“We all know there’s no other option than the Dodgers.”

In an unexpected way, rumors of a major league transfer have been rekindled once again with Lotte’s Roki Sasaki, who made his first appearance of the season in the game against Nippon Ham on March 31st.

“He pitched five innings that day, giving up six hits, but striking out seven and giving up one run. His top pitch speed was only 159 km/h, but it was a decent debut. His winning shot, the fork, also had good drop, and although he didn’t get a win, I think it was a good start.” (Sports newspaper desk)

Scouts from eight major league teams, including the Dodgers and Yankees, were in the stands to check out his pitching, but what caught my attention was a report from the United States the following day.

“A well-known reporter from USA Today published an article on the 31st (1st Japan time) stating that ‘GMs of several teams are aware that Roki Sasaki will sign with the Dodgers at the end of the season.'” (Desk, above)

The article even quoted an executive at a major league team as saying, “Every team wants to acquire him, but everyone knows the Dodgers are the only option.”

Was it just a coincidence that an article mentioning him as if he had already been accepted into the Dodgers team was published the day after his first appearance?

One major league insider spoke bitterly:

“It seems like they’re using the media to manipulate public opinion. If they want to convey that ‘it’s already decided that he’s with the Dodgers, so there’s no hope for other teams’ or ‘it’s pointless to join the bidding war,’ then their source of information may be someone connected to the Dodgers.”

A Japanese baseball team official also said the following.

“It seems like a clearly deliberate report. When nothing has been officially decided yet, reports like this make it seem like things are proceeding as a fait accompli overseas.

Of course, negotiating directly with Sasaki himself would be tampering (breaking the agreement), so that’s unlikely, but when it comes to “those around Sasaki,” there are some disturbing rumors circulating.”