The Orix Buffaloes just won the Japan Series, becoming the champions of Nippon Professional Baseball’s 2022 season. Now, the Buffaloes may immediately face a major roster decision, as GM Junichi Fukura told The Japan Times last week that the team will speak with outfielder Masataka Yoshida about a possible posting for MLB teams. Yoshida is seeking a move to North America, telling reporters “I’ve always wanted to play at a high level.”
Over his seven seasons with the Buffaloes, Yoshida has become one of NPB’s top hitters, with a .327/.421/.539 slash line and 133 home runs in 3129 career plate appearances. His resume includes four NPB All-Star appearances, league batting titles in both 2020 and 2021, and four selections to the “Best Nine” roster for the Pacific League (like the AL and NL in the majors, NPB has the Pacific League and Central League). Yoshida was also the hero in Game 5 of the Japan Series, with a two-homer performance that included a three-run walkoff blast to give the Buffaloes a comeback win.
Yoshida turns 30 next July, so it would seem like he still has some more prime years to contribute as he makes the potential move to Major League Baseball. He would make an intriguing addition to this year’s free agent market, particularly for teams in need of left-handed hitting.
Because Yoshida hasn’t played enough to earn full free agency, the Buffaloes would have to agree to post the outfielder, and the NPB club would then receive a posting fee based on whatever Yoshida would earn in a Major League contract. Once posted, Yoshida and his representatives would have 30 days to negotiate with MLB teams, and he would return to the Buffaloes if no deal was reached with a North American club within that 30-day window. Yoshida would be eligible to be posted again next offseason, and following the 2024 season, he’d have enough service time to enter free agency without the limits of the posting system.
Any info about Munetaka Murakami? Dude will be just 23 next year (same age as Ohtani when he debut in Major) but hitting better than Yoshida and Seiya Suzuki
Too good and young to be posted most likely. Same as Sasaki
Ohtani jump to the Major at 23, will be the same age if Murakami jump to the MLB next year too.
Somebody tell Japanese teams to post some 2Bs, this year’s free agent crop is downright dismal.
#FreeYamada
@Darkside – any idea what is up with Yamada? For a while it seemed like he was going to be the next guy posted and then I think he signed a longterm deal in the NPB. Is he just content there?
He is not as good as he was.His best time was 2015-2017 seasons,2019was also good.But after that he struggle
While he is still star player in NPB standard,but he is not mlb candidates player.
His batting average is only .243 this year,
Sure,he is sabar favored type player and earn 4-5 WAR this year,
But not great enough to go MLB
Murakami play 3rd base in his whole career with the Yakult, play 1st base in high school. Probably can move to the 2nd base. Remember Akinori Iwamura? Dude is 3rd base while in Yakult but playing 2nd base in Tampa Bays. Akinori himself talk to the media that he brought outfield gloves too to the spring camp in his first year with the Tampa, in case the team asked him to playing OF
I would love to see this guy play in Philly along side Harper, but the only way I see that is a trade of Hoskins, moving Schwarber to 1st to free up a spot, and I don’t know if that’s the way to go
Hoskins just had arguably his best season, don’t see them trading him. It would be a happy story to see Yoshida play for his favorite team but I don’t think the Phillies take that risk.
That last year could be considered a high water mark for Rhys is exactly why he needs to go.
I find it really odd that Philly fans are in such a rush to get rid of Hoskins and his .846 career OPS.
Hoskins is heading into his last year before free agency and he’s a Boras client. He obviously cannot play defense and is a slow runner. Harper likely is a DH next season and the shift is going away, so better defense is a necessity. You can’t keep everybody. Hoskins is caught in between a lot of factors, and the Phillies have baseball needs plus the business of baseball makes Hoskins the odd man out whether they get Yoshida or not. Hoskins needs to go DH somewhere. His true value is as a DH that should be in the 5th or 6th spot in the lineup. What kind of contract in years and money would you want to dedicate to Hoskins? Four years, $60M? That money is better spent on pitching. I say all this as a Hoskins fan. He’s a terrific person and teammate, but his time in Philly is up…
Dude is a huge Phillies fan. Naned his dog after Bryce Harper, but unfortunately the Phillies have too many OFs.
Is he a Phillies fan or a Harper fan?
Seems like both from his social media, but really at the end of the day he’s a professional athlete and his fandom doesn’t mean that much.
Don’t the Jays need lefty hitting help?
Masataka Yoshida should be a top priority for the White Sox if he’s posted. He’s 29, bats left-handed, rarely fans, produces high BA/OBP numbers, has decent pop and has managed a better than 2-1 BB/SO ratio over his past 3 seasons in Japan.
Yoshida would also be an excellent complement to fellow countryman Seiya Suzuki in the Cubs outfield and batting order. Yoshida has produced an eye-popping 213/96 SO/BB ratio over his past 3 seasons in Japan.
Cubs need to sign this guy, that will solidify their bid for Ohtani in ’24, who they could trade for at the deadline if they are in contention this season.
They would have a trio of Japanese players, that would be very marketable, Cubs would be become a very big thing Japan.
The Angels should have signed Suzuki, they missed out on the Japanese trio.
Don’t know if I ever mentioned this but.. I’m big in Japan
At 6’2″ I could be as well! If I put on a couple of hundred pounds I could become SumoSap. Samosa might also work…
I’m just big
Yes. The Cubs would become Japan’s team while the White Sox are Havana nice long run in Cuba.
Since people have commented on him being a huge Phillies fan, why not Platoon him with Castellanos? Could work.. maybe
His ability to get on base consistently is exactly what the Phils need in their lineup.
You want to make Castellanos a $20M platoon player?
He’s listed as 5’8”, 176 lbs. and has excellent contact skills/low K’s. Doesn’t profile as a power hitter. Clearly Cleveland bound!
Doubt they will pony up in a posting war.
He’d be a godsend to fill our hole in LF and likely help offset the loss of Ohtani.
Doubt Arte tries anything big this off season, though.
Yankees need a left handed OF, and his power numbers might translate well to Yankees Stadium.
Super interesting player here. Absurd 80/41 bb/k ratio last season with power. Think the question mark is how well that power potential translates to mlb. With the Yankees considering a benintendi return, you’d have to think Yoshida would be a conversation for them if he is indeed posted
Does he play CF?
Seattle needs him and could use him. Resign Haniger then would have an elite outfield and can trade surplus outfielders for pitching. Haniger Rodriguez and Yoshida would be a top outfield then sign one of the shortstop need only one more starter to go deep in playoffs in 24
He might as well make his first stop the closest to home. We could have Ichiro pick him up with Griffey they could explain why he just needs to sign here. He could call a number of Japanese players and get a good report. Would make a great addition Senga too if he comes over.
Not sure pitching is a need they need to address first a couple bats are needed more. If Senga came over they could try him even though our last pitcher from there didn’t work so well. Just keep making the team better Jerry.
Taking Bellingers spot!!
Toronto should definitely be in on this guy if he’s posted, as well as Kodai Senga.