Teruaki Sato, Kaima Taira, Hiromi Itoh Enter MLB Posting System

Three Nippon Professional Baseball stars have officially entered the MLB posting system, with Hanshin Tigers 3B/RF Teruaki Sato, Saitama Seibu Lions RHP Kaima Taira, and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters RHP Hiromi Itoh all set to pursue Major League deals.

The three players were officially made available to all 30 MLB clubs on Monday, November 2, opening a 45-day negotiating window that would ordinarily run through December 16. However, the looming expiration of MLB's collective bargaining agreement could complicate matters.

In recent years, Japanese players have typically been posted in mid-to-late November, with 45 days to negotiate with MLB teams, after which they must return to their NPB clubs if they fail to reach an agreement.

However, a potential lockout would effectively shorten the negotiating period to just 30 days. Once a lockout begins, MLB teams would be prohibited from signing players until they reach a new agreement.

The situation recalls the 2021–22 offseason, when Hiroshima Carp outfielder Seiya Suzuki was posted shortly before MLB entered a 99-day lockout. His negotiating window was temporarily frozen during the work stoppage, allowing him to resume discussions once a new collective bargaining agreement was reached in March. Suzuki ultimately signed a five-year, $85 million contract with the Chicago Cubs that month.

This time, however, the same protection reportedly will not apply, creating urgency for Sato, Taira, and Itoh to finalize their MLB futures before December 1, and explaining why they were all posted in early November. If they fail to sign in time, the players would return to their respective NPB clubs.

Sato, 27, headlines the group after winning the Central League Triple Crown in 2026, batting .306 with 39 home runs and 106 RBI. The third baseman has emerged as NPB’s premier player and is expected to draw significant interest from MLB clubs seeking a middle-of-the-order bat, particularly following the success of Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto last winter.

His chase-prone approach and defensive shortcomings add considerable volatility to the profile, but his raw power upside is undeniable. Sato is represented by Sean Novak of VC Sports Group, which also represents Mookie Betts.

Taira, 26, is coming off a dominant campaign in which he posted an NPB-best 1.36 ERA across 146 innings. The stocky right-hander has enjoyed success as both a starter and closer throughout his career but has made it clear that he wishes to start in MLB.

Despite durability concerns given his 5-foot-8 frame and just two full seasons of starting experience, he has the potential to be a frontline starter at his best, with a fallback as a back-end starter or high-leverage reliever.

Taira’s agent is Scott Boras of Boras Corporation, who also negotiated former teammate Tatsuya Imai's move to the Houston Astros last winter, and represents several other Japanese talents.

Itoh, 29, has been one of Japan's most dependable workhorses since debuting in 2021. The 2025 Sawamura Award winner finished the 2026 campaign with a 3.18 ERA across 172 2/3 innings. He is unlikely to generate the same level of interest as Sato or Taira due to his lower ceiling, but could still help an MLB team as a back-end rotation piece.

Itoh is represented by Joel Wolfe of Wasserman, whose clients include fellow former Fighters stars Yu Darvish and Shohei Ohtani.

Another Japanese pitcher pursuing an MLB opportunity is Seibu right-hander Kona Takahashi, who has exercised his international free agency rights. Unlike the three posted players, the 29-year-old can negotiate directly with MLB clubs without a posting fee. Takahashi was posted last winter but ultimately returned to Saitama.

Several former MLB pitchers could also return stateside this offseason, including Orix Buffaloes pitchers Anderson Espinoza and Andres Machado, Chiba Lotte Marines right-hander Andre Jackson, and Yomiuri Giants right-hander Forrest Whitley, among others. All of them could re-sign with their current clubs, move to another NPB team, or pursue a return to MLB.