Phillies, Yankees Jockeying For 4-Time All-Star NPB Infield Slugger In Thin Market
The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees are reportedly among several high-profile MLB teams, including the Mets and Dodgers, pursuing star Japanese infielder Teruaki Sato this offseason. Both clubs are seeking an impact bat, as the domestic free-agent market for infield sluggers appears thin. Sato, a 27-year-old four-time Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star, could enter MLB via the posting system. He's a proven slugger who broke the NPB rookie home run record. The Phillies may be looking to replace Alec Bohm or Luis Arraez, while the Yankees seek an infield upgrade. Sato's availability makes him a highly coveted alternative given the limited options.
The Philadelphia Phillies could be up against an increasingly desperate New York Yankees front office this winter, as both clubs could be looking for another impact bat.
And, because the domestic free-agent market may not offer many obvious solutions, the two big-market contenders have been pursuing the same potential star addition.
For the Phillies and Yankees, as well as another pair of high-profile teams, an international free agent option could be seen as the solution to a lack of power from the domestic infield group.
“The Mets, Yankees, Dodgers and Phillies are among those to be linked to star Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato,” Max Ralph wrote for MLB.com. “Sato, 27, could come to MLB in the offseason through Nippon Professional Baseball’s posting system.”
Ralph cited Jon Heyman of the New York Post, who added that the Mets would like to see Bo Bichette stay at third base, with Sato taking over at first. The Yankees could be looking for an infield upgrade over Jazz Chisholm Jr. and the Phillies seem likely to move on from pending free agent infielder Alec Bohm and perhaps newcomer Luis Arraez.
Sato’s popularity among these teams might be aided by the fact that the upcoming domestic MLB free agent market appears relatively thin for infield slugging, with Chisholm, Bichette and Arraez poised to become the highest-profile options.
And Bichette seems likely to opt back into his Mets contract, per Heyman.
Though Sato partially stands out because of the lack of other looming options, he is also an accomplished player in his own right. With four Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star nods in five seasons, the 27-year-old could be seen as the next Munetaka Murakami by front offices.
The Hanshin Tigers star broke the NPB rookie home run record and has been a standout slugger in Japan since. He could use NPB's posting system to pursue an MLB opportunity this winter.
For the Phillies, adding another middle-of-the-order threat could help prevent the lineup from becoming overly dependent on its existing core. The Yankees face a similar question as they continue trying to maximize an offense built around several high-profile bats.
Neither team is guaranteed to pursue Sato aggressively, and the offseason is still months away. But if the domestic market remains as thin as expected, the four-time NPB All-Star could become one of the most coveted alternatives available.