Padres Rumors: Roki Sasaki update tips scales in San Diego's favor

Most baseball fans are focused on the upcoming MLB Winter Meetings, but the San Diego Padres' fanbase has been closely monitoring the ever-evolving Roki Sasaki sweepstakes. Since Sasaki's intentions to come stateside were made public last month, speculation has run rampant as to his eventual destination.

While the Padres have been closely linked to Sasaki — thanks in large part to his relationship with fellow countryman Yu Darvish — other clubs are rumored to be in the mix as well. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs have been two of the top suitors, but with Sasaki waiting until the new year to sign, nearly every organization is likely to at least make a run at the Japanese hurler.

Padres Rumors: San Diego in 'strong position' to sign Roki Sasaki

According to MLB insider Francys Romero, several industry sources view the Padres as Sasaki's most likely landing spot. Romero used the words "strong position" to describe the Padres standing, something that's sure to make the Frair faithful very excited.

But don't count your chickens before they're hatched, Pads fans. Though Sasaki will be posted in the coming days, a lot can happen between now and the time the 23-year-old Japanese phenom signs on the dotted line. Unlike other free agent signees from Japan, teams are limited with the amount of money they can offer Sasaki, so being outbid by an organization like the Dodgers is something the Padres won't have to worry with this time around.

Sasaki is said to be seeking a team that has a good track record of developing young players; something San Diego has done well of late. Given the impending absence of Joe Musgrove next season, adding Sasaki to the pitching staff would definitely help address one of the glaring concerns that president of baseball operations AJ Preller no doubt has heading into next week's MLB Winter Meetings.

Stay tuned, Padres fans. Though Sasaki's signing may not come until next month, several more Padres rumors are likely to emerge in the coming weeks that hopefully link the flamethrowing right-hander to the Friars.

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