Japanese ace Roki Sasaki to become available to MLB teams this offseason

Japanese ace Roki Sasaki will be available to Major League Baseball teams this offseason.

Chiba Lotte Marines announced Saturday y have chosen to start process of moving pitcher to a big league club in North America via posting system.

right-hander, who turned 23 this month, is expected to become one of most sought-after pitchers on open market. He went 10-5 with a 2.35 ERA in 18 games this year, striking out 129 hitters in 111 innings.

Because he is younger than 25, Sasaki will be classified as an international amateur free agent subject to international bonus pool limits, according to MLB rules. That means his first contract would be a minor league deal no larger than seven figures.

Marines will receive a percentage fee for posting him, with amount determined by size of his contract.

It's unclear yet when Sasaki will officially be posted, starting 45-day clock for him to sign with a major league club.

Sasaki helped Japan win 2023 World Baseball Classic. His fastball has been clocked at 102.5 mph, and he h a 29-15 career record with a 2.10 ERA over four injury-shortened seasons with Marines. He pitched a perfect game against Orix Buffaloes in April 2022.

“Since I joined team, team has been listening to my thoughts about my future MLB challenge, and I am very grateful to team for officially allowing me to post," Sasaki said in a statement posted by Marines on X, social media site formerly known as Twitter.

"re were many things that did not go well during my five years with Marines, but I was able to get to this point by concentrating only on baseball, with support of my teammates, staff, front office, and fans. I will do my best to work my way up from my minor contract to become best player in world, so that I will have no regrets in my one and only baseball career and live up to expectations of everyone who has supported me this time.”