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Tarik Skubal on track for ‘recording-setting contract’ in free agency
USA TODAY Sports MLB columnist and insider Bob Nightengale breaks down the hefty pay day Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal could demand in free agency.
The Detroit Tigers are waiting for what could be the biggest news of the offseason.
It’s Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki.
The Tigers already submitted their materials and presentation in their pursuit of Sasaki, a 23-year-old pitching phenom who was posted Dec. 10 by the Chiba Lotte Marines as an international free agent. But the Tigers don’t expect to hear back from Sasaki’s agent, Joel Wolfe, until after the holidays about a potential in-person meeting, which would take place after the holidays, likely in early January.
“We understand that we are supposed to hear back after the holidays on meetings after the holidays with them,” Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Friday, after signing second baseman Gleyber Torres to a one-year, $15 million contract. “We haven’t heard back yet, but we have submitted all of our materials, and we’re waiting to hear back.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the favorite to sign Sasaki, followed by the San Diego Padres.
The Tigers have a chance for a variety of reasons, but it would be a shock to the entire industry if Sasaki picks the Tigers. For the Tigers to stay in the mix amid an uphill battle, Sasaki needs to request an in-person meeting.
That’s what the Tigers are waiting on.
Sasaki projects to be an ace from the beginning of his MLB career. He owns a 2.02 ERA with 91 walks (5.6% walk rate) and 524 strikeouts (32.4% strikeout rate) across 414⅔ innings in 69 games during his four-year career in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.
Sasaki is an international free agent because of his age and experience, which means he must sign a minor-league contract, which limits how much teams can pay him.
For that reason, Sasaki will cost between $5-7 million in international bonus pool money. The Tigers have a chance to sign Sasaki, along with the other 29 MLB teams, because money won’t be a key factor in his decision.
Sasaki is expected to sign at some point in the final two weeks of January 2025. He wants to sign before pitchers and catchers report to spring training in mid-February.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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