently visited the San Diego Padres, as reported by Dennis Lin, Will Sammon, and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. This meeting followed an earlier visit with the Toronto Blue Jays in Canada, signaling these teams’ determination to secure his services. The 23-year-old officially became eligible to sign with a major league club on January 10, with a deadline of January 23 to finalize a deal under the posting system.

Initially, the Yankees expressed confidence in their chances. During a January 7 appearance on SNY’s Baseball Night in New York, MLB.com insider Bryan Hoch relayed the organization’s optimism. “They think they do,” Hoch said when asked if the Yankees had a realistic shot at signing Roki Sasaki. “The Yankees feel like they put together a good proposal here and have really laid it out,” he added.

However, doubts began to swirl on January 13 when The Athletic published a report by Rosenthal and Andy McCullough. The article listed several teams still vying for Sasaki, including the Dodgers, Padres, Rangers, Mariners, Mets, and Cubs—noticeably omitting the Yankees. Some brushed off the exclusion, but Jack Curry’s confirmation via X (formerly Twitter) left no room for speculation.

“Source: The Yankees have been told Sasaki will not be signing with them,” Curry posted.

Adding Roki Sasaki to an already stellar rotation would have been a dream scenario for Yankees fans. While the team’s pitching staff doesn’t desperately need reinforcements, landing a generational talent like Sasaki would have been the cherry on top of a promising offseason.

As the Yankees step aside, attention now shifts to teams still in play. The Padres and Blue Jays have emerged as serious contenders, while clubs like the Dodgers and Rangers continue to keep their names in the mix. Roki Sasaki’s decision, expected by January 23, will have ripple effects across MLB as teams await the final call.

For the Yankees, it’s a missed opportunity, but their focus will now return to leveraging their strengths for the upcoming season. The Bronx Bombers may not have Roki Sasaki, but they still have the firepower to contend.

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