The Cubs have made themselves desirable to Japanese players, and their infrastructure might make a logical fit for Sasaki.

Unlike other high profile Japanese players, Sasaki will take less money by signing a minor league contract at age 23, betting on himself in hopes of a huge payday later.

It’s been widely assumed that whenever the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s NPB post Roki Sasaki so he can come to MLB next year, he’ll sign with the Dodgers. Or if not, perhaps the Padres. This posting isn’t likely to happen for a few weeks,

Japanese superstars have been a driving force in MLB free agency in recent years, most notably when Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto joined the Dodgers last winter, whose combined contracts totaled north of $1 billion.