The Cubs were never the favorites to sign 23-year-old Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki. But they reportedly were eliminated from contention Monday, leaving them to assess how to address their pitching staff during the rest of the offseason.
News that Sasaki was narrowing his pool of suitors trickled out as teams fell out of the running. Multiple outlets reported the Dodgers, Padres and Blue Jays are the last three standing in Sasaki’s wide-reaching free-agency process.
Sasaki has until Jan. 23, the end of his posting window, to choose his team.
The new international signing period opens Wednesday, which would be the first day Sasaki could sign within the rules of the international amateur process. It was also important for teams to know ahead of time whether they would need to set aside bonus-pool space for Sasaki.
The combination of Sasaki’s talent and the relatively small financial commitment it would take to sign him because of his early posting made him an ideal fit for the Cubs and about 20 other teams that submitted information to his agents after he posted.
For the Cubs, landing Sasaki would have improved their odds of ending a four-year playoff drought. Losing out on him doesn’t derail their plans, but there’s no other free-agent pitcher of Sasaki’s caliber and age who would fit as neatly into what appears to be a strict payroll budget.
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When the Cubs traded for three-time All-Star Kyle Tucker, who can become a free agent after this coming season, it sent the message that winning in 2025 was a high priority. But their budget constraints were clear in their next move: a salary-dumping trade that sent Cody Bellinger to the Yankees.
‘‘There’s always that push-pull of the things you’re doing for now and things you’re doing for the future,’’ president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said this month. ‘‘Ultimately, our goal is to try to be a better team than last year, and that’s been our focus.’’
The Cubs’ rotation is headed by Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd. The team made right-hander Colin Rea’s signing signing official Monday, adding him to a robust group of pitchers who could compete for rotation spots and/or pitch out of the bullpen. Those also include Javier Assad, Jordan Wicks, Ben Brown and prospect Cade Horton.