The baseball world was in a frenzy over Roki Sasaki's decision.  Fans thought his choice would be influenced by the Padres' ownership drama. Yet, Sasaki made his decision based on his future growth.  Machado, a Padres third baseman, stepped in. He shared his thoughts on the Padres' internal issues.  Machado pointed out that Sasaki's choice wasn't due to the Padres' ownership issues.  He has seen both the Padres and the Dodgers closely and has been a part of both teams.  This makes his view important for fans.

        Machados believes that Sasaki had already made his decision before the Padres' ownership issues became public. Sasaki wanted the best place to improve his skills.  The Dodgers offered a strong pitching rotation.  They also had Japanese stars like Ohtani and Yamamoto, which might have swayed Sasaki. A lot of people thought  he would join the Dodgers because he was expected to.  But Sasaki had his own reasons. He wanted to improve his pitching velocity.  He asked all the teams about this and only then made his choice.

        All this drama doesn't mean the Padres are out of luck.  The Padres' ownership issues might not have stopped Sasaki from joining, but they're affecting their 2025 lineup. The team has a limit on their payroll for 2025.  They're trading some big names like Dylan Cease to save money.  The Padres have gaps that need filling this offseason.  Sasaki was a top prospect after his performance in NPB.  The Padres are not out of luck.  They should go for low-cost alternatives and rookies.  They have the chance to rebuild their team.  Roki Sasaki was a top prospect.  He chose the Dodgers for their pitching rotation.  The Padres' ownership issues didn't stop him, but they're affecting their 2025 lineup.  The Padres have two choices.  First, they should go for low-cost alternatives.  They can build for the future.  Matt Waldron or Randy Vásquez are potential options for reliever.  The Padres have the chance to equip their team for 2025.

        The Padres' ownership issues might not have stopped Sasaki, but they're affecting their 2025 lineup.  Sasaki was a top prospect after his performance in NPB.  He chose the Dodgers for their pitching rotation.  The Padres have two choices. They should go for low-cost alternatives and rookies.  They can build for the future.  Matt Waldron or Randy Vásquez are potential options for reliever.  The Padres have the chance to equip their team for 2025.

        Fans are hoping the ownership issue gets resolved soon.  Sasaki was a top prospect after his performance in NPB.  He chose the Dodgers for their pitching rotation.   The Padres have two choices.  They should go for low-cost alternatives and rookies. They can build for the future.  Matt Waldron or Randy Vásquez are potential options for reliever.  The Padres have the chance to equip their team for 2025.

When the Dust Settles: What Really Influenced Roki Sasaki's Decision

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