Japanese ace Rōki Sasaki met with the New York Mets on Thursday as he navigates through free agency, according to SNY's Andy Martino. Sasaki is joining

The Japanese ace was officially posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines on Dec. 9, thus beginning a 45-day period for him to sign with an MLB team.

The battle for Roki Sasaki, Japan’s pitching phenom, is heating up, with the New York Yankees and Mets vying for his services in a high-stakes free agency race. On Thursday, both teams met with Sasaki in Los Angeles,