You can’t hit a home run from the dugout. The Padres were right to pursue Roki Sasaki, even though, by the time the Japanese pitching ace chose Friday to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, much of their offseason had come and gone to little effect.

According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, Will Samon and Dennis Lin, the Padres informed Sasaki’s representatives that they were willing to offer him just over $10 million as a signing bonus. It would’ve required multiple trades and used up the entirety of their international bonus pool money, but the club was willing to do it to land Sasaki.

The race to sign Rōki Sasaki appears to be down to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays. Per MLB insider Francys Romero, the San Diego Padres are

In San Diego, news that one-man Powerball ticket Roki Sasaki has decided to join the Los Angeles Dodgers was more than a gut punch. It was a steel-toed boot to the shin, a Clydesdale stomp to the foot,

Following the Los Angeles Dodgers’ successful acquisition of Roki Sasaki last weekend, a former MLB executive has hinted that New York franchises may advocate for an investigation into the deal. The anticipation is over.

Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, the hottest international free agent in baseball, is headed to the Los Angeles Dodgers, he announced on social media Friday. The 23-year-old right-hander said he signed a minor-league deal.

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed star pitcher Roki Sasaki and, after that blockbuster, the team may look to trade a former All-Star.