Roki Sasaki

[Aaron NYY/Commish]

Our league rules currently mirror MLB's when it comes to international amateurs - anyone who is under 25 and has played fewer than 6 seasons in a "recognized foreign professional league" (KBO, NPB, maybe Serie Nacional) is subject to the International Bonus Pool system, and thus eligible for our draft. However, we are one year behind most fantasy leagues due to our typically early draft date and MLB's moving the start date for the IBP signing period from July 2 to January 15 in 2020-21. This means that international players who were listed on industry "FYPD" lists early in 2024 like Leodalis De Vries (who signed with the Padres in January 2024) are available in our upcoming 2025 draft. I still think this is the right system for our league, even though it puts us on an island relative to other fantasy leagues.

However, Roki Sasaki poses an unusual problem with this rule. Sasaki is 23 and has played 4 seasons in NPB, which means he's subject to the IBP system (as opposed to older players, who are unrestricted free agents), and will receive the standard rookie/arbitration contract from whichever MLB team he signs with. He is expected to wait until the 2025 signing period begins on January 15 to sign, which means by our rules he would not be eligible to be rostered in 2025, and would instead go to our 2026 draft. Sasaki is expected to be in the Major Leagues from day one, and in the 7 years since MLB adopted this rule, Shohei Ohtani is the only other player to fit these criteria.

Our league's stated goal is to emulate MLB as closely as possible, but in this case we have to make a choice: do we emulate MLB's signing rules, or do we add a caveat to our own interpretation of those rules that allows players who are in the Major Leagues to be rostered in their debut season?

Personally, I think the latter is the better option, and so I propose the following rule amendment:
(key change in bold, but I rewrote the whole section)

Section 14.5.a

International Players who sign under MLB's International Bonus Pool system are eligible for the following offseason's draft - a player who signs during the 2025 signing period, which runs from January 15 to December 15, 2025 will not be eligible to be rostered in 2025, but will be available in the 2025-26 offseason draft. An exception is made for any players who have played at the highest level in NPB or KBO, who will be available in our Free Agency in the same year in which they sign with an MLB team, regardless of their age, experience, or inclusion in the International Bonus Pool system. All international signings that are not subject to the International Bonus Pool system (unrestricted Free Agents) will be available in our Free Agency in the same year in which they sign; however if a player retains Minors eligibility (fewer than 130AB/50IP) after their first season under contract with an MLB team, they would be eligible for the following draft.

So what do y'all think? Should Sasaki wait for our 2026 draft, or should he be a Free Agent this year?

[David (Mariners)]

I vote for FA this year.

[Benjamin SDP]

Free Agent this year, for sure

[Rockies-Brad]

I believe Free Agency makes the most sense. I believe it would not be good for the league to have someone that was "untouchable" that could be one of the higher scorers in the league in theory. The only thing I hesitate about this is he would be considered a "minors" contract I believe so we will have an absurd R1/3 contract for like 20M or whatever. And I'm not sure how I feel about that or if there is a better solution to that issue.

[San Francisco Giants]

FA is my vote.

[CLE - Brian F.]

CLE votes for FA this year

[Aaron NYY/Commish]

I believe Free Agency makes the most sense. I believe it would not be good for the league to have someone that was "untouchable" that could be one of the higher scorers in the league in theory. The only thing I hesitate about this is he would be considered a "minors" contract I believe so we will have an absurd R1/3 contract for like 20M or whatever. And I'm not sure how I feel about that or if there is a better solution to that issue.

We have historically treated other FA coming from NPB/KBO as MLB FA, not minors, so I guess I should clarify that in the rule as well.

[Cards Mitch]

i'd vote MLB FA and not minors FA.

[Dodger (Brian)]

I vote for FA this year

[LA Angels]

FA

[Cubs Nick]

MLB FA

[Kevin Atlanta Braves]

Free Agent this year

[DetriotTigersGM]

I vote for FA

[Reds-Bobby]

We vote for FA 2025