Three Japanese Players Enter MLB Posting System
Japanese players Teruaki Sato, Kaima Taira, and Hiromi Itoh have entered the MLB posting system.
Eugene, OR, November 1, 2026 — Three Japanese baseball players, Teruaki Sato, Kaima Taira, and Hiromi Itoh, have officially entered Major League Baseball’s (MLB) posting system. This process allows players from foreign professional leagues, most notably Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan, to negotiate with MLB teams.
The posting system is a formal procedure established between MLB and the NPB. When a player is posted, their team in Japan grants MLB clubs a 30-day window to negotiate a contract. If a contract is agreed upon, the MLB team pays a fee to the Japanese club. If no agreement is reached within the window, the player typically remains with their Japanese team for at least one more year before being eligible to enter the system again.
The names of the players who have entered the system are Teruaki Sato, Kaima Taira, and Hiromi Itoh. Further details regarding the specific teams they play for in Japan, their positions, or their expected contract statuses were not provided in the initial announcement.
The entry of these players into the posting system signals their intent to pursue careers in Major League Baseball. Historically, the system has been a significant pathway for top Japanese talent to reach North America, with players like Shohei Ohtani and Masahiro Tanaka having successfully navigated this process.
The 30-day negotiation period will commence following the official posting. During this time, MLB teams will have the opportunity to evaluate the players and make offers. The outcome of these negotiations and the specific terms of any potential contracts will be a focus for baseball observers. The exact timeline for the conclusion of this negotiation period was not specified.
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