Three Japanese Pros and One South Korean Star Enter MLB Posting System
Hanshin Tigers infielder Teruaki Sato, along with pitchers Kaima Taira and Hiromi Itoh, open a window for American teams to sign them before mid-December.
By Pedro Barnes ·
Major League Baseball has opened the door for four international free agents to sign with American clubs. The group includes three pitchers and one hitter from Japan, plus a right-handed bat from South Korea. These players have entered the posting system, a process that allows their home leagues to set a fee before a Major League team can finalize a contract.
The most high-profile name is Teruaki Sato, a 27-year-old infielder for the Hanshin Tigers. Sato is a left-handed hitter who primarily plays third base. He won the Central League Triple Crown this year with a .306 batting average, 39 home runs, and 106 runs batted in. He also took home the Central League MVP award in 2025. Sato represented Japan in this year's World Baseball Classic, going 3 for 10 with two runs batted in.
Joining Sato is Kaima Taira, a right-handed pitcher for the Saitama Seibu Lions. Taira turns 27 on November 15. He moved into the starting rotation this season and finished with a 12-5 record. His 1.36 earned run average led all Japanese major leaguers. Taira recorded 31 saves in 2025 before shifting roles. Hiromi Itoh, a 29-year-old right-hander for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, is the third Japanese entrant. Itoh won the 2025 Sawamura Award, Japan's equivalent of the Cy Young. He finished the year 10-10 with a 3.18 ERA and 159 strikeouts in 172 two-thirds innings. He pitched in five scoreless innings across three games for Japan at the 2021 Olympics and also appeared in this year's World Baseball Classic.
Si-Hwan Roh, a 25-year-old right-handed hitter for South Korea's Hanwha Eagles, is the fourth player in the pool. Roh batted .283 with 25 home runs and 96 runs batted in this season. His posting window is shorter than the Japanese players' window.
The timeline differs by country. Japanese clubs have a 45-day posting period, which runs from Monday until December 16. South Korean clubs have a 30-day period, ending December 1. Teams must sign players by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the final day of their respective windows.
The posting fee structure is tied to the size of the major league contract. For the first $25 million, the fee is 20 percent. That rate drops to 17.5 percent for the next $25 million and 15 percent for any amount over $50 million. A supplemental fee of 15 percent applies to earned bonuses, salary escalators, and exercised options. The collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the Players Association expires on December 1. If a lockout begins, the rules from the 2021 stoppage suggest posted players would remain frozen until an agreement is reached.
