Roki Sasaki, the 23-year-old Japanese pitching phenom, sparked controversy in Major League Baseball by exposing a loophole in the league’s international amateur signing rules. As Sasaki contemplates a move to MLB, his classification as an “amateur” in the current system has prompted calls for reform and highlighted the complexities of the free agency process in baseball.
Caught between “Professional” and “Amateur”
Despite four seasons of professional play with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan, Sasaki does not meet MLB’s definition of a foreign professional free agent. According to the MLB-NPB posting system, players must have at least six seasons of experience or be over the age of 25 to qualify for full free agency. As a result, Sasaki falls under MLB’s international amateur bonus pool rules, limiting his signing bonus to approximately $7.6 million if he signs after January 15, 2025.
This classification places Sasaki in the same category as teenage players from Latin America who are traditionally signed during MLB’s international amateur signing period.
A Generational Talent in Waiting
However, Sasaki’s talent sets him apart. Known for his triple-digit fastball and millimeter accuracy, he has been compared to Shohei Ohtani, another generational Japanese player who navigated similar restrictions in 2017. Like Ohtani, Sasaki could lose millions of dollars in revenue due to rigid MLB rules.
Debate over rule changes
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic proposed exempting Sasaki from international bonus pool limits to reflect his professional caliber. Such a measure would allow teams to offer him a contract commensurate with his talent without disrupting agreements already in place with other international prospects.
However, critics argue that creating exceptions could set a dangerous precedent. “If a team wants to break commitments with players to sign Sasaki, they should do so and face the consequences,” said Ben Badler of Baseball America. He added that MLB should not subsidize teams by creating separate bonus pools for outstanding players.
A faulty system?
Sasaki’s situation highlights broader problems with MLB’s amateur signing system. Players under the age of 25 or with fewer than six professional seasons are subject to bonus pool restrictions, even if they are among the top players in their home country. This rule, designed to level the playing field between MLB teams, may need revision as more elite international talent enters the league.
The path to follow
Whether MLB chooses to exempt Sasaki from the bonus pool or address the issue in the upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement, his arrival highlights the need for flexibility in signing rules. With Sasaki’s decision looming, MLB is under pressure to balance fairness for teams and respect for the unique circumstances of players like Sasaki, whose talent transcends existing classifications.
