Roki Sasaki won't be signing with Texas Rangers

The Rangers did not receive a visit from Sasaki and were informed Sunday that the Japanese star will be signing elsewhere.

The field for the Roki Sasaki Sweepstakes has been narrowed, and the Texas Rangers did not make the cut.

A source familiar with the negotiations said that the Rangers learned Sunday that the star right-hander from Japan does not intend to sign with them. The Rangers met with Sasaki the week before Christmas in Los Angeles and were told that their presentation went well.

Sasaki returned to Japan over the holidays to mull his options before returning to the United States last week. The decision to drop the Rangers comes only days ahead of the opening of the international signing period, and the Rangers will move ahead with the agreements they have in place.

Baseball America lists Dominican outfielder Elorki Rodriguez, a 17-year-old who has also started playing the infield, as the top prospect (No. 37 overall) the Rangers are likely to sign. Another prospect from the Dominican Republic, Jhon Simon, has a similar approach at the plate as Rodriguez but with more power.

The Rangers have more than $2 million from their $6,261,600 international pool that is not committed, which would allow them to sign prospects whose agreements fall apart with the club that signs Sasaki.

A source said that the Rangers have been evaluating those prospects. The Dodgers, Padres and Blue Jays are believed to still be in the hunt for Sasaki.

Jeff Wilson, jwilson@alldlls.com