Major League Baseball teams have officially begun pursuing roster upgrades following the opening of the free agency period. Teams are once again looking toward overseas talent from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league and South Korea’s Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) to bolster their depth ahead of the 2027 season.
Posting System Rules and Transfer Fees
International player acquisitions operate under a structured posting system between MLB and its Asian counterpart leagues. Posted NPB players receive a 45-day negotiation window to agree to terms with an MLB team, while KBO players are given 30 days. If a player does not sign before the deadline, they return to their domestic club. The MLB team signing a posted player must pay a release fee to the original overseas club based on the contract’s total value.
The posting fee structure imposes a 20 percent fee on contracts up to $25 million. For contracts between $25 million and $50 million, the fee is $5 million plus 17.5 percent of the amount over $25 million. For contracts exceeding $50 million, the fee rises to $9.375 million plus 15 percent of the excess above $50 million. Last offseason, the Chicago White Sox paid the Yakult Swallows a $6.575 million posting fee for Munetaka Murakami’s $34 million deal, calculated as $5 million for the first $25 million plus $1.575 million for the remaining $9 million.
For the current offseason, KBO players must sign by Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. ET. According to reporting by The Athletic, the 45-day negotiation window for NPB players will continue running without pause even if MLB owners initiate a lockout on Dec. 1.
Key NPB and KBO Players Available
While this winter’s market lacks elite stars on the level of Shohei Ohtani or Yoshinobu Yamamoto, several notable players remain positioned to make an impact. CBS Sports identified five key international players entering MLB free agency this offseason.
Teruaki Sato (3B, Hanshin Tigers)
Ranked fourth on CBS Sports’ top 50 free agents list, the Japanese Triple Crown winner produced a .306/.383/.609 batting line with 39 home runs in 2026. Sato features substantial power, though he recorded a 66 percent contact rate last season compared to the 77 percent MLB average. Evaluators project he will eventually move to first base or a corner outfield spot. The Hanshin Tigers officially posted Sato on Nov. 1, with the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and New York Yankees listed as potential landing spots.
Kaima Taira (RHP, Seibu Lions)
Ranked 19th overall, the 5-foot-8 right-hander relies on an unusual release window generated by roughly seven feet of extension down the mound. Taira features a mid-90s four-seam fastball alongside a cutter, sinker, sweeper, slider, changeup, and splitter. After pitching as a reliever in 2024 and 2025, he moved into Seibu’s starting rotation in 2026. The Lions posted Taira on Nov. 1, with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and San Diego Padres named as potential fits.
Hiroki Itoh (RHP, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters)
Ranked 26th by CBS Sports, Itoh won Japan’s Eiji Sawamura Award in 2025 after delivering a 2.52 ERA over 196 2/3 innings. In 2026, the 5-foot-9 right-hander recorded a 3.18 ERA across 172 2/3 innings. He throws seven different pitches led by a low-90s fastball, though his velocity reached 96 mph during relief appearances in the World Baseball Classic. Posted on Nov. 1, Itoh is viewed as a back-end starter, with potential landing spots including the Los Angeles Angels, Giants, and Padres.
Si-Hwan Roh (3B, Hanwha Eagles)
Unranked in the top 50, the 26-year-old infielder hit .283/.360/.505 with 29 home runs in 2026. Roh signed an 11-year contract worth approximately $23 million with Hanwha in February, which included an agreement allowing him to be posted for MLB clubs while requiring him to return to the Eagles to finish his career. Hanwha posted Roh on Nov. 1, with the Miami Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cincinnati Reds listed as potential destinations.
Kona Takahashi (RHP)
Unlike posted players, the 30-year-old right-hander enters the market as an unrestricted international free agent. Takahashi returned to Japan after going unsigned during his posting window last offseason, recording a 2.64 ERA across 148 innings in 2026. A ground-ball pitcher who sits between 91 and 95 mph with his fastball, Takahashi utilizes a slider, splitter, cutter, and curveball. He can negotiate with any team without posting restrictions, with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Rays, and White Sox emerging as potential options.
