It's still August, but the Mets are already doing homework on next winter's international market. Jon Heyman reported that New York is among the teams considering a run at Teruaki Sato, the Hanshin Tigers slugger who's been one of the best hitters in Japan the last two years.
https://t.co/dRcVdXccjd Mets, others considering Hanshin slugger Sato
Sato isn't some speculative flier. He won Central League MVP in 2025 after hitting.277/.345/.579 with a career-high 40 home runs, and he's followed it up in 2026 by slashing.324/.405/.617 with 21 more homers in 88 games. He's also picked up a Gold Glove at third base, so this isn't just a bat-only profile.
The expectation around the sport is that Sato tests the posting system in the 2026-27 offseason, even though he's short of the nine years of NPB service typically required for unrestricted free agency. That means Hanshin would have to sign off on an early posting, something the club has historically been reluctant to do.
That hasn't stopped scouts from showing up. Representatives from around 10 teams — including the Dodgers, Yankees, Cubs, Cardinals, Rangers and the Mets — have been spotted at Hanshin games this summer, all trying to get eyes on Sato in person before the market opens.
For the Mets, it's early smoke more than a serious pursuit at this stage, but it fits a pattern of a front office that's been willing to spend big and go international when the fit makes sense. Whether Sato actually gets posted still hinges on Hanshin's front office, and a possible offseason lockout could complicate the usual 45-day negotiating window once he does become available.
For now, this is just a name to file away. But if the Tigers do let him test the market, expect the Mets to be in the mix with a handful of the sport's biggest spenders chasing the same bat.