Why Japanese star Teruaki Sato doesn't make sense for Dodgers' roster

The trend over the past few years has been when a player plans to make the jump from overseas to Major League Baseball, they instantly get connected to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Most of the time, the Dodgers have played along, but the instant connection can often ignore the reality of LA's roster. That appears to be the case for Teruaki Sato.

The Hanshin Tigers are expected to post Sato this offseason, and considering the lockout looms after December 1, chances are there will be movement in his sweepstakes in November. Reports out of Japan have already highlighted seven teams expected to take part in the bidding. It's the teams you would expect, the Dodgers, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Francisco Giants.

Again, the early days of markets like the one that Sato is expected to have follows a script almost every time. You know what's going to happen next; there's going to be a story that inevitably points to the Dodgers as being a strong candidate to sign him.

Before we head down that path, the Dodgers would be wise to look in the mirror and avoid a mistake they've made before. In other words, you know how Dave Roberts and Co. haven't exactly had any plan of consequence for Hyeseong Kim, they would run the risk of the same happening with Sato. The only difference is that there will be a lot more money attached to Sato's contract.

Teruaki Sato is headed to the majors, but the fit with the Dodgers isn't there

That's not meant to discredit Sato's profile. He has legitimate power, and that likely will be the main talking point for teams this offseason, considering how Munetaka Murakami was overlooked last year before signing with the Chicago White Sox. Over the past two years, Sato has tallied 79 home runs. Yes, there's going to be swing-and-miss that comes with signing Sato, but the power has the potential be a difference-maker.

That isn't the problem for the Dodgers. The problem is they would have no place to play him. He's largely viewed as third baseman or right fielder, but there's also a belief he could slide over to first base. The last thing the Dodgers need is another outfielder, and even if the idea was that Sato could be the eventual replacement for Max Muncy or Freddie Freeman, even for LA, that would be an extremely expensive way to be proactive.

The Dodgers simply not caring about the fit of it all can never be ruled out, but in this case, it would feel like a stretch to consider them the favorites to sign Sato.

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