LOS ANGELES — He’s a luxury car being sold for the price of an economy vehicle.

A designer suit found on a discount rack.

He’s the one player that every team in the league has their eyes on.

Most crucially, he’s the only standout player that all teams can realistically afford.

Meet Rōki Sasaki, a 23-year-old pitcher hailing from Japan.

He’s the best value player to enter the market since Shohei Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Angels.

While Sasaki isn’t a hitter like Ohtani, his pitching skills are remarkable.

If you ask general managers, scouts, and player personnel directors, they would unanimously agree that Sasaki possesses unmatched talent as a pitcher globally.

What makes Sasaki even more appealing?

He is being made available by the Chiba Lotte Marines before turning 25, leading him to sacrifice potential hundreds of millions, allowing teams to pursue him.

Sasaki will be classified as an international amateur player, which restricts his signing bonus to a pool of around $7 million. Regardless of his bonus, he’ll face a three-year wait for salary arbitration and a six-year wait for free agency, granting his team control until at least 2030.

In contrast, high-profile players like Juan Soto are on the hunt for a staggering $700 million, while Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes is eyeing over $200 million, Sasaki’s signing will only cost teams what they might pay for an untested high school or college player during the draft. His total cost shouldn’t exceed $7.5 million if he postpones signing until after the 2025 international pool opens on January 15.

Such a deal has not been seen since 2017 when the Angels secured Ohtani for just $2.315 million at the age of 23. His first-year salary was $445,000, ramping up to $650,000 in the second year, $700,000 in the third, and then $8.5 million for the following two, before earning $30 million in his last year before hitting free agency.

The Angels struck gold, landing the best two-way player since Babe Ruth, boosting ticket sales, sponsorships, and revenues that covered his salary many times over.

When Ohtani entered free agency last winter, the Los Angeles Dodgers quickly agreed to a 10-year, $700 million deal, with a significant portion deferred, reducing the present-day value to around $460 million, per MLB evaluations.

Following Ohtani’s signing, teams rushed to bid for 25-year-old Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, with the Dodgers successfully signing him to a 12-year, $325 million contract, outbidding at least six other clubs.

This time, the financial commitment required is minimal, with all teams scrambling to put together their best pitches to persuade Sasaki to sign with them.

The Dodgers, who are adored by fans in Japan and currently have the largest international bonus pool at $2.5 million, are considered the favorites. Rumors emerged about a potential deal with Sasaki almost a year ago, but both the Dodgers and Sasaki’s agent, Joel Wolfe, have denied any such agreement.

No final decision has been reached, and if teams truly believed a deal was sealed, nearly every team wouldn’t have sent representatives to Japan this past summer to scout him, with the New York Yankees and New York Mets prioritizing him as well.

If Sasaki’s signing was a certainty, then why did Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and vice president of player personnel Galen Carr find it necessary to visit Japan again early in the postseason?

Several teams remain hopeful, particularly the San Diego Padres. Notably, Sasaki’s mentor is Yu Darvish of the Padres, who is known for guiding Japanese players in their transition to the U.S. Darvish will likely remind Sasaki of the Padres’ competitiveness against the Dodgers during their World Series run and the opportunity to make history as the first Padres team to clinch a championship.

“He commands immense respect among Japanese players,” remarked Jed Hoyer, president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs, regarding Darvish last summer. “When he speaks of his experiences as a pitcher in Japan and his successful adjustment here, he leaves a significant impression. He is dedicated to mentoring newcomers, which is admirable.”

Sasaki is unlikely to reveal his intentions soon, and the precise posting timeline remains uncertain, which will commence a 45-day window for him to sign.

The only statement he’s made was relayed through the Chiba Lotte Marines on X: “I am truly thankful to the team for giving me the green light to share my thoughts,” Sasaki expressed. “My five-year journey with the Marines had its challenges, but I managed to reach this stage by focusing entirely on baseball, aided by the encouragement of my teammates, coaching staff, front office, and fans. I am committed to progressing from my minor league contract to become the best player globally, ensuring I have no regrets in my singular baseball career and meeting the expectations of all those who have supported me.”

Let the recruitment process kick off for the young athlete who, alongside Ohtani and Yamamoto, played a key role in leading Japan to victory against the U.S. in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

“This is certainly a significant loss for the team,” remarked Chiba Lotte manager Masato Yoshii on X. “Having played in the United States myself, I comprehend his feelings and his ambition to embrace this challenge at a young age.”

“Honestly, he has a lot to learn, but I believe he can develop his skills and elevate his game in America. The first time I saw him pitch, he was the most impressive prospect since I first witnessed Hideo Nomo. I want him to showcase his talent over there.”

Sasaki stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs 187 pounds, earning the nickname “The Monster of the Reiwa Era.” He recently dealt with injuries, including a strained oblique and shoulder fatigue, causing him to pitch only 110 innings last season, with a record of 10-5 and an outstanding 2.35 ERA, while striking out 129 batters. His fastball reaches speeds of 102 mph, complemented by a lethal split-finger pitch and a powerful slider.

Throughout his career in Japan, he has not exceeded 129⅓ innings in any season but has been a dominant force when healthy, boasting a career ERA of 2.10 and an impressive total of 505 strikeouts across 64 games, covering 394⅔ innings.

He gained international recognition in Japan during the national high school baseball tournament five years ago, where he pitched a phenomenal 12-inning complete game with 194 pitches, achieving 21 strikeouts. In 2022, he threw a perfect game, striking out 19 opponents, and came close again with another perfect game through eight innings in his subsequent start before being replaced.

“He’s an extraordinary talent,” stated David Stearns, the president of baseball operations for the New York Mets, at the GM meetings. “At just 23, he can throw at 100 [mph] and possesses a wicked splitter.”

The recruiting efforts are now ready to commence, with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts being questioned during their postseason whether the Dodgers might have an edge due to their brand’s popularity in Japan.

“I believe so,” Roberts responded, “definitely.”

So, let the recruitment discussions officially begin.