Dodgers could miss out on Rōki Sasaki if they sign $136 million Braves All-Star

The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to pursue Japanese phenom Rōki Sasaki. However, if they want to sign him and an elite free-agent starter, they could run into some trouble.

While listing top landing spots for Atlanta Braves starter Max Fried, Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer listed the Dodgers as a potential suitor. However, singing Fried could complicate their pursuit of Sasaki.

"But the next question is where it gets tricky," wrote Rymer. "As a luxury-tax payor, what should spook the Dodgers is the prospect of losing $1 million from their bonus pool for the next international signing period if they go for Fried."

Sasaki is an amateur free agent because he is not 25 years old yet. Teams will only be able to use funds from their international signing bonus pool allotment to get him. When the 2025 window opens on January 15, the Dodgers will have a league-low $5.1 million at their disposal. Losing another $1 million on top of that would be brutal.

"Granted, the Dodgers could hope to sign Fried after they've first secured Sasaki," wrote Rymer. "But that outcome depends on Fried still being available, which is far from a sure thing."

The Dodgers are already interested in Fried among other free-agent starting pitchers, according to MLB Insider Jon Heyman. However, they run the risk of losing out on Sasaki if they want to sign Fried before another team inks him to a deal. Spotrac projects Fried to sign a six-year, $136 million deal in free agency.

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