MLB Offseason Weekly Recap: Japanese Star to be Posted, Another Pirates’ Waiver Claim

This is a weekly update highlighting the notable news and transactions from the 2024-25 Major League Baseball offseason.

A new free agent will be hitting with the free agent market, and this one has the potential to be a star.

It was reported earlier in the week by multiple outlets that NBP’s Chiba Lotte Marines will be posting right-hander Roki Sasaki. The 23-year-old is considered the top pitcher in Japan.

Sasaki has pitched four seasons in the NPB and has dominated. In 64 games, he went 29-15 with a 2.10 ERA and a 0.894 WHIP. In 394.2 innings, he allowed 265 hits, 88 walks and a whopping 505 strikeouts.

Once he signs with a team this offseason, he will do so with the expectation that he will be a top-of-the-rotation starter, similar to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who signed with the Dodgers last offseason. That worked out pretty well with the Dodgers taking home the World Serie trophy.

Sasaki throws a hard fastball, a slider and a splitter, the latter of which is considered his best pitch.

Where he ends up remains to be seen, but Sasaki has a hefty paycheck coming his way at some point this offseason. There will be no shortage of suitors for his services this winter, and whoever gets him will receive a major upgrade to their starting rotation.

Flurry of Signings

An handful of free agents are off the board. Longtime Cubs’ pitcher Kyle Hendricks signed with the Angels, who need a lot of help up and down their roster. Hendricks had a disastrous 2024 season but was a more than capable starter in 2023.

A couple other free agents re-signed with their previous teams. Catcher Austin Hedges signed a one-year deal to return to the Guardians and T.J. McFarland re-signed with the A’s.

Though there hasn’t been an earth-shattering deal yet, the free agent market is moving at a much faster pace this offseason. Last week, Michael Wacha signed a three-year deal to return to the Royals.

Pirates Claim Cabbage

For the second-straight week, the Pirates made a waiver claim. The Bucs snagged outfielder/first baseman Trey Cabbage off waivers from the Astros. The 27-year-old doesn’t have much pedigree in the big leagues but has been a strong minor-league performer.

Our John Perrotto spoke to general manager Ben Cherington about the acquisition.