After Juan Soto sweepstakes, another begins | Will Yankees, Mets battle again?

DALLAS: The Yankees and Mets may participate in another high-profile sweepstakes starting this week after fighting for Juan Soto.

This time, luring the player in will require more than just a record-breaking offer.

Several reports state that the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball officially posted Japanese ace Roki Sasaki on Monday.

The 23-year-old right-hander will be available for negotiations with MLB teams for 45 days, starting on Tuesday and ending on January 23. Sasaki will either return to the Marines or land with a club before the end of that span.

Although a number of high-spending teams will be vying for Sasaki, the Dodgers and Padres are regarded as the West Coast favorites, so there won’t be a bidding war. Sasaki will be eligible as an international amateur free agent because he is under 25. That is to say, this will not be like the posting procedure for Yoshinobu Yamamoto last winter, when the gifted Japanese starter received several offers totaling at least $300 million. Yamamoto signed the biggest contract ever for a starting pitcher when he chose the Dodgers despite being pursued by the Yankees and Mets. Before the two-way sensation first signed with the Angels, this was more akin to the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes.

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Major League Baseball has generated a lot of attention, but Sasaki’s choice will ultimately depend on his personal preferences. He could have waited until he turned 25 to land a big contract if money had really been his top concern.

Does he wish to connect with other Japanese celebrities in San Diego or Los Angeles? The same is true for the Cubs (with Shota Imanaga) and the Mets (with Kodai Senga). In a fresh market, would he wish to forge his own route? Could he be interested in the Yankees because of the history of Japanese pitchers in the Bronx and the significance of the pinstripes?

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With the greatest arms available in free agency, the Yankees are eager to add depth to their starting lineup. They have plenty of money to spend on the open market after placing second in the Soto sweepstakes.

You may contact Max Goodman at [email protected].

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