Offishial News: Could Marlins make a play for Japanese star Roki Sasaki?

Ely Sussman · November 9, 2024

Today's news roundup also includes personal news about Jake Burger as well as confirmation about his 2025 contract status.

On Friday, OF Kemp Alderman and OF Andrew Pintar were named National League Fall Stars. The Fall Star Game is being held tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET, airing on MLB Network and MLB.com. Pintar is expected to appear in the game, but not Alderman.

In the Dominican Winter League, Deyvison De Los Santos went 1-for-4 and played third base again. Troy Johnston went 0-for-5.

Here's more Marlins news and content as the wait for a managerial hire continues:

🔷 Fish On First is now actively posting on Bluesky! If you use it yourself, please give us a follow as we branch out to yet another social media network.

🔷 In renegotiating their local television deal with FanDuel Sports Network Florida, the Marlins "did not need to accept a large rights fee reduction," per the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson. For context, the Cardinals are getting roughly 25% less from FDSN Midwest than they were originally guaranteed.

🔷 I took a closer look at the Marlins' decision to select RHP Luarbert Arias to their 40-man roster. He has Andrew Nardi-like potential.

🔷 This offseason's cut-off for Super Two arbitration eligibility has been set at two years and 132 days. Tough break for Jake Burger (2.127), who fell five days short of that. Instead of getting a pay raise of a couple million dollars, he will earn a tick above the league minimum's salary in 2025 and become first-time arb-eligible in 2026. Without any financial incentive to trade him, Burger is highly likely to open next season with the Fish.

🔷 Congrats to Jake and his wife Ashlyn on the birth of their second child, Penelope Pearl. She has been diagnosed with Down syndrome. "The love and support we felt from our family and from those (in) the community with children that have special needs has been mind-blowing and has allowed us to feel a sense of purpose," the Burgers told People. "We know our journey is just beginning with our sweet Penelope but knowing the love and support around us makes that easier."

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🔷 Dylan White of Baseball America reveals which minor league pitchers ranked highest in BA's Stuff+ model this season, sorted by age:

Among 18-year-olds, LHP Keyner Benitez (95 STF+) ranked 10th.
Among 19-year-olds, RHP Eliazar Dishmey (112 STF+), LHP Thomas White (109 STF+) and RHP Noble Meyer (108 STF+) ranked second, fourth and sixth, respectively.
Among 20-year-olds, RHP Karson Milbrandt (108 STF+) ranked 10th.
Among 21-year-olds, RHP Xavier Meachem (111 STF+) ranked eighth.
Among 22-year-olds, RHP Josh Ekness (119 STF+) ranked second.

🔷 The Chiba Lotte Marines announced they will begin the process of posting RHP Roki Sasaki. Sasaki, who just turned 23, has a career 2.10 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 32.7 K% in four NPB seasons, and he throws gas. On talent alone, Sasaki's market value would be comparable to Yoshinobu Yamamoto's, who signed with the Dodgers for $325M last winter, but due to his age, MLB considers Sasaki an international amateur free agent. That means his signing bonus is capped at whatever teams have available in their international bonus pools. Presumably, Chiba Lotte will wait so that Sasaki's signing takes place on January 15 or later when the 2025 IFA period begins and teams' bonus pools are replenished. The Marlins will have a bonus pool of $7,555,500, the vast majority of which has already been unofficially committed to Latin American players. Throughout the past year, the industry's assumption has been that the Dodgers are favorites to land Sasaki, but the restrictions on his contract value level the playing field.

🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, Estrellas Orientales and Navegantes del Magallanes won their games on the first day of the Choque de Gigantes tournament at loanDepot park. Follow Fish On First's Kevin Barral for on-site coverage of the rest of the tournament. The Phillies promoted Preston Mattingly—yes, Don's son—from assistant general manager to GM. Zach Neto (Angels) underwent shoulder surgery that may impact his availability for Opening Day.

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