Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida will have busy days ahead with the posting system with the Japanese big leagues underway.
The 29-year-old player can start negotiations with teams starting Wednesday, December 7, starting at 8:00 AM EST.
MLB teams will have until 5:00 PM EST on January 20 to secure an agreement with the member of Japan’s Olympic team from last year.
The southpaw batter hit .350 with two RBIs as Japan won last year’s Olympic gold medal.
Yoshida played for the Orix Buffaloes in Japan’s Pacific League this year. He hit .335 with 21 homers and 88 RBIs in 119 games.
Hence it comes as no surprise that the Buffaloes have officially posted for the Japanese outfielder, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.
Hence, Yoshida will have 30 days to find a deal with a Major League team or return to Orix in 2023.
One team linked to the outfielder is the Seattle Mariners.
According to the Seattle Times, the Mariners are coming off a rare season with no Japanese player in their 40-man roster.
This ended a streak that dates back to 1996, the time when Makato Suzuki made his debut for Seattle.
If all goes well, the Mariners could test the waters of possibly signing Yoshida.
He could be insured in the event they are unable to land another proven talent in Shohei Ohtani, who is set to become a free agent after the 2023 season.
Seattle made a move for “Shotime” last time out but finished runner-up in their first attempt at signing the two-way sensation.
This year’s free agency is not stacked although there are big names available. That list includes Aaron Judge and Brandon Nimmo, two players forecasted to get nine-figure deals.
As far as Yoshida, the money he stands to earn will depend on how he is evaluated.
There is no telling if he will be dangled in a contract that would rival the top names in the free agent market.
Lastly, Yoshida’s plight could follow that of Seiya Suzuki.
One of the highly touted sluggers posted a year ago, Suzuki ended up signing a five-year deal with the Chicago Cubs, agreeing to a five-year deal worth $85 million.
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