Sports
Roki Sasaki, coveted Japanese ace, will be made available to MLB teams: Will Dodgers strike again?
Roki Sasaki, a premier pitcher in Japan and the No. 3 ranked player in The Athletic’s top 40 MLB free agent big board, is on the precipice of making his long-anticipated jump to Major League Baseball.
The Chiba Lotte Marines, Sasaki’s club in Nippon Professional Baseball, announced early Saturday morning that they will post the 23-year-old right-hander, thus making him available to MLB teams in what is expected to be a wide-open sweepstakes for his services.
Because of his age, Sasaki will be considered an international amateur in MLB’s system, meaning that he would make the minimum salary and his bonus will be capped. Every MLB team is assigned a dollar amount to spend on international amateurs and cannot exceed it, although they can trade for some additional space. Teams on the low end are allotted $5.1 million for 2025 and $7.6 million on the high end. Therefore, both Sasaki’s salary and the 20 percent fee that will be paid to the Lotte Marines will be relatively small figures.
It’s a situation similar to the one faced by Shohei Ohtani when he arrived in the U.S., which runs in stark contrast to last winter’s top prize out of the Japanese market, Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
“He’s not the finished product that Yamamoto is,” one club official recently told The Athletic’s Will Sammon and Patrick Mooney. “But there’s not many people in the world who are more talented.”
GO DEEPER
MLB GM meetings: What we’re hearing about star Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki
Sasaki was coveted since his days in high school, and few pitchers from Japan will arrive in the U.S. with as much hype. His fastball was clocked in the triple digits. In a recent analysis, The Athletic’s Eno Sarris noted that even with a slight step back in velocity and results for last season, Sasaki still showed signs of translating his success stateside. Only Juan Soto and Corbin Burnes rank ahead of Sasaki on The Athletic’s free-agent rankings.
“If he was someone in the amateur draft, he’d easily be a top-five draft pick,” one high-ranking executive in the sport said. “Probably better.”
It’s unclear which international class Sasaki will be a part of. MLB’s 2024 international signing period runs until Dec. 15, and the 2025 period begins Jan. 15. Clubs are committed to players in both classes already, but Sasaki is a special talent that teams have been preparing to court.
It’s unclear exactly when that process will be underway, but once Sasaki is posted, he has 45 days to sign. He is expected to join an MLB team for 2025. The news went out at 1 a.m. on the East Coast of the U.S., which was 3 p.m. in Chiba.
While Sasaki’s arrival in MLB this offseason was long speculated, it also seemed possible it might wait a couple of years. Had Chiba Lotte delayed until 2026, when Sasaki was 25, both he and the club could have made considerably more money. Sasaki then would be considered a “foreign professional” in the eyes of MLB’s collective bargaining agreement, and he would not be subject to the international bonus pool. That’s the classification Yamamoto fell under last offseason when he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for $325 million.
The Dodgers, home to Shohei Ohtani in addition to Yamamoto, have been often linked to Sasaki. The New York Mets and Chicago Cubs have followed him closely as well, among others. Meanwhile, the Yankees and Padres have scouted the Pacific Rim extensively and have been aggressive in that market.
NPB players have to play for nine years in the league to become an international free agent and freely sign with an MLB team, without being posted for bidding. Because that wait time is so long, the best Japanese players typically arrive in the U.S. via the bidding system.
Sasaki pitched for Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and drew attention for hitting triple digits with his fastball. He throws a slider and splitter as well. His durability is likely his largest question mark.
(Photo: Sam Navarro / USA Today)
Sports
Spurs blow out Thunder, force Game 7 as Victor Wembanyama leads the way with 28-point double-double
Trump says he thinks he’ll attend NBA Finals game
President Donald Trump said during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday that he believes he will attend an NBA Finals game next week, as the New York Knicks make their first Finals appearance in nearly 30 years.
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The Western Conference Finals will come down to a Game 7 after the San Antonio Spurs routed the Oklahoma City Thunder, 118-91, in Game 6 on Thursday night.
Game 7 heads back to Oklahoma City, where the winner will face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals after New York swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
With their backs against the wall, the Spurs did what was necessary on their home court and then some. And it was their phenom, Victor Wembanyama, leading the way.
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Six of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on May 28, 2026. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The 7-foot-4 big man led the Spurs with 28 points on 10-of-21 shooting, including four three-pointers made, while notching a double-double with 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals and three blocks.
This was the performance head coach Mitch Johnson and the rest of the team needed from Wembanyama, and he was up for the challenge as the Thunder were looking to make it back-to-back NBA Finals appearances.
Instead, the Thunder’s three-point shooting woes returned in San Antonio, much like they did in Game 4 of this series. They took a whopping 40 threes, but only cashed in 10 of them, finishing 25% from beyond the arc on the night.
SPURS SNAP THUNDER’S PLAYOFF WIN STREAK BEHIND VICTORY WEMBANYAMA’S INCREDIBLE GAME 1 PERFORMANCE
As a team, the Thunder shot just 37%, and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is among the culprits for the poor shooting night. He had just 15 points, going 6-of-18 from the field and 0-of-5 from three-point land. Lu Dort was also ice cold from three, going just 1-of-9 and 2-of-11 for the game.
