Saitama Seibu Lions to Post Ace Kaima Taira for MLB Bidding

The Saitama Seibu Lions have announced they will approve the posting of right-handed pitcher Kaima Taira, making him available to all 30 MLB clubs, as MLB.com first reported. According to the outlet, Taira will enter a 45-day negotiation window once the posting is official.

Taira, who is 26 and turns 27 on Nov. 15, arrives in the U.S. market following a dominant stretch in Nippon Professional Baseball. After serving as a reliever in 2025—where he posted a 1.71 ERA and recorded 31 saves—Taira returned to the starting rotation for the 2026 season. MLB.com reports that Taira led the 2026 ERA rankings, finishing the year with a 1.36 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP over 23 games. Career data from Baseball-Reference shows Taira maintains a 1.78 ERA and a 9.4 K/9 across eight NPB seasons.

While Taira stands 5-foot-8, his arsenal is designed for high-impact performance. MLB.com notes that his fastball reaches the mid-to-upper 90s and is supported by a variety of secondary pitches, including a splitter, changeup, sweeper, and cutter. A Pacific Rim scout told MLB.com's Michael Clair that Taira is a student of analytics with a big fastball and numerous secondaries. MLB.com suggests Taira's overall stuff may be the second-best available on the open market this winter, surpassed only by Tarik Skubal, a two-time Cy Young Award winner.

There is an ongoing debate regarding Taira's ideal role. MLB.com indicates that some teams may prefer Taira in the bullpen to maximize his velocity and preserve his health. The outlet points out that pitchers of Taira's size rarely achieve long-term success as starters in MLB; since 1979, Marcus Stroman is the only pitcher 5-foot-8 or shorter to exceed 100 innings in a season, aside from Fred Norman. However, MLB.com notes that 5-foot-10 starters Shota Imanaga and Yoshinobu Yamamoto have found success using low release points to enhance their fastballs. Whether a team is willing to utilize Taira as a starter could influence his final signing decision.

Because Taira is over the age of 25, there are no restrictions on the total value or the length of the contract he signs. The Saitama Seibu Lions will receive a release fee based on the final value of the deal. If Taira fails to sign within the 45-day window, he will return to the NPB and cannot be posted again until the following offseason. Taira joins Teruaki Sato, the Hanshin Tigers' Central League Triple Crown winner and 2025 CL MVP, as the first NPB players seeking a move to MLB this winter.