Roki Sasaki is narrowing down his choices — and it’s bad news for both local teams.
The Yankees have been told the 23-year-old Japanese right-hander won’t be signing with them, The Post confirmed.
The news was first reported by the YES Network.
Japan starting pitcher Roki Sasaki (14) pitches against Mexico during the second inning of a semifinal game at the World Baseball Classic at loanDepot Park on Monday, March 20, 2023.TNS
The Mets have also been told they were out of the running for the prized free agent on Monday, The Post confirmed.
The Yankees and Mets were among the group of teams that met with Sasaki, along with the Dodgers, Padres, Cubs, Rangers and Giants — although the Giants are also said to be out of the running.
And The Athletic reported Monday Sasaki met with the Blue Jays, as well, in advance of the signing period for international free agents, which begins Wednesday.
Many around the league considered the Yankees and Mets to be longshots for Sasaki, who has starred in Japan and was posted by his former team
Joel Wolfe, agent for Roki Sasaki, speaks with the media on Dec. 10,2024.Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
Since the hard-throwing Sasaki isn’t 25, he’s classified by MLB as an international amateur and therefore teams are limited to their international bonus pool in terms of what they can offer him — around $6 million.
For much of the process, the Dodgers and Padres have been seen as the favorites for Sasaki, who idolized San Diego’s Yu Darvish when he was younger and could join a rotation in Los Angeles that will include Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto this season.
“He’s obviously a tremendous talent,” Yankees GM Brian Cashman said last month of Sasaki, whom he saw pitch in Japan. “It’d be nice to have Yankee Stadium be his home, but the decision will be up to him. All we can do is share everything and anything that we can about ourselves and what we provide.”
Without Sasaki, the Yankees have a rotation of Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil, with Marcus Stroman owed $18 million this season.
Like Cashman, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns traveled to Japan during the season to see Sasaki and said last month the team would give it their “best shot” to land Sasaki.
Instead, they’ll move forward with a rotation that includes Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, Clay Holmes and David Peterson, with names such as Paul Blackbur
