At this point, the list of MLB teams with a real tangible chance of landing top international star Roki Sasaki is very short.
Multiple teams were reportedly eliminated from the race on Monday, and only three or four teams remain in the sweepstakes.
The Cleveland Guardians are, most likely, not one of those organizations.
The team appears set on their plan of using their allocated international slot money on their previous commitments.
So far, the Guards have nearly $5 million committed to about 26 players.
They still might have some additional room, though.
According to reporters and insiders, finalists for Sasaki have told their commitments to find other teams or try to wait until next year, but reality indicates that, at least in the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres’ cases, many talented prospects will become available.
Can Cleveland lure some of those away?
“The Cleveland #Guardians currently have almost $5MM dollars committed to 26 players for Wednesday’s international signing day. They have just a shade over $2MM left to spend of the $6,908,600 that was allocated to them. It will be interesting if the Guardians try to sign another player with the money left that might de-commit from a team that is withholding their money hoping to sign Roki Sasaki,” Guardians Prospective posted on X.
The Cleveland #Guardians currently have almost $5MM dollars committed to 26 players for Wednesday's international signing day. They have just a shade over $2MM left to spend of the $6,908,600 that was allocated to them.
It will be interesting if the Guardians try to sign another…
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) January 13, 2025
As a reminder, the new period to sign international free agents opens on January 15, and Sasaki is expected to decide between now and January 20.
The Dodgers, for example, have already lost shortstop Darrell Morel to the Pittsburgh Pirates, in a deal worth $1.8 million.
It won’t be the last one: you can be sure about that.
The Guardians will not be getting Sasaki, but they might have a chance to bring in additional talented young players who might re-enter the pool in the upcoming days.
NEXT: Guardians Payroll Situation Suggests They Have Room To Spend
