"Most of the focus this week has been on the concluding posting windows for NPB stars Tatsuya Imai and Kazuma Okamoto. They're not the only two Japanese free agents whose situations will be resolved within the next few days. Right-hander Kona Takahashi will also need to sign this week if he's going to make the jump to MLB this offseason. As MLB.com's Brian Murphy noted at the time, Takahashi was formally posted by the Seibu Lions on November 21."
"Imai and Okamoto are reportedly meeting with clubs in Los Angeles this week. There's little doubt that both players are going to sign before the end of their posting deadlines. That's less clear with Takahashi, who doesn't have nearly the same swing-and-miss upside that Imai brings to the table. Takahashi struck out only 14.3% of batters faced across 24 starts in 2025. He has never recorded a strikeout rate higher than 20% in an NPB season."
"Takahashi is headed into his age-29 season. He has been an effective control artist in Japan, walking fewer than 7% of batters faced in consecutive seasons. He posted a 3.04 earned run average over 148 innings last year and owns a 3.39 mark over parts of 11 NPB campaigns. James Fegan and Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs wrote in October that Takahashi projected as a fifth starter in MLB."
Three Japanese free agents — Tatsuya Imai, Kazuma Okamoto, and Kona Takahashi — face posting deadlines in early January, with Takahashi’s window closing January 4. Imai and Okamoto are meeting with Los Angeles clubs and are widely expected to sign before their deadlines. Takahashi’s move to MLB is less certain because of limited swing-and-miss ability; he struck out only 14.3% of batters in 2025 and has never exceeded a 20% K rate in an NPB season. Takahashi has shown strong control and dependable ERA results, projects as a fifth starter, and his camp reportedly contacted three teams, though any offers or willingness to accept a minor-league deal remain unclear.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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