Next to the Japan Series, which was crushed by Fuji, Akinori Sasaki will be given “Samurai Japan”… The “lament” of NPB executives as the headwinds continue.

The “timing” was bad.

On November 9, Lotte pitcher Akinori Sasaki (23) announced that the team will allow him to transfer to a Major League Baseball team in the United States through the posting system. Sasaki made the following comments through the team.

I can only thank the baseball team for listening to me about my future MLB challenge since I joined the team, and for allowing me to officially post my application this time. There were many things that went wrong during my five years with Lotte, but with the support of my teammates, the staff, the front office, and the fans, I was able to come this far by focusing only on baseball. I will do my best to live up to the expectations of everyone who has supported me and to become the best player in the world by working my way up from a minor league contract.

A sports newspaper reporter in charge of the majors noted, “In November, he was signed by the U.S. baseball media.

In November, reporters from the U.S. baseball media began posting on X about Sasaki’s offseason moves and the teams to which he will be transferred. The content was quite specific, and it was believed that Lotte’s acceptance of the posting was only a matter of time.

However, the timing of the announcement was too bad.