Why the New York Mets Never Stood a Chance in the Roki Sasaki Sweepstakes
The New York Mets, like every other Major League Baseball team, were eager to secure the services of Roki Sasaki, the 23-year-old Japanese pitching sensation. Given his talent, it’s easy to understand why. Sasaki is widely regarded as one of the most gifted young pitchers in the world, and due to MLB’s international free agency rules, he could only sign a minor league contract with a signing bonus. This meant that instead of commanding a massive contract exceeding $300 million—like his compatriot Yoshinobu Yamamoto—Sasaki would be earning the same salary as a typical MLB rookie.
The Steal of the Offseason
For MLB teams, this presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: acquiring a pitcher with Cy Young potential on a bargain minor league deal. Given Sasaki’s elite velocity, devastating splitter, and advanced pitch sequencing, teams knew that signing him would instantly bolster their rotations. In the end, it was the Los Angeles Dodgers who emerged victorious in the bidding war, adding Sasaki to what might be one of the most talented starting rotations in MLB history.
Sasaki Strengthens an Already Stacked Dodgers Rotation
The Dodgers have assembled a rotation that includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Walker Buehler, and Clayton Kershaw (assuming he re-signs or returns healthy). Sasaki, who would be the ace or No. 2 starter for most other teams, is projected to be the fourth or fifth-best pitcher in the Dodgers’ rotation. That speaks volumes about the sheer depth and quality of Los Angeles’ pitching staff.
But what ultimately led Sasaki to choose the Dodgers over the Mets and other contenders? The answer may lie in a factor that has nothing to do with money, team performance, or player development—the weather.
Kodai Senga Reveals Why the Mets Never Had a Chance
Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga, himself a Japanese-born player who transitioned to MLB, provided insight into why Sasaki—and other Japanese players—tend to prefer West Coast teams. Speaking through an interpreter, Senga pointed out:
“Of course, I would love to have some more [Japanese players] on the Mets. But the weather, the climate is nice there. That definitely played a part.”
He then jokingly added:
“We need to build a roof.”
The Weather Factor: Why West Coast Teams Have the Edge
Traditionally, geographical proximity to Japan has been cited as the main reason why Japanese players favor West Coast teams like the Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and Seattle Mariners. The travel distance is shorter, and there’s a stronger cultural presence of Japanese players in those organizations.
However, Senga suggests there’s another factor at play: climate.
New York, like most East Coast cities, experiences chilly temperatures in April and frigid conditions in October, making for a less-than-ideal environment for pitchers. Conversely, Southern California enjoys consistently mild weather throughout the baseball season, providing a comfortable playing experience from start to finish.
Why the Mets’ Lack of a Roof Hurts Their Chances with Japanese Stars
Senga’s comments highlight a major obstacle for the Mets in their pursuit of elite Japanese talent: Citi Field does not have a retractable roof.
In contrast, teams like the Toronto Blue Jays, Miami Marlins, and Tampa Bay Rays all play in stadiums with roofs, shielding them from extreme weather. This might explain why Toronto was a finalist for Sasaki, while the Mets were never seriously in contention.
Despite this apparent disadvantage, Mets owner Steve Cohen does not seem interested in building a roof for Citi Field, even if it could improve the team’s ability to recruit top-tier international talent.
A Silver Lining: The Mets Still Landed Kodai Senga
While the Mets missed out on Sasaki, they were able to land Kodai Senga, a talented right-hander who, despite not arriving with the same level of hype as Sasaki or Yamamoto, had an outstanding debut season in 2023 when healthy.
Looking ahead, the Mets will hope that Senga can replicate his success in 2025, as they gear up to challenge Sasaki, Yamamoto, and the star-studded Dodgers in their quest for postseason glory.
Though the Mets may struggle to attract Japanese players due to weather-related concerns, their commitment to building a winning team remains strong. Whether that will be enough to compete with the Dodgers’ international allure remains to be seen.
Kodai Senga makes it clear there was never a chance Roki Sasaki would sign with Mets
