Red Sox “He has the potential to become a full-fledged ace and Cy Young Award candidate. ” Roki Sasaki of Japan pitches during their Pool B game against the Czech Republic at the World Baseball Classic in Tokyo in 2023. AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko Above even the pursuit of superstar hitters, the top Red Sox priority in the offseason is technically still starting pitching.
Given that the 81-81 Red Sox possess what MLB insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic recently called a “clear and obvious deficiency” regarding the team’s pitching setup, the goal this winter for Boston chief baseball officer Craig Breslow appears clear. As for who the second-year Red Sox executive targets on the market remains to be seen. And while there are a few notable MLB options, including two-time All-Star Max Fried and 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes, one of the more intriguing names currently possesses zero experience in Major League Baseball.
Advertisement:Roki Sasaki, a 23-year-old Japanese right-hander, is set to make the move across the Pacific after four seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball. Sasaki has played his entire career for the Chiba Lotte Marines, compiling a 29-15 record with an impressive 2. 10 ERA while averaging 11.
5 strikeouts per nine innings. And according to former MLB general manager (and Athletic analyst) Jim Bowden, the Red Sox could prove to be a nice fit for Sasaki. “Because of his age, he will be considered an international amateur free agent, so Sasaki will receive only international bonus pool money from whatever club is fortunate enough to sign him,” Bowden explained in a recent column.
Advertisement:“The Red Sox have a promising pitching program under [pitching coach] Andrew Bailey and their leadership team of manager Alex Cora and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow,” he added, “along with minority owner Theo Epstein working behind the scenes, could provide a solid foundation for Sasaki. ”Sasaki’s circumstances mean he will not hit free agency for six seasons (waiting half of that time just to hit salary arbitration). As a result, additional financial incentives that a team could theoretically offer him might prove to be the difference in getting a deal done.
Bowden views Boston favorably in that regard. “He could maximize endorsements in the large market of Boston and become the face of their pitching staff for years to come,” Bowden conclided. “Regardless of where he signs, he has the potential to become a full-fledged ace and Cy Young Award candidate.
”Hayden BirdSports Staff Hayden Bird is a sports staff writer for Boston. com, where he has worked since 2016. He covers all things sports in New England.
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