"We've had numerous conversations about team location, market size, teams' success ... but he doesn't seem overly concerned about whether a team has Japanese players or not," Wolfe said last week on a Zoom call with reporters. "In the past, as I've represented Japanese players, that was sometimes an issue, but it was never a topic of discussion."
Typically, an international free agent may want to join a team that has experience transitioning players into the Major Leagues. However, Sasaki seems to have different priorities.
Los Angeles is one of the most popular MLB teams, which may be overwhelming to the incoming rookie. Meanwhile, the Padres offer a much smaller market size that would allow Sasaki to transition to the new league in a calmer setting.
Wolfe said that Sasaki may prefer a team with a smaller market size to begin his MLB career, giving San Diego the upper hand. But, the Dodgers have a history of making blockbuster moves, and Sasaki has met with multiple other MLB teams in mind.
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