The big decision is coming soon.

Roki Sasaki will sign after January 15, as the new international market begins. Most believe he will be formally announced by his new team by the 20th of January. His 45-day window to sign in the majors is up around then, and the right-handed pitcher will choose where he pitches for the next several seasons.

The San Diego Padres are viewed as one of two teams likely to sign the pitcher. The other is the defending champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Sasaki is reported to be looking for the best opportunity to develop. He is not necessarily searching for the best team. The all-star pitcher is walking away from hundreds of millions of dollars to enter the international market now. He could have remained in Japan for two more seasons and then cashed in after the 2026 season. At that point, Sasaki would have been free to sign anywhere and would not be subject to the international market rules.

If allowed to explore regular free agency, Sasaki would have made hundreds of millions of dollars. It would not have been out of the question for the hurler to get a deal close to what Yoshinobu Yamamoto received from the Dodgers (12 years- $325 million) last winter. Instead, Sasaki will look to cash in after establishing himself in the major leagues.

It is obvious that money is not important to Sasaki. He truly wants to be one of the best pitchers ever to play the game. The Japanese superstar knows that the money will come in time. His talent will secure that.

Roki Sasaki’s goals go beyond recognition and fame. He is a unique talent.

Here are some reasons why the pitcher may choose the Padres this week as we all wait in anticipation.

An opportunity to anchor a contending staff with Yu

With the Padres, Sasaki would immediately step in and anchor the staff. The Padres have Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish under contract. Michael King and Dylan Cease will be free agents after the 2025 season. Roki Sasaki would anchor the staff moving forward with his mentor. Yu Darvish and Sasaki have a special relationship. In requiring a team to help develop him, the Padres present Yu Darvish and Ruben Niebla. The Padres’ current pitching coach is considered one of the best in the game and is a huge selling factor for the pitcher.

To play on a team with an established offense that is secured long-term

It is important to be on a contending team. The Padres are definitely that, as they played the Dodgers the toughest last year in the playoffs. They were one win away from securing an NLDS win and moving forward. With Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Xander Bogaerts under contract for the next nine years, the Padres are built to win now and sustain it. They also have youth in Tatis and Jackson Merrill. There is a lot to be excited about in San Diego. Sasaki would be the icing on the cake.

San Diego provides less chaos for the pitcher to develop

Staying under the radar and not getting overwhelmed with media seems very important to Sasaki. San Diego is not a tiny city, but the media is quite small compared to New York or Los Angeles. Sasaki clearly wants a team and franchise to protect his privacy. The Padres can provide a competitive team with a market that is much tamer than what he would get up the freeway in L.A. The Padres also would focus a lot of their attention on the young pitcher, while in L.A., he may get lost in the mix.

It’s San Diego. Do I need to say more?

With a decent Japanese population and an excellent climate, the city of San Diego is the major selling point to the pitcher. Widely recognized as one of the most beautiful cities in the nation, Sasaki would get to play in a climate that most dream of playing in. The city provides an excellent backdrop for raising a family, and that is something that is important to the young pitcher. The Padres are poised to win now and play in the best climate in the league. How could this not be a factor?

James Clark

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.