Toronto Blue Jays expected to target Japanese power hitter in free agency

There's another big-name Japanese star hitting MLB free agency this offseason, and the Toronto Blue Jays are expected to be among the several teams in pursuit.

Outfielder Teruaki Sato has torn up Japan's NPB over the past two seasons, hitting nearly 80 home runs and driving in more than 200 runs across 282 games. Now, he's ready for the major leagues.

According to Japanese outlet Kyodo News, Sato's current team, the Hanshin Tigers, has accepted his posting request. The approval opens a 45-day window for MLB teams to negotiate a contract with the 27-year-old slugger, and Toronto is expected to be among those interested.

During their end-of-season press conference, Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins both said the team wants to expand its presence in the Japanese market — and pursuing Sato could help them do just that.

The Hanshin Tigers accepted Teruaki Sato's posting request 👀 The 27-year-old slashed .306/.383/.609 with a 196 wRC+ and 39 homers over 143 NPB games this year. Sato hit 163 homers over six years. https://t.co/pI03asZGzU

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) October 19, 2026

"The Japanese market will obviously be something we will explore again this winter," Shapiro said.

Sato is coming off the best season of his career, hitting .306 with 39 home runs and 106 RBIs. He also became just the ninth player in NPB history to win the Triple Crown by leading the league in batting average, home runs, and RBIs.

Adding Sato could be a major boost for a Blue Jays team that struggled to score runs last season, finishing dead last in the majors when it came to driving in runners.

Sato's numbers at the plate from his most recent season would have put him at the top of every single Blue Jays batting category.

Though, of course, the two leagues are very different and the production from the NPB to the MLB doesn't always translate — however, it did in Toronto's most recent Japanese signing Kazuma Okamoto, who led the Blue Jays with 33 home runs in his rookie year.

Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto hit a franchise record 33 home runs in his rookie season. (Dan Hamilton/Imagn Images)

For some perspective around Sato's potential value, Toronto signed Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million deal last offseason, and potential AL Rookie of the Year candidate Munetaka Murakami signed a two-year, $34 million contract with the Chicago White Sox.

Sato could command upwards of $20 million per year, which could also become an issue for Toronto's front office if the proposed hard salary cap of $245.3 million is introduced. Even without Sato, the Blue Jays are already $8 million above the proposed threshold.

According to Yahoo Japan, Sato plans to travel to North America in November to begin meeting with interested teams, though baseball fans may have to wait until the end of the month to learn where he'll sign.