With it, the clock began to tick on when Japanese ace Roki Sasaki, the best pitcher in the world not already under an MLB team's employment, will pick his next employer and complete his long-awaited transfer to North America.

Japanese ace Roki Sasaki is nearing a decision on where he'll play in 2025. Has he trimmed his potential suitors from three to two in recent days?

Roki Sasaki can sign with Major League Baseball teams during a nine-day window starting Wednesday, an unusual free agency that caused a domino effect among Latin American teenagers whose unofficial agreements are on hold pending his decision.