Death, taxes, and the Los Angeles Dodgers clinching the free agent bidding war for a highly sought-after superstar are certainties in today’s baseball landscape. This time, they have secured Japanese ace pitcher Rōki Sasaki.
The 23-year-old made his decision to join the Dodgers public through an Instagram announcement, adding his name to a prestigious lineup that already includes Shohei Ohtani (10 years, $700 million), Yoshinobu Yamamoto (10 years, $325 million), Freddie Freeman (six years, $162 million), and Blake Snell (five years, $182 million).
The reigning World Series champions were reportedly among the final three contenders for Sasaki’s services, alongside the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays. However, in a similar fashion to their successful pitch to the Jays regarding Ohtani, the Dodgers emerged victorious in securing Sasaki.
MLB fans, however, are outraged by the Dodgers’ ability to snag yet another top-tier free agent, suggesting they already possess more talent than they require to succeed:
“Baseball is broken. Congrats on MLB for letting the Dodgers ruin baseball!!,” lamented one dissatisfied fan.
Baseball is broken. Congrats on MLB for letting the Dodgers ruin baseball!!
— SportAnding (@SportAnding) January 17, 2025
“Can we just not. The MLB is a joke. I haven’t seen a roster differential this skewed in my entire lifetime. The Dodgers have killed baseball for years to come,” another fan remarked.
Can we just not. The MLB is a joke. Haven’t seen a roster differential this skewed in my entire lifetime.
The Dodgers have killed baseball for years to come. https://t.co/L1SwsgL5im
— Rude Bets (@rudebets_) January 17, 2025
“I’m not shocked at all, but the Los Angeles Dodgers are ruining baseball. It’s not even a joke anymore; I root for literally the worst team in history, while on the opposite end is a super team that spends money they don’t even possess yet,” expressed another fan.
I’m not shocked in the slightest but the Los Angeles Dodgers are ruining baseball.
It’s not even a joke at this point, not only do I root for literally the worst team in history, on the opposite end is a super team who just spends money they don’t even have yet. https://t.co/Wgb1mHPC5w
— Jake (@jakelenertz_) January 17, 2025
“Baseball is legitimately dead. It’s disappointing that the same two or three teams dominate the MLB year after year with little to no variation. I can’t see how this benefits viewership or the growth of the game outside of LA, which is already a huge market. Goodbye baseball as we knew it,” shared a frustrated fan.
Baseball is legitimately dead. Sucks that the same two or three teams dominate the MLB year over year and there is little to no variance. Can’t imagine this helps viewership or growth of the game outside of LA which is already a massive market. Rip baseball as we knew it https://t.co/u8vxzjCmKw
— Erik Andersen (@erikandersennn) January 17, 2025
“Major League Baseball is a joke of a league. It has killed the sport,” commented another follower.
Major League Baseball is a joke of a league. Killed the sport. https://t.co/dwxxll5Hs3
— Eric Terwilliger☘️🦁 (@erictwigs) January 18, 2025
“Baseball is bad. The league is broken. Sorry. I tried to be optimistic. But what’s the point?” questioned another.
Baseball is bad. League is broken. Sorry. I tried to be optimistic. But what’s the point?
— Jordan Heath-Rawlings (@TheGameSheet) January 17, 2025
“If it weren’t for fantasy and betting, I’d have zero interest in MLB this year. Dodgers are ruining baseball,” wrote another user.
If it weren’t for fantasy and betting, I’d have zero interest in MLB this year.
Dodgers are ruining baseball.
— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) January 17, 2025
“@MLB just got significantly less appealing. It’s just pathetic to allow this to continue,” one fan lamented.
The @MLB just got significantly less appealing. Just truly a pathetic joke to allow this to continue. https://t.co/866R24XanU
— John (@Jbones495) January 17, 2025
The Dodgers clinched the 2020 World Series and made it to the NLCS in 2021; now, with the addition of Ohtani, Freeman, Yamamoto, Snell, and Sasaki, they are assembling an unprecedented roster. Without a salary cap in Major League Baseball, they have the opportunity to continually amass elite talent that no other team can rival.
This dynamic is understandably exasperating for fans of other franchises, yet the Dodgers are merely adhering to the existing regulations. If MLB aims to enhance its appeal to wider fanbases, implementing a salary cap framework is imperative.
Rōki Sasaki Joins Dream Dodgers’ Rotation
It is not far-fetched to consider that the Dodgers could soon field the most formidable starting rotation in baseball history. Their lineup now features Ohtani, Yamamoto, All-Star Tyler Glasnow, two-time Cy Young winner Snell, and the newly acquired Sasaki.
In summary, good luck to other MLB teams trying to stand in the way of the Dodgers’ quest for another championship. The rich have become even wealthier.
Image Source: Rōki Sasaki @ Instagram
