Roki Sasaki may not be the top pitcher in free agency, but he undoubtedly offers the best value. At just 23 years old, he enters the market with a prospect mindset, ready to sign with the highest bidder. However, there are certain conditions to consider.

Unique Conditions for Roki Sasaki

Unlike Yoshinobu Yamamoto who signed a 12-year, $325 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers last winter, Sasaki is still considered an amateur at 23 and will be signed with international bonus pool money. His deal is likely to cap out at $7.5 million per season. This gives small-market teams an edge as they can boast about their ability to develop pitchers. Teams like the Tigers, White Sox, Twins, and more are preparing their pitches for this NPB star.For Sasaki, this could be a great opportunity as he is still in the early stages of his career and has a lot of room to grow. He is not a finished product yet and can benefit from the development opportunities offered by these teams.

Small-Market Teams and Their Advantage

Small-market teams often struggle to compete with big-market teams in terms of signing big-name players. However, with the availability of international bonus pool money, they have a chance to acquire talented players like Roki Sasaki. Teams like the Tigers, White Sox, and Twins are preparing their pitches to attract Sasaki and showcase their development capabilities.These teams can offer Sasaki a chance to develop his skills and become a star in the future. They can provide him with the resources and support he needs to reach his full potential.

The White Sox's Pitch to Sasaki

The Chicago White Sox, who had a dismal 120-plus loss season, are expected to make a strong pitch to Sasaki. They have the entirety of their bonus pool money to offer him, which could be a significant factor in his decision.David Keller, a special assistant to the general manager Chris Getz, believes that every team is looking for competitive advantages, and acquiring players like Sasaki with their bonus pool money is one of those advantages. The opportunity to acquire a young and talented pitcher like Sasaki at a reasonable price is something that every team will be interested in.However, the White Sox are a long way from competing at the moment. They traded ace Garrett Crochet to the Red Sox at the Winter Meetings. But they do have the financial resources to offer Sasaki a significant contract.If Sasaki is worried about capital, the White Sox can offer him the most and make him the face of the franchise moving forward. This could be a tempting offer for a young pitcher looking to establish himself.For more news and rumors, check out MLB Insider Robert Murray's work on The Baseball Insiders podcast, subscribe to The Moonshot, our weekly MLB newsletter, and join the discord to get the inside scoop between now and the MLB offseason.