MLB teams are always on the lookout for Japanese stars that can make an impact.
The free agent market in MLB is not always filled with options at certain positions, and some organizations turn to Japan to look for upgrades for their roster.
The Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league is considered the second-best in the world, and more often than not, their players manage to successfully transition to MLB.
In the 2022-23 offseason, we may have a couple of excellent players from NPB join Major League Baseball: pitcher Kodai Senga and outfielder Masataka Yoshida.
Senga, in particular, could be an extemely attractive option for teams looking for a frontline starter.
The next Japanese pitching phenom could be MLB bound 👀
Which team could use him most? pic.twitter.com/KFLWYNCymL
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 13, 2022
He has a lifetime 104-51 record with a 2.42 ERA in 11 seasons in NPB.
He started pitching so young (not uncommon for Japanese pitchers in their own league) that he is still somehow only 29.
A Quality, Experienced Pitcher In His Prime
In other words, he is still in his prime.
The other thing working in his favor is that he won’t be subject to the posting process: his arrival to MLB should be smoother and won’t require the team that signs him to pay the posting team in Japan a fee.
Senga is an Olympic medalist with Japan in 2020, played in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, and is a five-time Japan Series champion.
He is really the whole package: young, good, and experienced, so he is shooting for a multi-year contract in the best baseball league in the world.
With so many teams looking for quality pitchers, Senga is in line to get paid.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are one of the teams rumored to be after his services.
He would make an already excellent rotation truly elite.
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