The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million contract last offseason, which at the time represented the largest deal in professional sports history.

Shohei Ohtani broke the news to the Los Angeles Dodgers that prized Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki was joining the team.

Ohtani once eschewed the Dodgers for the Angels, and got stuck in a six-year playoff drought. The Dodgers’ new Japanese rookie phenom Sasaki made a different call.

Sasaki said he prioritized joining a team that would embrace a Japanese player, but explained that there were other reasons why he ultimately chose the Dodgers.

Andrew Friedman reveals the Los Angeles Dodgers' plan for Roki Sasaki to start the 2025 season against the Chicago Cubs.

The Dodgers introduced right-handed pitcher Roki Sasaki to the Los Angeles media on Wednesday, holding a press conference at Dodger Stadium. Just last week, Sasaki agreed to join the Dodgers after an extensive free-agent recruitment process that included multiple meetings with the Toronto Blue Jays and San Diego Padres.

On this night in December, Sasaki sat down for sushi with former Samurai Japan teammates Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. It was after he had his initial meeting with the Dodgers and just at the beginning of the 23-year-old’s transition to Major League Baseball.

Roki Sasaki speaks out on choosing the Los Angeles Dodgers and teaming up with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Roki Sasaki, MLB’s rising star, reveals how Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto played a pivotal role in his decision to join the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Shohei Ohtani joining the Dodgers meant a formidable trio at the top batting order alongside Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts.

Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman dismissed talk of having a pre-arranged deal with Roki Sasaki."There's going to be noise, it's so ridiculous," Friedman said during a radio interview on AM 570 LA Sports.

Ohtani sent a text to Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman even before Sasaki’s agent informed the club.