DARREN YAMASHITA-IMAGN IMAGES Yomiuri Giants first baseman Kazuma Okamoto hits a single, on March 16, against the Chicago Cubs during the second inning at Tokyo Dome. Slugger Kazuma Okamoto and right-hander Kona Takahashi became the latest Japanese stars posted for MLB free agency today.

DARREN YAMASHITA-IMAGN IMAGES

Yomiuri Giants first baseman Kazuma Okamoto hits a single, on March 16, against the Chicago Cubs during the second inning at Tokyo Dome. Slugger Kazuma Okamoto and right-hander Kona Takahashi became the latest Japanese stars posted for MLB free agency today.

Slugger Kazuma Okamoto and right-hander Kona Takahashi became the latest Japanese stars posted for MLB free agency today.

Both players can negotiate with teams during a 45-day window that opens Friday at 8 a.m. ET. and closes on Jan. 4 at 5 p.m. ET. If either remains unsigned, he would return to his Nippon Professional Baseball club.

Okamoto, 29, was posted by the Yomiuri Giants and Takahashi, 28, by the Saitama Seibu Lions.

Tokyo Yakult Swallows slugger Munetaka Murakami and Seibu Lions right-hander Tatsuya Imai were both posted earlier this month.

Okamoto, who plays third base and first base, is a six-time All-Star with 248 home runs in 1,074 career games. He posted six consecutive 30-homer campaigns from 2018-23. He was part of Japan’s World Baseball Classic championship team in 2023, homering in the final against the United States.

Takahashi compiled a 2.20 ERA and 1.13 WHIP across 330 2/3 innings from 2022-23. His numbers slipped in 2024 (3.54 ERA) and 2025 (3.04 ERA).

Don’t miss out on what’s happening!