BREAKING: Red Sox Face Stiff Competition as NL Team Moves Ahead for Pitcher

While the Boston Red Sox are focused on the Juan Soto sweepstakes, they still need to strengthen their starting rotation. However, it looks like one of their pitching targets, Japanese ace Roki Sasaki, is slipping away.

Francys Romero, citing sources, reported that the San Diego Padres are in a strong position to sign Sasaki, with Jon Heyman from the New York Post confirming the Padres’ “real shot” at landing the 23-year-old right-hander. The Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers have been considered the front-runners for Sasaki, with little buzz around the Red Sox lately.

Although Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow visited Japan to scout Sasaki, and Jim Bowden had high hopes for him to lead Boston’s rotation, it seems Sasaki, like recent Japanese stars, prefers the West Coast.

Sasaki posted impressive numbers in Nippon Professional Baseball, including a 2.10 ERA and 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has indicated that Sasaki won’t be available until the international signing period opens on January 15. Though the Red Sox still have time, it seems they may shift focus to other top free-agent pitchers.