Hanshin to Post Teruaki Sato for MLB Teams This Offseason

The Hanshin Tigers said they will post Teruaki Sato to Major League Baseball teams this offseason, allowing the Japanese star to pursue a move to MLB. The decision, announced by general manager Satoshi Shimamura, supports Sato’s wish to play in North America, but neither his official posting nor a contract has been completed. Sato won the Central League Triple Crown in 2026, batting .306 with a .383 on-base percentage and .609 slugging percentage. He hit 39 home runs and drove in 106 runs in 614 plate appearances, according to the reported season statistics. He became the first player since Munetaka Murakami in 2022 to win the Triple Crown. Hanshin is expected to complete the posting after the Japanese season, with the Japan Series reported as scheduled to begin Saturday, October 24. Once officially posted, Sato would have 45 days to negotiate with MLB clubs. If he does not sign during that period, he would return to Hanshin for the 2027 season. A contract would also trigger a posting fee paid to Hanshin, calculated according to the deal’s value. The timing may be affected by the expiration of MLB’s labor agreement on December 1, 2026. Reports say a transactions freeze and...