SF Giants viewed as a team to watch in the NPB market

Could the SF Giants land one of the top players in the NPB market this offseason? Mark Feinsand of MLB.Com views them as a team to watch in that market and reports that they have already done the groundwork. 

SF Giants viewed as a team to watch in the NPB market

The NPB market includes a pair of pitchers in Tatsuya Imai and Kona Takahashi, and a pair of infielders in Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto.

Both Murakami and Okamoto are corner infielders, so on paper, there is not much of a fit for the Giants. They have the corners covered, with Matt Chapman at third base and Rafael Devers at first base. They also envision Bryce Eldridge taking reps at first base as well. The Giants scouted Murakami in the past. However, that was before the Devers trade.

There are also questions about how Murakami’s bat will play against major league pitching. He has plus raw power, but there are swing-and-miss concerns. The left-handed bat is on the younger side (25), so there is still room for growth.

On the other hand, Okamoto is a more polished hitter with above-average power. He should be able to help a team out right away, even if that team is not the Giants.

If the Giants sign anyone from the NPB market, it will likely be a pitcher. They have been connected to Tatsuya Imai a lot this offseason. The Saitama Seibu Lions posted him earlier this week, beginning his 45-day negotiating window. He has until January 2, 2026, to sign a deal with an MLB club.

In 2025, Imai pitched to a 1.92 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 9.8 K/9, and a 3.96 SO/W rate across 163.2 innings for the Lions. It marked the third straight year in which he made at least 20 starts and completed 150 innings.

The Lions also posted Kona Takahashi earlier this week. His posting window runs through January 4, 2026. Takahashi recorded a 3.04 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 5.4 K/9, and a 2.15 SO/W rate in 24 starts this past season.

Will the Giants land any of theses four players this offseason? Mark Feinsand leaves an interesting nugget at the end. He cites an industry source that believes the Giants “will get somebody out of this mix.”