Inside The Cardinals

Cardinals Most Hated Rival Remains Top Landing Spot For International Sensation

St. Louis could have a tough time navigating the National League Central in 2025

Nate Hagerty

Mar 20, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Japan starting pitcher Roki Sasaki (14) delivers a pitch during the first inning against Mexico at LoanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Mar 20, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Japan starting pitcher Roki Sasaki (14) delivers a pitch during the first inning against Mexico at LoanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
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The St. Louis Cardinals could have a difficult journey ahead as they look to compete for the National League Central without several prominent veterans.

Former Cardinals fan favorite Paul Goldschmidt has signed a one-year deal with the New York Yankees and 10-time Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado is on the trade block.

Unfortunately, things could get even more difficult for the Cardinals as their most hated rival looks to boost its pitching staff by signing a Japanese sensation this winter.

"Teams that are still in on Roki Sasaski: (Los Angeles) Dodgers, (San Diego) Padres, (Chicago) Cubs, (New York) Yankees (NY) Mets (Texas) Rangers, maybe (San Francisco) Giants, not the (CHI) White Sox, others could be added to list," The Athletic's Jim Bowden reported Wednesday afternoon.

The Cubs already have a strong rotation with left-handed pitchers Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, Matthew Boyd and right-handed pitcher Jameson Taillon. Adding Sasaki to the mix would surely provide Chicago with the most robust arsenal in the NL Central.

Sasaki has logged a 28-15 record with a 2.12 ERA, 495-to-88 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 0.90 WHIP throughout his four-year career with Nippon Professional Baseball's Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan.

Fortunately for the Cubs, Sasaki is limited to international pool money restrictions, so smaller market clubs will have a better chance at signing him this winter.

Considering the Cubs already have Japan-born Imanaga at the front of the rotation, it wouldn't be crazy to say there's a high chance Sasaki signs with the Windy City.

Could the rebuilding Cardinals be forced to face Sasaki multiple times next year as they battle with the NL Central-rival Cubs, their most bitter foe?

More MLB: Could Cardinals-Mariners Blockbuster Be Next After Josh Rojas Signs With White Sox?

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Nate Hagerty
NATE HAGERTY

Nate Hagerty joined “Inside The Cardinals” as a content creator to spread knowledge about his favorite childhood team. A hometown native of Boston, Hagerty chose at an early age of six years old to follow the St. Louis Cardinals. The miraculous season of 04’ for the Red Sox did not deter Hagerty from rooting against his hometown team, nor did it in 2013 against the Red Birds. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu 

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