The Los Angeles Dodgers have recently become a preferred destination for Japanese baseball stars. Last year, Yoshinobu Yamamoto opted for the Dodgers over the New York Mets, despite both teams offering him a lucrative $325 million contract. More recently, Roki Sasaki also chose the Dodgers, even though the Toronto Blue Jays reportedly presented a more substantial financial offer. At just 23 years old, Sasaki was restricted to the international pool money available to teams.
In another significant move, Shohei Ohtani decided to remain in Los Angeles, signing with the Dodgers ahead of the 2024 season. While other teams have welcomed Japanese talent in recent years, Yamamoto and Sasaki stand out as the premier pitching prospects since Masahiro Tanaka joined the Yankees in 2014.
Before the 2023 season, Kodai Senga secured a five-year, $90 million deal with the New York Mets and is expected to lead their rotation this season after missing much of the previous year. During spring training, Senga expressed his desire for the Mets to attract more Japanese players, candidly noting, “Of course, I would love to have some more on the Mets, but the climate’s nice there, and I think that definitely plays a part.” He added, “We need to build a roof.”
Mets owner Steve Cohen has previously hinted at the possibility of constructing a roof, estimating the cost at around $800 million. However, he later remarked that the opportunity had passed due to the expense involved.
The influx of Japanese talent in Major League Baseball is expected to continue, with left-handed slugger Munetaka Murakami, who hit 56 home runs in 2022 and boasts a .938 career OPS in Japan, anticipated to join the majors next year. It’s worth noting that the Blue Jays, who made a strong offer to Sasaki, also have a roof, indicating that weather alone may not have influenced his decision.
Currently, there are 15 Japanese-born players on major league rosters, with the latest addition being Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga.
