Phillies need to be all-in on Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki

After a disappointing end to the 2024 season in the NLDS, the Philadelphia Phillies cannot simply just "run it back." Changes need to be made in all aspects, especially the pitching side of things.

Players like Taijuan Walker, posting a 3-7 record and a 7.10 ERA cannot cut it for this organization anymore. Getting Juan Soto is a whole other story, but a good place to start for improving the rotation is outside of the country.

We have seen the addition of the ultimate baseball cyborg himself, Shohei Ohtani, years ago to MLB, and now people are saying he is better than Babe Ruth and has just recently won a ring with a 50/50 (and then some) season. We have seen Yoshinobu Yamamoto with the Dodgers win a ring as well on a season with a 7-2 record and an ERA of just 3.00.

We have also seen Shota Imanaga added into the fold for the Chicago Cubs, and while they did not see any postseason success, the pitcher had a near Cy Young performance in his first year, posting a 15-3 record, an ERA under 3.00 and in the top 10 in the league in WHIP.

Phillies need to be all-in on Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki

Now, a new name from Japan has emerged and will be posted to MLB this upcoming season. And if any team needs help from Roki Sasaki, it is the Philadelphia Phillies. No need for any team-ups in Los Angeles or Chicago.

Per Nikkan Sports, the Phillies have, "assigned scouts exclusively to Japan and top-class personnel in the organization have repeatedly checked out Yomiuri Giants pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano and Chiba Lotte pitcher Roki Sasaki."

Sasaki is a pitching fan's dream, as if we do not already have Andrew Painter getting ready in the minor leagues. At 23 years old, Sasaki has a 100 mph heater, a splitter and a slider that is improving by the day. His lifetime ERA in the Nippon Professional Baseball league is only 2.02, with 524 strikeouts and only 91 walks.

The young pitcher also has a perfect game under his belt and 13 strikeouts in a row in another game. Just imagine that in red and white pinstripes, mowing down division rivals like it is nothing. But just like with the aces we already have in Zach Wheeler and Aaron Nola, the bats need to satisfy the elite pitching.

Once officially posted, all of the teams will have 45 days to negotiate a deal with Sasaki, per Thomas Harrigan of MLB.com. If a deal is reached, the MLB club will have him for six years of "service time" before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. If no deal is reached, Sasaki returns back to the NPB to continue his dominating ways.

But seeing the Japanese talent produced and already flourishing in the majors, it is hard to see a prospect like Sasaki go by. The Phillies need to use their big payroll that managing partner John Middleton claims they have to set themselves up on the mound for years to come.

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