Meanwhile, San Antonio was getting more than just “Wemby” contributions, especially from rookie Dylan Harper, who played a vital role in the blowout off the bench.
Dylan Harper of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on May 28, 2026. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Harper was quite efficient when he had the ball in his hands, going 6-of-9 from the field for 18 points, while tallying six rebounds and four assists in his pivotal 22 minutes off the pine.
And in the starting five, Stephon Castle was getting to the rim like he’s supposed to, scoring 17 points while dishing out nine assists for the Spurs. Devin Vassell also hit four of his seven three-point shots for 12 points, while Julian Champagnie poured in 10 more with six rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks on the other end of the hardwood.
The Spurs saw 12 different players contribute on the scoreboard in this contest, some of whom made their way into the game when the Thunder conceded and already started to focus on Game 7. And that swing came in the third quarter, when the Spurs outscored the Thunder, 32-13, and started to run away with this must-win game for their franchise.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama shoots against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first half of Game 6 in the Western Conference finals NBA playoffs in San Antonio on May 28, 2026. (David J. Phillip/AP)
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Now, folks, it all comes down to the ever-suspenseful Game 7, where the Thunder will hope one last home game will give them the juice to push their way into the Finals.
But the Spurs are hoping to recreate 1999 by earning a matchup with the Knicks in the NBA Finals.
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SOUTHERN SECTION FINALS
At Bill Barber Park, Irvine
Thursday’s Results
DIVISION 7
Edgewood 4, Ramona Convent 1
DIVISION 6
Irvine 15, Arroyo 2
Friday’s Schedule
DIVISION 1
La Mirada vs. JSerra, 7 p.m.
DIVISION 2
Whittier Christian vs. Mater Dei, 4 p.m.
Saturday’s Schedule
DIVISION 3
Riverside Prep vs. Great Oak, 7 p.m.
DIVISION 4
Mission Viejo at Oxnard, 4 p.m.
DIVISION 5
Grace vs. Northwood, 10 a.m.
DIVISION 8
Arroyo Valley vs. San Bernardino, 1 p.m.
CITY SECTION FINALS
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
At Legacy
OPEN DIVISION
#1 Granada Hills vs. #2 Carson, 6:30 p.m.
DIVISION III
#5 South East vs. #15 Reseda, 4 p.m.
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
At Birmingham
DIVISION I
#1 Venice vs. #6 Eagle Rock, 2 p.m.
DIVISION II
#1 L.A. Marshall vs. #6 Arleta, 11 a.m.
DIVISION IV
#4 Huntington Park vs. #14 Franklin, 11:30 a.m.
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Massimiliano Allegri is set for an immediate return to the dugout after reaching a full verbal agreement to become the next head coach of Napoli.
The former AC Milan boss, who was sacked by the club this week, has committed to a two-year contract as Antonio Conte’s replacement at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
De Laurentiis Picks Allegri For The Post-Conte Era
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has moved decisively to secure a successor for Conte, after the Italian left the club by mutual consent at the conclusion of the season, settling on the experienced Allegri.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, negotiations between the two parties accelerated significantly over the last 24 hours, resulting in a full verbal agreement for Allegri to take the reins in Naples on a two-year deal.
The Tuscan tactician emerged as the top choice following a selection process that saw him beat out competition from other candidates, including outgoing Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano.
With the verbal agreement now in place, the Partenopei are ready to pivot into a new chapter under one of the most successful managers in modern Serie A history.
Legal Teams Begin Work On Contractual Formalities
The transition from a verbal handshake to a formal appointment is already underway behind the scenes. Reports indicate that Napoli’s legal and administrative teams have already begun preparing the paperwork needed to formalize the deal for Allegri.
Both lawyers and transfer officials are working through the final contractual details before the documents can be presented for definitive signatures.
While the terms of the two-year contract are understood to be settled, the club is meticulous in ensuring all administrative hurdles are cleared.
This move signals De Laurentiis’ desire to provide stability and elite leadership to a squad that remains ambitious both domestically and on the European stage.
Resolving The Final Hurdle With Milan
Despite the advanced state of negotiations with Napoli, one final obstacle remains before Allegri can be officially unveiled as the new Partenopei boss.
Allegri must first resolve his current contractual situation with Milan after being sacked by the club. Navigating the exit from his previous employment is a standard but necessary step before he can legally commit his future to the reigning Southern giants.
A Proven Winner Tasked With Scudetto Ambitions
The appointment represents a significant statement of intent from Napoli, as they bring in a coach with an glittering resume.
Allegri has already won league titles with both Milan and Juventus, and his experience in managing the pressure of elite Italian clubs was a deciding factor for the Napoli hierarchy.
Despite a dismal homecoming season at Milan in 2025-26, Napoli believe his track record and tactical acumen make him the ideal candidate.
If finalized as expected, Allegri will inherit a squad preparing for another Champions League campaign while also attempting to mount a challenge for the Scudetto next season.
2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
The opening match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubi, as well as the USA’s opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).
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