Yankees, Mets scouting one of the best pitchers in the world

Mets, Yankees aren't sweating their injured aces

The Yankees and Mets were among eight teams to scout Rōki Sasaki, according to a report that was translated to Andy Martino of SNY.

Other teams scouting the Nippon Professional Baseball ace included the Dodgers and Cardinals.



Sasaki, 22, is one of the best pitchers in Japan. He’s posted a 2.00 ERA with 376 strikeouts in 283 2/3 innings over his three NBP seasons. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, several general managers believe that Sasaki plans to sign with the Dodgers after this season. He would be a lethal addition for Los Angeles, which already boasts Japanese superstars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on its roster.



“Every team in baseball wants this guy,” one GM said to Nightengale. “But there’s no way he’s going anywhere else but the Dodgers. We all know it.”




According to MLB Trade Rumors, Sasaki reportedly requested to be posted this offseason, but he ultimately re-signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines. Per MLB posting rules, players must be at least 25 and have six years of professional experience in order to sign anything more than a minor league deal. Still, Sasaki could make the same request after this season.