Padres’ Roki Sasaki workout video is either incredible tease or screaming hint

If Padres fans have learned anything when waiting for the team to make a free agency splash, its to remain cautiously optimistic. First losing out to the Angels and then the Dodgers in the Shohei Ohtani race, then losing to the Dodgers again in the pursuit of Yoshinobo Yamamoto, the Padres have routinely been given the younger brother role in the division. This off-season has been the same story, as Korean international free agent Kim Hye-seong also chose the Dodgers, and like the former two names, did so over the Padres. Now, as the Padres find themselves yet again in the mix for an international superstar, the team is hoping to finally out bid their rivals to the north.

Adding a glimmer of hope to their pursuit of Roki Sasaki, a recent video has emerged that appears to be Sasaki throwing a bullpen in front of General Manager AJ Preller and the Padres pitching staff, all while wearing Padres gear. Although the video is yet to be verified, the sight of Sasaki's unique delivery performed in brown and yellow will surely get Padres fans hearts racing.

Padres still in as list narrows

In what was a busy couple of days for the Sasaki camp, a number of teams have been informed they are out of the race to sign the Japanese star pitcher. The Cubs, Mets, Yankees, and Giants have all been informed that Sasaki will not be joining their teams, while the Padres, Dodgers, and Blue Jays are seen as consensus favorites to land the pitcher. With none of the three teams able to spend more than around $7 million on Sasaki due to his status as an international amateur free agent, the Padres do not need to worry about being outbid by the leagues highest spending team.

With the international free agency period opening on the 15th, the Padres are looking to make their final push in hopes of finally beating out the Dodgers in a free agency battle, a victory that would add not only much needed starting pitching depth, but the mental aspect that the Padres can keep pace with the Dodgers.

Sasaki's agent Joel Wolfe has informed the league that his client will most likely not be making his announcement when the period opens on the 15th, but will instead be waiting until closer to his deadline on January 23rd. Padres fans will have another week of agonizing waiting, but if this video is any indication of his pending decision, then things are looking right for San Diego.