Three Japanese Pros Hit the Open Market for MLB Teams

Teruaki Sato posted 39 home runs for the Hanshin Tigers this year, a mark that helps anchor a new wave of Japanese talent entering the Major League Baseball posting system. Sato, along with pitchers Kaima Taira and Hiromi Itoh, will be available to MLB clubs as free agents starting Monday.

Sato is a 27-year-old left-handed hitter who played third base and the outfield for the Central League champions. He batted .306 with 106 runs batted in to win the league's Triple Crown. The Tigers also gave him the Central League MVP award in 2025, a season where he hit 40 home runs and a .277 average. Sato represented Japan in this year's World Baseball Classic, going 3 for 10 with two RBIs.

Kaima Taira of the Saitama Seibu Lions transitions from the bullpen to the rotation for the upcoming campaign. The right-hander, who turns 27 on Nov. 15, finished the 2026 season with a 12-5 record. He led all of Japanese professional baseball with a 1.36 earned run average. In 2025, Taira served as a closer and recorded 31 saves.

Hiromi Itoh of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters is 29 years old and brings Olympic experience to the table. He pitched five scoreless innings across three games to help Japan win gold in 2021. Itoh also pitched for the national team in this year's World Baseball Classic. In his 2026 season, he went 10-10 with a 3.18 ERA and 159 strikeouts in 172 2/3 innings. He received the 2025 Sawamura Award, the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young honor.

Si-Hwan Roh of South Korea's Hanwha Eagles is also entering the system. The 25-year-old right-handed hitter batted .283 with 25 home runs and 96 RBIs this year. Because he is from a Korean team, his posting window is 30 days rather than the 45 days allowed for Japanese players. He can sign until Dec. 1.

The Japanese players have until Dec. 16 to be signed. The deadline to finalize any contract is 5 p.m. EST on the final day of each player's specific posting period. MLB teams must pay a posting fee calculated as a percentage of the contract value. The fee is 20% of the first $25 million, 17.5% of the next $25 million, and 15% of any amount over $50 million.

A supplemental fee of 15% applies to earned bonuses, salary escalators, and exercised options. MLB's current collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, which may coincide with a lockout. If a lockout occurs, the rules established in 2021 would likely apply, freezing posted players until a new agreement is reached.