SAN DIEGO — It is getting close to announcement time for Roki Sasaki, and the chances the Padres will have him in their starting rotation in 2025 appear as strong as ever.

The Japanese pitching star met with the Padres in San Diego last week, two sources confirmed Monday. The Athletic was the first to report Sasaki was in San Diego over the weekend.

Also Monday, it was reported by several outlets that the Cubs, Giants, Rangers and Yankees have been told they are no longer in the running for Sasaki and that the Mets do not expect to sign him.

Padres officials have maintained from the start — and through the drama created by a lawsuit contesting control of the team’s ownership group — that they have a good chance to sign the 23-year-old right-hander.

Many people around the league opined last week that questions about the team’s ownership would harm the Padres’ chances to land Sasaki. But chatter among MLB teams’ personnel people increasingly names the Padres as the favorite to land the pitcher who posted a 2.02 ERA in 414 2/3 innings over four seasons in Japan.

Sasaki can sign as soon as Wednesday, the first day of the new international free-agent signing period. He has to sign by Jan. 23, when his 45-day posting period expires.

As a Japanese player coming to the United States before he is 25 years old and before he has six years of service time, Sasaki is subject to the rules of international free agency. That includes a limit on his signing bonus.

The Padres, like many teams, have spent much time scouting Sasaki. Should they sign him, it will be the third year in a row they could claim to have landed the top international prospect, following catcher Ethan Salas in 2023 and shortstop Leo De Vries in ‘24. Should they miss out on Sasaki, they could essentially strike out in international free agency, as so much of their efforts have been spent on Sasaki and other top prospects will have signed with other teams not in on Sasaki.

Sasaki’s time in San Diego last week was his second meeting with Padres officials. They were among at least seven teams to have an initial round of interviews with Sasaki in Los Angeles in December.

The Blue Jays reportedly met with Sasaki last week in Toronto. The Dodgers have also long been considered a favorite to land Sasaki.

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