11/14/24

Mack - Thursday Morning Observations - Adames, Sasaki

 

 

MACK – Thursday Morning Observations –  Adames, Sasaki

 

I was one of the first pundits to float the idea of Willy Adames joining the Mets to play third base. Then this has happened…

            Mike Rodriguez                 @mikedeportes

According to my sources, the Mets have made an offer of over $160 million for a period of 7 years to Willy Adames. Their intention is for him to play third base; however, Adames is not convinced, as he prefers to continue in the shortstop position. He has not made a decision

 

            Mark C. Healey                  @MarkCHealey

For the love of all that is holy, there is no Mets offer to Willy Adames.

None. Zero truth, and I’m already seeing multiple content creators regurgitating the original BS source.

 

Then…

 

            Mike Mayer            @mikemayer22

Sources: The Mets have reached out to show early interest in free agent Willy Adames.

Adames is believed to be open to switching from shortstop, and obviously, he would have to do that with the Mets.

 

Mack – I have no idea where this is heading, if anywhere. What I wanted to point out is the almost insane energy wasted on X to prove to people that aren’t paying you a penny that you are right. I used to participate in this charade, but backed off once one of my primary sources fed me fake news. I took all the head, lost many of my readers, and most of my reputation over that one. Wasn’t worth it so I went back to the safety of my site.

            Buyer beware on bullshit like one of these guys is.

 

 Marines to allow fireballer Roki Sasaki to move to MLB via posting system

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2024/11/09/baseball/japanese-baseball/marines-to-post-sasaki/

The Chiba Lotte Marines announced on Saturday that they will allow pitcher Roki Sasaki to move to MLB this winter via the posting system.

“Since I joined the team, the club has continuously listened to me about my future MLB challenge,” Sasaki said in a statement released by the Marines. “I have nothing but gratitude for the team for officially allowing me to be posted at this time.”

The 23-year-old right-hander, dubbed “The Monster of the Reiwa Era,” is viewed as one the best young pitchers in the world.

Sasaki's fastball has been clocked at 163 kph (101 mph), and he has a devastating splitter. He was on the MLB radar as a high schooler at Ofunato High School in Iwate Prefecture before being drafted by the Marines in 2019.

Sasaki threw the 16th perfect game in NPB history on April 10, 2022, setting an NPB record with 13 consecutive strikeouts and tying the NPB mark with 19 overall against the Orix Buffaloes.

Sasaki was 10-5 with a 2.35 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 111 innings in 2024, posting the first 10-win season of his career. He pitched in Lotte's playoff opener, striking out nine over eight scoreless innings against the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.

 

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/42280725/chiba-lotte-marines-post-japanese-star-roki-sasaki-mlb -

Sasaki, nicknamed "The Monster of the Reiwa Era," throws a fastball that regularly reaches triple digits and complements it with a frontline split-fingered fastball and a slider.

 

Mark Bartlett                     @mark_a_bartlett

It is noted that Roki Sasaki would fall under the 2024 bonus pool. The Dodgers have the largest remaining international signing bonus pool left at $2.5 million, meaning they could make the largest offer to him.

 

JJ Cooper                  @jjcoop36

Any team that wins the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes is getting a massive bargain, as he will be signing for a small fraction of his value in an open market.

But what if I told you they could also get an added first round draft pick as an additional bonus.

 

Christopher Soto               @SotoC803

I DID NOT even remotely think about this possibility.

In the event that Sasaki comes to the US and gets ranked in qualifying Top 100 lists....

He could indeed net a team a PPI pick which could in theory be worth MORE $$$ than the signing bonus a team pays out.

WILD! 

Mack – This comes as a surprise because Chiba Lotte would benefit financially if they held up releasing him for now. Lost is the large posting moolah the team would have hauled in if they waited.

It doesn’t take a brain to offer this kid a big signing bonus, but it does take a team that still has enough money left in their 2025 pool to do it. And the Mets have verbally committed the lion share of their pool to SS Elian Pena.

(Scouting grades: Hit: 65 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 60 | Overall: 60

Azua, Dominican Republic, located nearly 100 miles from the capital of the nation, Santo Domingo, has become a pipeline of talented players able to ply their craft against the best. While the city has recently churned out hitters such as Yainer Diaz, Maikel Franco and Esteury Ruiz, early expectations are that Pena could be the best of the group. Evaluators rave about his off-the-field makeup and in-game savvy, believing he has legitimate five-tool impact potential across the board. He trains in Santo Domingo East with Javier Rodríguez at La Alianza, a member of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program.)

Shame. Would have loved to have him pitching next season in either Binghamton or Syracuse.

10 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

I hope eLIAN Pena EXCEEDS our expectations. The next Lindor, nothing less. If we have no money, we have no Sasaki, nor sake', for that matter.

Mack Ade said...

5 million to a 16 year old is insane.

Next they will make a guy that was serving coffee to voters in a Vermont dine the head of the DOD

TexasGusCC said...

I keep feeling that:
1. I would pull my offer on Elian if Sasaki wants to sign with me. You want a 16 year old project or a 23 year old sure thing?
2. Sasaki isn’t about the money. His advertising dollars in NYC would make up for any money he lost.
3. Sasaki will go straight to the majors; no Syracuse or Binghamton. You don’t insult a kid like that who sacrifices like he did for the bushes.

Not in love with Adames, or going seven years for him. Leave Vientos at 3B and sign a stop gap first baseman. Let Vientos sink or swim through his work ethic and benefit from it.

Gary Seagren said...

I think we all know he's a dam Dodger already.

Mack Ade said...

Not really

Steve could arrange for sponsorship deals for all Queens restaurants serving red curry

Tom Brennan said...

The competition for elite talent between the Yanks, Mets, and Dodgers will be fierce, Japan needs to keep pumping them out - the Dodgers cannot take all of them....can they?

Mack Ade said...

Only if new players would agree to a structured deal like Ohtani agreed to

Gary Seagren said...

The Dodgers have perfected the system and with a Championship already in their pocket and a much shorter flight to Japan it's in the bag. Isn't he already staying at Ohtani's?

Paul Articulates said...

Adames and Winker are oil and water. Thanks for the nice season Jesse. Sasaki will stun everyone by passing on Dodgers and Mets to sign with the Giants.

Mack Ade said...

Jett hurt