☀️ Good Morning:
The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes continue to create a drum beat.
This morning, I will talk about Joel Wolfe’s job in generating interest for his client, as well as the stiff competition the Mets will face for a 2025 playoff spot.
☕️ Grab your coffee for your morning dose of Mets Fix!
⚾️ Roki Sasaki’s agent Joel Wolfe is having a moment.
An agent is both a market maker and a talk show host. Which is to say their job is to generate interest in their client. One path to do so is to keep people talking about them.
Despite it seeming like a forgone conclusion that Sasaki will sign with either the Dodgers or Padres, Wolfe has done a masterful job making it seem like as many as 20 clubs have a chance to sign him.
Timing: Sasaki will announce his decision sometime between the beginning of the next international signing period (January 15) and the end of his posting window (January 23).
Until then, Wolfe is using a captive hot stove audience to create a celebrity-like interest in his client.
How is he doing this?
By holding court with reporters, knowing they will print every word that he says. Any update on Sasaki generates countless social media posts, articles, blog posts and newsletter write-ups, like this one.
By telling reporters Sasaki might benefit from a “soft landing” in a smaller market, he can pull in Twins fans just long enough to dominate a few news cycles (see above), before noting market size doesn’t actually matter.
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