One year after he was posted and chose to stay in Japan, Seibu Lions right-hander Kona Takahashi has filed for international free agency. Japanese reports say MLB is his top priority, but domestic clubs, including champion SoftBank, are already circling.
Kona Takahashi is a free agent in the making. The Saitama Seibu Lions announced on Nov. 2 that the 29-year-old right-hander had decided to exercise his international free-agent rights. Takahashi personally visited the club’s facility in Tokorozawa, Saitama, to submit the paperwork (Pacific League.com / Hochi; Nikkan Sports).
In a statement released through the club, Takahashi said he made the decision “thinking about the rest of my baseball career” and “valuing what I want to do.” He also thanked the Lions and their fans for 12 seasons of support (Pacific League.com; translated by NPB Wire).
Why this is different from last winter
For Western readers, the key distinction is posting vs. international free agency.
- Last offseason, Seibu allowed Takahashi to go through the posting system. Nikkan Sports reports that three MLB clubs made offers, but he ultimately stayed with the Lions (Nikkan Sports).
- This time, he met the service-time requirement for international free agency in May (Nikkan Sports). As an international free agent, he is not limited to a posting window, and an MLB team that signs him would not owe Seibu a release fee. He is also free to sign with another NPB club, which a posted player cannot do.
That last point matters. Nikkan Sports reported that Takahashi is prioritizing a move to the majors, but a domestic move or a return to Seibu remain possible. SoftBank and DeNA have reportedly shown interest (Nikkan Sports). SoftBank chief baseball officer Kenji Johjima told Sponichi the club has been evaluating him, calling him “definitely an attractive pitcher,” while noting his strong MLB leaning (Sponichi Annex). Nikkei also reported that he is keeping domestic clubs in view (Nikkei).
The numbers
- 2026: 9-6, 2.54 ERA in 22 starts (Pacific League.com)
- Career: 82 wins over 12 NPB seasons, with four double-digit win seasons (Nikkan Sports)
- Low point: Went 0-11 in 2024
The 2024 season is the part of his record scouts will ask about, and Takahashi addressed it himself. In his statement, he recalled that the year he could not win a single game was painful. He said fans’ encouragement during that stretch kept him going.
How the timing works
Takahashi’s situation also intersects with MLB’s labor calendar. The current collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1, and a lockout is widely expected. During a lockout, MLB clubs cannot sign players to major league contracts. For posted players, reports by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and the New York Post’s Joel Sherman indicate deals must be finalized before the deadline (Yahoo Sports; Sponichi Annex). As an international free agent, Takahashi is not bound by a posting window. Even so, if he wants an MLB deal before a potential freeze, his camp has the same rough deadline as the posted players.
The domestic market moves on its own schedule. If MLB talks stall, NPB clubs can keep negotiating with him. For an NPB club, that makes a wait-and-see approach far less risky than it would be for an MLB team.
NPB Wire’s take
Takahashi enters a crowded market for Japanese starters. Kaima Taira and Hiromi Itoh were posted the day before he filed. Takahashi’s edge is cost: no release fee and, for an MLB club, no posting-window pressure. A 2.54 ERA over 22 starts also rebuilds the case that the 2024 collapse was an outlier. The risk for MLB suitors is that he has a real domestic alternative this time. SoftBank, fresh off a second straight Japan Series title (NPB.jp), is a club that has publicly confirmed its interest.
SoftBank’s interest has been confirmed on the record by chief baseball officer Kenji Johjima; DeNA’s interest is based on Japanese media reports and has not been confirmed by the club. NPB Wire will update this story as it develops.