We’re early in a month-long quiet period for Japanese pitcher Ru014dki Sasaki, who has been posted and must now wait for the next international signing period to open on January 15 before he can join his new team. For those who haven’t been following all the details, Sasaki’s relative youth (he just turned 23 in November) and lack of NPB experience (six seasons) means he’s considered an international amateur. That means he is subject to bonus pool restrictions and minor-league contractual limits, making him something like 30 times cheaper than countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
So, no, the Cubs can’t use any of the payroll savings from the Cody Bellinger trade to lure Sasaki.