Roki Sasaki, Japan’s 23-year-old pitching phenom, has ignited controversy in Major League Baseball by exposing a loophole in the league’s international amateur signing rules. As Sasaki eyes a move to MLB, his classification as an “amateur” under the current system has sparked calls for reform and highlighted the complexities of baseball’s free agency process.
Caught Between “Professional” and “Amateur”
Despite four seasons of professional play with Japan’s Chiba Lotte Marines, Sasaki doesn’t meet MLB’s definition of a foreign professional free agent. Under the MLB-NPB posting system, players need 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 puts Sasaki in the same category as teenage players from Latin America who are traditionally signed through MLB’s international amateur signing period.
A Generational Talent in Limbo
Sasaki’s talent, however, sets him apart. Known for his triple-digit fastball and pinpoint 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 earnings because of MLB’s rigid rules.
Debate Over Rule Changes
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal has proposed exempting Sasaki from the international bonus pool limits to reflect his professional caliber. Such a move would allow teams to offer him a contract befitting 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 off commitments with players to sign Sasaki, they should do that and deal with the ramifications,” said Ben Badler of Baseball America. He added that MLB should not subsidize teams by creating separate bonus pools for exceptional players.
A Broken System?
Sasaki’s situation underscores broader issues with MLB’s amateur signing system. Players under 25 or with fewer than six professional seasons are subject to bonus pool restrictions, even if they are among the best players in their home countries. This rule, designed to level the playing field among MLB teams, may need revisiting as more elite international talent enters the league.
The Path Forward
Whether MLB opts to exempt Sasaki from the bonus pool or address the issue in the next Collective Bargaining Agreement, his arrival highlights the need for flexibility in signing rules. With Sasaki’s decision looming, MLB faces pressure to balance fairness for teams and respect for the unique circumstances of players like Sasaki, whose talent transcends existing classifications.
