“He’s the Ideal Match” New York Mets Poised to Activate Pitcher’s Release Clause in Blockbuster January Move

Mets Set to Outmaneuver Yankees and Dodgers for Highly Coveted Free Agent Roki Sasaki

The New York Mets have been the big winners of the offseason in Major League Baseball, and there’s strong belief that this trend will continue. After securing a historic $765 million deal for superstar slugger Juan Soto, the Mets are now rumored to be among the top contenders for Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, a 23-year-old pitching phenom.

Pete Caldera of NorthJersey.com, while predicting the 2025 season for the New York Yankees—another team vying for Sasaki—suggested that the Mets would ultimately come out on top in this high-profile free-agent battle. “Once again, the Yankees are outshined by their crosstown rivals, as Japanese ace Roki Sasaki, 23, chooses the Mets,” Caldera speculated.

If the Mets secure Sasaki, they would add an immediate frontline ace to their rotation, potentially ahead of established pitchers like Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea. Sasaki has posted an impressive 2.10 ERA over four seasons in Japan’s professional league, and while it’s unclear how his performance will translate to MLB hitters, scouts are optimistic about his potential success in the U.S.

By landing Sasaki, the Mets wouldn’t just shock one historic franchise—they’d also overtake the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are considered the frontrunners for Sasaki. The Dodgers, already home to Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, have long been seen as the team of choice for Japanese players. However, Sasaki’s admiration for Padres ace Yu Darvish and the opportunity to become the Mets’ ace could make New York an enticing destination.

While the Mets and Yankees could offer compelling reasons for Sasaki to join them, including the Mets’ recent pitching successes and the Yankees’ storied legacy, many believe Sasaki would prefer a West Coast team due to geographical proximity to Japan. However, as Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported, the Mets are still a serious contender: “It’s still a surprise if he doesn’t end up on the West Coast.”

If Sasaki were to choose the Mets, it would signal a shift in the balance of power in New York City baseball, potentially leaving the Yankees with a difficult loss to their rivals.