Four Japanese superstars now available as posting season officially begins

Seibu Saitama Lions pitcher Kona Takahashi and Yomiuri Giants infielder Kazuma Okamoto have officially been posted by their Japanese teams and have entered the major league baseball free agent pool.

This brings the total number of Japanese players likely to be signed for 2026 to four. Earlier in November, Tatsuya Imai and Munetaka Murakami were also posted.

Other than Takahashi, the Toronto Blue Jays have been loosely connected to all players, and were among the teams who sent scouts to Japan to watch Okamoto play.

With the Blue Jays in need of pitching this offseason, Imai seems the most likely of the four to land in Toronto, although acquiring an infielder such as Murakami or Okamoto is not of the question.

Out of the two, Okamoto - who will be entering his age 30 season - is seen as the more complete player. However, whether or not the Blue Jays will seriously pursue either likely hinges on whether they reunite with Bo Bichette.

Its not only Japan and teams from Nippon Professional Baseball that have stars however.

Recently, it was announced that South Korean infielder Sung-Mun Song of the KBO has also entered MLB's free agent market.

While the shortstop didn't receive as much as attention as his Japanese counterparts, he had a very good season in Korea, hitting .315 with 26 home runs and 90 RBI's while playing for the Kiwoom Heroes.

Song could end up being the first one signing too; Korea's posting system is 30 only days, compared to NPB's 45, meaning that Moon's deadline is December 21st.

Either way, it is shaping up to be an eventful - and international - offseason.