• ESPN News Services

Jan 17, 2025, 03:07 PM ET

TORONTO — The

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    The 23-year-old right-hander had until Thursday to reach agreement with a Major League Baseball team, but on Friday afternoon he announced on Instagram that he has chosen the Los Angeles Dodgers as his major league team.

    On his Instagram post, Sasaki called this “a very difficult decision, but I will do my best to make it the right decision when I look back after my baseball career.”

    Straw has salaries of $6 million this year and $7 million in 2026 and is guaranteed a $1.75 million buyout of a 2027 team option. Cleveland will send Toronto $1 million this year, $1 million in 2026 and $1.75 million at the end of 2026.

    Cleveland agreed to the long-term deal in April 2022 but Straw hit just .221 with no homers, 32 RBIs and 21 stolen bases that year, then batted .238 with 1 homer, 29 RBIs and 20 steals in 2023.

    He was sent outright to Triple-A Columbus in April and hit .240 with 3 homers, 47 RBIs and 30 steals. Cleveland brought him up in September, and he went 1-for-4 over seven games.

    ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez and The Associated Press was used in this report.