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The Toronto Blue Jays' meeting with Japanese pitcher Rōki Sasaki included Bo Bichette, outfielder Daulton Varsho and reliever Chad Green, according to Sportsnet's. Ben Nicholson-Smith.
Three Blue Jays players flew to Toronto to help in the organization's bid to sign Sasaki, which was unsuccessful when he opted for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Nicholson-Smith added that just getting a meeting with Sasaki underscored Toronto's long-term strategy to improve its network in Japan.
“But thanks in large part to the dedicated work of Pacific Rim coordinator Hideaki Sato, the Blue Jays were interested in Sasaki,” he said. “This effort was continued by longtime front office managers Andrew Tinnish and Ryan Mittleman as well as Frank Herrmann, a former MLB pitcher who played with Sasaki in Japan before joining the Blue Jays as a marketing specialist. This was a job that took years of steady work. .
Source report The Athletic he detailed Sasaki's strikeout and noted how the Blue Jays' lead until the final inning “surprised the leaders throughout the game.”
“While Sasaki's marketing may be high across Canada, the Blue Jays are not viewed as a team that thrives on development,” the report read. “Toronto's front office is on the hot seat and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could be a free agent after this season, adding to the volatility.
As comforting as the Blue Jays may be in reaching that milestone, failing to sign Sasaki has a symbolic and real cost for Toronto.
At some point, chasing after superstars is pointless when you can't seal the deal. People who are interested in you lose heart and people outside of your market will just take what you want to do for free.
Jenn Smith @Baseball_Jenn
I honestly don't want to hear about it #BlueJays participate in negotiations or be “on” anyone unless an actual contract is signed. It is clear that it has become a joke for the national media and, frankly, that is enough.
The Blue Jays will also have Myles Straw merchandise as a permanent reminder of the Sasaki sweepstakes. Toronto found Grass from the Cleveland Guardian to earn $ 2 million in international bonus money, which was made for the Japanese ace.
General manager Ross Atkins canceled the deal without any guarantees from Sasaki's agent, so now the Jays have $12 million in salary cap space for Straw, 30 years old with a career .308 slugging percentage.
Mike Wilner cha Toronto Star called Straw's sales “extraordinary” and “an incendiary case.” He also criticized the message it sends when Toronto wants to take $12 million in hopes of landing Sasaki while the same front office played hardball with All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. totaled $1.85 million.
Often times, it's surprising how aggressively the Blue Jays treat outfield talent it doesn't last to their home stars.
As much as Toronto can feel about the progress it's making in attracting international stars north of the border, Sasaki's signing with the Dodgers showed how much work still lies ahead.
