Shohei Ohtani could actually help Padres (and hurt Dodgers) in Roki Sasaki pursuit

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been touted as the overwhelming favorite to sign Roki Sasaki this offseason. There's certainly merit to that argument. LA has been a prime destination for a plethora of Japanese-born players in the past including Hideo Nomo, Kenta Maeda, and most recently Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Of course, the most popular Japanese-born player of this era, and arguably of all time, is also part of the Dodgers organization. Shohei Ohtani is the biggest name in the game today, and the fact that LA is coming off a World Series win can't hurt the Dodgers' chances of landing one of the premier young, foreign-born talents to come about in recent years.

But is it possible that Ohtani's presence on the Dodgers actually hurts Los Angeles' chances of securing Sasaki's services? Jim Bowden of The Athletic certainly makes a powerful case as to why that's actually true.

Shohei Ohtani could actually help Padres (and hurt Dodgers) in Roki Sasaki pursuit

According to Bowden, Sasaki won't be signing until after Jan. 15. With teams having to use their international bonus pool in order to sign the 23-year-old hurler, waiting until mid-January will essentially allow every MLB club to put forth their best offer.

Bowden, a former GM for the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, also cites Sasaki's arbitration window and eventual free agency. The right-hander won't receive a raise until at least 2028, but overseas endorsement deals could help Sasaki cash in off the field while waiting for his big payday.

So how does Ohtani factor into this equation? The prevailing thought is that Ohtani's presence on the Dodgers makes him the most marketable player by far. Throw in fellow countryman Yamamoto, and Sasaki could be third in the pecking order when it comes to endorsement deals if the flamethrower signs with the Dodgers.

Now, if Sasaki (hopefully) signs with the Padres, the world is his oyster. What better way to combat Ohtani's endorsements than by spurning the Dodgers in favor of their arch rival. Storylines often succeed when there's a hero and a villain, and this could be a potential selling point for San Diego.

Sasaki's close relationship with Yu Darvish and the Padres' minor league development team also help, but while the young pitcher is looking to maximize his value, perhaps he could best do that a little farther south than Los Angeles.

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