Ex-MLB GM believes there will be an investigation into Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki signing

One former front office executive is suggesting foul play foul play in the Dodgers’ signing of Roki Sasaki.

Just minutes after the Japanese ace announced on Instagram that he was joining the Dodgers next season, former MLB general manager Jim Bowden said in a chat on “Foul Territory” that he thinks an investigation might come about regarding the deal.

“I think you’re gonna find that there is gonna be multiple teams that are going to ask the commissioner’s office to investigate this particular signing,” Bowden said on Foul Territory. “There were several front offices that believed there was a pre-cut deal between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Roki Sasaki before this process started and before the window came where you’re allowed to negotiate with the player. This was, of course, denied by his camp.”

Sasaki trimmed down his long list this week to three teams — Dodgers, Padres and Blue Jays — before ultimately signing with LA on Friday.

In November, Sasaki’s agent, Joel Wolfe of Wasserman, publicly denied any claims of an unwritten agreement.

“While a bunch of executives who should know me better and do a lot of business with me insult my integrity by insinuating that I would be a part of some type of nefarious agreement,” Wolfe told The Athletic, “in reality, this is just poor sportsmanship.”