December 31, 2024
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This week we presented the following to our writers:
If you were the Yankees GM, what would be your pitch to Roki Sasaki?
Here are their replies...
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James Vlietstra - Just because he chose to forego 10s of millions of dollars by choosing to come play in America before he turns 23 doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about money. I would work with their corporate partners about having him be heavily promoted in the biggest market in the country.
Beyond that, and the obvious reason that they are perennially a playoff contender, the Yankees have a history of employing some of the greatest Japanese players of all time. Utilize them to discuss legacy and greatness and how it translates and reverberates around the world. Hideki Matsui, Hiroki Kuroda, Masahiro Tanaka and Hall Of Famer Ichiro Suzuki would be an impressive contingent of Yankees ambassadors.
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Ed Botti - My pitch to him would be simple. Blaze your own trail and don’t be Ohtani and Yamamoto’s side kick.
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Paul Semendinger - My pitch would be the following:
You'd be a member of the Yankees. We are 100% committed to getting back to, and winning, the World Series. One only need to see the plethora of great moves we've made to see that this is true.
The Yankees had a tradition of great Japanese stars playing for them including Hideki Matsui, Masahiro Tanaka, Ichiro Suzuki, and Hiroki Kuroda. We want to bring that tradition back and it will all begin with you.
We will incorporate a 6-man rotation which will prolong your career and allow the transition to USA baseball to be seamless.
With you, we'd have, by far, the greatest rotation in all of baseball.
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Ethan Semendinger - So far, it seems like everything out there about Roki Sasaki is that he wants to be his own player. And, if that is true, I think it could rule out teams like the Dodgers, Mets, and Cubs- given how they all have great Japanese players like Ohtani, Yamamoto, Senga, and Imanaga.
Thus, the Yankees have a pretty easy pitch: we're the biggest market, with the best built team, where you can make your own image.
Add in everything else being mentioned, and it seems like the Yankees could be a great fit. Now, let's just hope it happens!
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Tim Kabel - I would make a three pronged presentation to Roki Sasaki. I would explain that if he comes to New York and is successful, he will have tremendous potential for endorsements and to be a major star. Next, I would explain to him that he could be the missing piece to put the Yankees over the top, which would make him beloved in New York City and a major star in the sport. Lastly, I understand that he wants to improve as a pitcher and wants to grow professionally. I would push the Yankee success rate with other pitchers and explain how and what Matt Blake could do to bring Sasaki to the next level.
Endorsement potential and the New York stage. At the same time, he can acclimatize to New York without having to be the No. 1 or No. 2 starter. The Yankees will always be contenders (as will be the Dodgers, to be fair). Finally, our pitching coaching is on the cutting edge; come here, and we can help take you to the next level.
Ed and Ethan are thinking along the same line as me - Does he want to be his own man and become a leader, or just he just want to be a follower who just wants to play? From everything I've read about him from former teammates and others who have been around him, to me, this is what you build your pitch to him around. Now, how do you deal with the prospect of him playing with his boyhood idol in Yu Darvish?
we have great pitching coaches who not only will welcome you and ease the transition, but also will work with you to continue the development of your knowledge and skill
and we will win