Legal conflicts do not inherently create a barrier for the emergence of Sasakimania in San Diego.
Team executives are confident that there are multiple players eager to take charge of the Padres, as the Padres scouted Japan’s star pitcher Roki Sasaki in preparation for a potential decision arriving as soon as Wednesday. I am certain he has spoken with Sasaki’s franchise regarding the shareholder legal battle that became public knowledge last week.
The 97-page legal action, lodged as a “last option” by Seal Seidler, the spouse of late Padres president Peter Seidler, further complicates the organization’s efforts to entice the 23-year-old Sasaki to select the Padres as his next team. This renders the situation intricate. six seasons.
A prominent baseball agent, who requested anonymity in conversation with the Union-Tribune, noted that while legal skirmishes may be disruptive, they can be managed through contractual means. The Padres and Sasaki’s management could reach an agreement for contractual safeguards that would permit the pitcher to become a free agent should certain conditions arise during the six-year timeframe.
“Mr. Sasaki wields considerable leverage,” remarked the agent. “He has the ability to negotiate an exit clause in his contract.”
The agent suggested that two specific exit clauses could be logical. Any alteration in team ownership or the role of Padres President of Baseball Operations AJ Preller would activate a contractual exit. Sasaki could then leverage his accomplishments to engage with the other 29 teams.
“He possesses substantial leverage, allowing him to pursue peace of mind,” the agent stated. “Not every player has that option.”
Preller’s contract extends through at least the 2026 season, as does CEO Eric Grubner’s, according to Peter Zeidler’s extension issued in February 2021. It is also conceivable that a later extension was granted but kept under wraps, as occurred with one of Preller’s two extensions for several months.
There exists a precedent for this type of opt-out.
Ten years ago, manager Joe Maddon became a free agent when Rays vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman departed for the Dodgers. The manager leveraged his contract and exited Tampa Bay to accept a position with the Cubs.
The agent asserted that it would be poor practice to request an opt-out connected to Padres player salaries remaining above a particular threshold. He stated he could not opine on the matter, as determining salaries mostly falls outside the players’ remit.
Sasaki faced the Padres twice and was a finalist alongside the Dodgers and Blue Jays. Seidler was one of many Padres executives who expressed interest in Sasaki several years ago, Preller mentioned during the late president’s memorial service in March.
Last month, a Padres delegation visited the pitcher and his team at his agent’s office in the greater Los Angeles area. Last week, both parties convened in San Diego.
Sasaki’s choice might not solely hinge on the team’s proposals or the franchise’s connections to Japan, but Darvish, whom Preller successfully transitioned from Japan’s premier player Trading the pitcher (38) to prolonging his contract could provide assistance. He has moved from the league to MLB and shares a close rapport with Sasaki.
The public revelation of a legal conflict among Padres shareholders is not the first unexpected challenge faced by Preller during his decade-plus tenure with the Padres. In fact, Mr. Preller has historically excelled when confronted with significant hurdles.
Early in his time with the Padres, Preller signed free agent pitcher James Shields to a lucrative deal, sacrificing the Padres’ first-round draft pick. He then executed one of the greatest trades ever, sending Shields to the White Sox and acquiring minor leaguer Fernando Tatis Jr. in return.
Preller experienced what could be considered his most successful offseason and season following Seidler’s interim successor, chairman and executive director Eric Kutzenda, mandated a salary reduction of approximately $90 million.
The 2024 Padres recorded 93 wins and secured a playoff series despite dropping from third to 15th in MLB salary.
Securing Sasaki would afford the Padres a pitcher with exceptional speed and a formidable fastball. The right-handed hurler also features three additional pitches at the MLB level, including an A+ splitter. Over the course of six seasons, he will earn significantly less than a well-established top-tier starter. Furthermore, the star will attract notable revenue through endorsement agreements with companies linked to Japan.
Regardless of whether Sasaki opts for the Padres or not, credit is due to Peter Seidler and Preller for ensuring that the Padres remained among the three finalists for the pitcher.
First Published: January 14, 2025 5:33 PM PST