When the 2026 season wraps up, there's a good chance that an intriguing slugger is going to be coming over from Japan.
Teruaki Sato of the Hanshin Tigers has already been talked about as a guy who could end up being posted this winter. If he does get posted, there are already a handful of teams that have been connected to the 27-year-old.
The New York Yankees, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and the Los Angele Dodgers have all been connected to Sato, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post and shared by MLB Trade Rumors' Mark Polishuk.
"Hanshin Tigers slugger Teruaki Sato was expected to be posted for MLB teams this winter even before he delivered big numbers during the 2026 NPB season," Polishuk wrote. "With Sato on pace for the best season of his six-year stint with the Tigers, big league clubs like the Mets, Yankees, Phillies, and Dodgers have all been 'linked to Sato' as possible suitors this winter, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
"The report comes as little surprise, given that all four of these teams are routinely in the market for top-tier Japanese talent."
Sato may not be known by the typical MLB fan right now, but this is a guy with elite pop. In six seasons for Hanshin, Sato has crushed 155 long balls. Last year, he hit 40, which is his career high in a season. So far this season, he has hit 27.
It's certainly going to be a fun offseason.
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