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Padres latest signings suggest they're out of Roki Sasaki sweepstakes

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Padres latest signings suggest they're out of Roki Sasaki sweepstakes


Adding top-level international talent is never a bad thing, even if it likely means you’re not going to be signing the biggest fish in the pool.

According to multiple reports the Padres have agreed to 7-figure deals with a pair of Dominican teenagers, shortstop Jhoan De La Cruz and left-handed pitcher Carlos Alvarez. Both players are highly-regarded prospects and ranked in the Top-40 by most talent evaluators, adding depth to a minor league system that could use some more high-end talent.

However, if we read the tea leaves it’s not hard to guess those moves mean the Padres believe they are no longer in the running for Roki Sasaki.

The 23-year-old Japanese pitching phenom has reportedly narrowed his choices to the Dodgers and Blue Jays, ending a weeks-long pursuit for San Diego.

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From a baseball perspective, the importance of this decision cannot be overstated. The Padres entire offseason was centered on signing Sasaki. If they landed the superstar in the making, it would give them the weapon they need to continue challenging the Dodgers’ dominance. Losing out on him is a bummer but if he chooses to go to L.A. it would be a devastating setback and likely cement L.A.’s status as World Series favorites for the next half-decade.

Sasaki features a 100-MPH fastball and one of the best split-finger pitches you’ll see anywhere in the world. He threw a perfect game with 19 strikeouts as a 20-year-old and put his devastating arsenal on display in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, helping Samurai Japan win the title.

Aside from the obvious physical traits, what makes Sasaki so valuable is he’s infinitely affordable. Since he hasn’t celebrated his 25th birthday, Sasaki is considered an amateur instead of a full-blown free agent so he’s subject to rules on international signing pools.

A talent like this at that price point is almost unheard of. The last time we saw anything like it was in 2017 when Shohei Ohtani was a 23-year-old game-changer making his way to Major League Baseball. It was widely expected that Sasaki would receive all of a team’s international pool money.

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Now that the Padres are committing half of theirs to other players, they have apparently moved on, and there is still a whole lot of work to be done this offseason.

They need to add at least one more starting pitcher to a rotation that features Yu Darvish, Michael King, and Dylan Cease, who has been the subject of trade rumors but now almost certainly has to stick around for one more year. San Diego also needs to add a catcher and at least one outfielder.

It’s depressing to lose out on a top-flight talent like Sasaki. But, the business of baseball must go on.



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San Diego, CA

Gas prices soar nearly another dime overnight

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Gas prices soar nearly another dime overnight


On Thursday, the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County recorded its largest increase since Sept. 28, 2023, rising 8.7 cents to $4.894, its highest amount since Nov. 13.

The average price has increased 15 consecutive days, rising 28.7 cents, including 7 cents on Wednesday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 22.4 cents more than one week ago, 38.6 cents higher than one month ago and 14.5 cents greater than one year ago.

The average price has dropped $1.541 since rising to a record $6.435 on Oct. 5, 2022.

“Gas prices are rising primarily due to a recent surge in crude oil following strikes on Iran by the U.S. and Israel,” Kandace Redd, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s senior public affairs specialist, told City News Service. “Any conflict with Iran can send oil prices higher, as Iran is a major oil producer and about a fifth of the oil consumed globally travels through the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman.

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“Gas prices are increasing because of seasonal factors too. Refineries are beginning the switch to more expensive summer-blend fuel, and demand is picking up as we head into the spring break season with more people on the road.”

The national average price rose 5.3 cents to $3.251, its highest amount since Sept. 11, 2024. It has risen five consecutive days, increasing 26.9 cents, including 8.9 cents on Wednesday.

The national average price is 26.8 cents more than one week ago, 36 cents higher than one month ago and 14.4 cents greater than one year ago. It has dropped $1.765 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.



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San Diego, CA

UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance

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UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance


UNLV Rebels (16-14, 11-8 MWC) at San Diego State Aztecs (19-10, 13-6 MWC)

San Diego; Friday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: UNLV faces San Diego State after Kimani Hamilton scored 24 points in UNLV’s 92-65 victory over the Utah State Aggies.

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The Aztecs have gone 13-2 in home games. San Diego State is eighth in the MWC with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Miles Heide averaging 2.0.

The Rebels have gone 11-8 against MWC opponents. UNLV ranks eighth in the MWC shooting 34.4% from 3-point range.

San Diego State averages 79.1 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 78.5 UNLV gives up. UNLV averages 7.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game San Diego State allows.

The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. San Diego State won the last meeting 82-71 on Jan. 24. Miles Byrd scored 23 points points to help lead the Aztecs to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Reese Dixon-Waters is shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Aztecs, while averaging 13 points. Byrd is averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.

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Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is shooting 50.9% and averaging 20.6 points for the Rebels. Hamilton is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Aztecs: 5-5, averaging 74.9 points, 28.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.0 points per game.

Rebels: 6-4, averaging 84.1 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.8 points.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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San Diego, CA

Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks

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Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks


SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Military bases in San Diego County and nationwide have increased security measures due to last weekend’s U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, prompting traffic delays near base entrances, enhanced ID checks and access restrictions.

The Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado ports three aircraft carriers, including the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln, which led some of the first-wave attacks on Saturday.

Naval Base Coronado warned motorists of possible traffic delays at all base entry points due to the increased security measures.

Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.

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The U.S. operation, dubbed “Epic Fury,” and Israeli operation, “Raging Lion,” began striking targets at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday.

As of Tuesday, at least six U.S. service members had been killed in action.

The strikes also killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who had been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.

Iran’s offensive forces claimed to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles, but according to an X post from U.S central Command, “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”

Those with concerns regarding the heightened security can contact San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services at 858-565-3490 or oes@sdcounty.ca.gov.

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Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.





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