Two big names out of Japan are officially on their way to Major League Baseball, with their NPB clubs announcing over the weekend that pitchers Kaima Taira and Hiromi Itoh are being posted. But hold up, there is a massive catch: the posting window is T-Mobile Park-tight, and a looming lockout means clubs need to move fast if they want to snag this talent before everything grinds to a halt.
Kaima Taira’s Journey to the Mound
First up, the Seibu Lions wasted no time, announcing on Saturday their plan to post Kaima Taira. This dude turns 27 on November 15, and he has already put in nine seasons with Seibu. He has mostly been a relief guy, but he did get some starting nods too. And his numbers? Absolutely electric. In 2026, Taira rocked a 1.36 ERA with 141 strikeouts and 45 walks across 146 innings over 23 games. That’s following a 2025 where he posted a 1.71 ERA in 31 games over 52 2/3 innings. For his career in Japan, the right-hander boasts a 1.85 ERA with 676 strikeouts and 252 walks over 633 2/3 innings in 351 games.
This isn’t some quiet entry either. Taira is coming in hot with some serious goals. The Japanese news agency Kyodo quoted him saying, “As a pitcher, my goal is to win a Cy Young award,” adding, “And I’d like to pitch in the World Series as well.” Talk about setting the bar high right out of the gate, huh?
Hiromi Itoh’s Deep Arsenal Arrives
Then on Sunday, the Nippon-Ham Fighters dropped their own bomb, announcing they’re posting ace right-hander Hiromi Itoh. This 29-year-old has six years in NPB under his belt and he is a strikeout machine. Last year, Itoh had a 3.18 ERA in 26 games, racking up 159 strikeouts and 34 walks in 172 2/3 innings. Over his entire NPB career, he is sitting on a 2.91 ERA with a whopping 914 strikeouts and 247 walks in 1008 2/3 innings.
MLB.com’s Michael Clair caught up with a Pacific Rim scout who had some insights on Itoh. Our scout thinks, “He could be an up and down starter, but maybe in relief he might show some more velocity. In the previous WBC, he came out of the bullpen and he was 94-96 with some nasty stuff.” So, a potential ace or a lights-out bullpen arm? What is not to love? And even though he might lack size, Itoh brings a wild pitch mix, with Yakyu Cosmopolitan noting he has “10+ unique grips and shapes.” This guy is basically a mad scientist on the mound. Itoh himself wants fans to know he is not just about the pitches. He said, “I would like the fans in the U.S. and everywhere else to know that I am not just pitching, but that I enjoy myself on the mound. I like to express my excitement and joy.” We are ready for that energy, Hiromi!
The Clock is Ticking
Here is the deal: Japanese players can be posted any time from November 1 to December 5, and once they are posted, they have 45 days to sign a contract. But everyone in baseball knows you can expect any Japanese players posted this offseason to sign on the early end. Why? Because a lockout is coming on December 1 at 8:59 p.m. PT. That means clubs have barely three weeks to get these deals done before the whole league slams shut.
These guys are not just some international prospects, either. Since Taira turns 27 on November 15 and has nine seasons under his belt, and Itoh is 29 with six years, they are both at least 25 years old with at least six years of professional experience in a foreign league. That means they can sign as major league free agents, sidestepping those international amateur signing bonus limits that guys like Roki Sasaki were subject to before the 2025 season. This is for real money, big league contracts.
Last offseason saw some other big Japanese names make the leap, too. First baseman Munetaka Murakami inked a two year, $34 million deal with the Chicago White Sox. Third baseman Kazuma Okamoto grabbed a four year, $60 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. So the precedent is there, the talent is here, but the clock is ticking, ticking, ticking. Get ready, baseball, because these two could be lighting up MLB real soon, that is, if they can beat the lockout deadline.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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