Major League Baseball's free agency period opened earlier this week, allowing teams to pursue roster upgrades from Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), South Korea's Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), and Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). The posting system gives NPB and CPBL players a 45-day window to negotiate with MLB clubs, while KBO players have a 30-day window. Signing teams pay a posting fee to the player's former club based on a tiered structure: 20% of contracts up to $25 million, $5 million plus 17.5% of the amount over $25 million for deals between $25 million and $50 million, and $9.375 million plus 15% of the amount over $50 million for larger contracts. An expected owners' lockout on December 1 will not pause the signing window for already posted NPB players.
Top International Prospects
1. Teruaki Sato, 3B (Hanshin Tigers) – Ranked No. 4 among free agents. The 2026 NPB Triple Crown winner hit .306/.383/.609 with 39 home runs. His aggressive approach yields a 66% contact rate, below the MLB average, and he may eventually move from third base to first base or a corner outfield spot. Posted November 1.
2. Kaima Taira, RHP (Seibu Lions) – Ranked No. 19. Listed at 5-foot-8, Taira generates outlier extension and a low release point. He sits mid-90s with a four-seamer and features a cutter, sinker, sweeper, slider, changeup, and splitter. Used as a reliever in 2024-25 and a starter in 2026, he may be a back-end starter or multi-inning reliever in MLB. Posted November 1.
3. Hiroki Itoh, RHP (Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters) – Ranked No. 26. The 2025 Eiji Sawamura Award winner posted a 3.18 ERA in 172⅔ innings in 2026 after a 2.52 ERA in 196⅔ innings the previous year. The 5-foot-9 right-hander throws seven pitches, none considered a plus offering, and is viewed as a crafty back-end starter or potential reliever. Posted November 1.
4. Si-Hwan Roh, 3B (Hanwha Eagles) – Unranked. Signed an 11-year, ~$23 million KBO record deal in February with an agreement to be posted this offseason. The 26-year-old hit .283/.360/.505 with 29 home runs in 2026, showing right-handed power and a good plate approach, though concerns remain about swing-and-miss and arm strength at third base. Posted November 1.
5. Kona Takahashi, RHP (Seibu Lions) – Unranked. Posted last offseason but returned to Japan after not finding a suitable contract. The 30-year-old threw 148 innings with a 2.64 ERA in 2026. He sits 91-95 mph with a fastball and relies on a slider and splitter as primary secondary pitches, projecting as a potential innings-eater at the back of an MLB rotation. Now an international free agent, he can negotiate at his own pace.
6. Jyun-Yue Tseng, RHP (CPBL) – Unranked. The Chinese Taipei reliever saved 25 games with a 1.80 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 52⅓ innings in 2026. His fastball sits mid-90s and has touched 100 mph in the past. His breaking ball needs improvement for him to become more than a middle reliever in MLB.
