2 NPB Teams Could Be Free Agent Fits for Pitcher Kaima Taira
Taira enters the posting system
Free agency is set to begin Monday now that the World Series is complete. Though this year’s free-agent class is described as less than strong, players from overseas could offer teams some less obvious options.
Taira, a Japanese right-hander, posted a 12-5 record, a 1.36 ERA and 141 strikeouts in 146 innings. He turns 27 on November 15 and has recorded a 1.78 ERA over eight NPB seasons.
Cubs need rotation answers
The Cubs could consider Taira after Matthew Boyd opted out of his contract and Clay Holmes did the same. Cade Horton is expected to miss most of 2027, adding to uncertainty around the rotation.
Chicago could pair Taira with Shota Imanaga as it looks to steady its pitching staff. The Cubs finished as the National League’s second wild card team and were eliminated in the wild card round this past October.
White Sox seek a leading arm
The White Sox took a 2-0 lead in the ALDS against the Cleveland Guardians but ultimately fell short. The team’s pitching depth was identified as a weakness, and it does not have a true ace leading its staff.
Adding Taira could give Chicago a high-upside starter and help its effort to make a deeper postseason run if it returns in 2027. The White Sox are also described as a small-market team that could benefit from uncertainty around labor negotiations.
Key points
- Taira entered MLB’s posting system after a 12-5 season with a 1.36 ERA.
- He has a 1.78 ERA over eight NPB seasons and turns 27 on November 15.
- The Cubs could add Taira amid rotation questions and expected absences in 2027.
- The White Sox could use a high-upside starter after their ALDS loss.