The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes has reached its final stage, and the Yankees don’t even have a spot on the podium.

The New York Yankees and Texas Rangers have been informed Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki won't be signing with them, people familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because Sasaki's intention to sign elsewhere had not been announced.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are viewed as the favorite for Roki Sasaki, but one report shows the other teams who have expressed interest aren't out of the picture.

The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes are winding down, with finalists emerging and teams being informed that they're out of the running.

Japanese right-handed pitcher Rōki Sasaki has ruled out a handful of teams and is seemingly getting closer to making his decision. According to ESPN's

MLB free agency is cruising right along, with many of the big names, including Juan Soto, off the board. But some impact players are still available, and the trade market has been active. Roki Sasaki,