Japanese players Teruaki Sato, Kaima Taira and Hiromi Itoh enter MLB posting system

NEW YORK (AP) — Infielder Teruaki Sato of the Central League's Hanshin Tigers and right-handers Kaima Taira of the Saitama Seibu Lions and Hiromi Itoh of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in the Pacific League are entering Major League Baseball’s posting system and will be available to teams to sign as a free agent from Monday until Dec. 16.

Infielder Si-Hwan Roh of South Korea's Hanwha Eagles is entering the posting system and can sign as a free agent from until Dec. 1.

Sato, a left-handed-hitting 27-year-old third baseman and occasional outfielder, hit .306 with 39 homers and 106 RBIs this year, winning the Central League's Triple Crown. He was the Central League's MVP in 2025, when he batted .277 with 40 homers and 102 RBIs. Sato was 3 for 10 with two RBIs for Japan in this year's World Baseball Classic.

Taira, who turns 27 on Nov. 15, moved back into the starting rotation this season and was 12-5, leading the Japanese major leagues with a 1.36 ERA. He had 31 saves in 2025.

Itoh, 29, helped Japan win a a gold medal at the 2021 Olympics, pitching five scoreless innings over three games, and also pitched for the Samurai at this year's World Baseball Classic. He was 10-10 with a 3.18 ERA and 159 strikeouts in 172 2/3 innings this year. He won the 2025 Sawamura Award, Japan's version of the Cy Young Award.

Roh, a 25-year-old right-handed hitter, batted .283 with 25 homers and 96 RBIs this season.

While the posting period for players from Japanese clubs is 45 days, it is 30 days for players from South Korean teams. The deadline to sign is at 5 p.m. EST on the final day of the posting period.

MLB is likely to lock out the Major League Baseball Players Association when their collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1. During the lockout that began on Dec. 2, 2021, posted players were frozen during the work stoppage and signing windows continued after an agreement between MLB and the union was reached on March 10.

Under MLB’s posting agreements with Nippon Professional Baseball and the Korea Baseball Organizations, the posting fee would be 20% of the first $25 million of a major league contract, including earned bonuses and options. The percentage drops to 17.5% of the next $25 million and 15% of any amount over $50 million. There would be a supplemental fee of 15% of any earned bonuses, salary escalators and exercised options.

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FILE - Team Korea's Roh Si-hwan is struck out during the exhibition game between the Team Korea and San Diego Padres at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, on March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-Joon, File)

Seibu Lions's Kaima Taira celebrates as he set a new Nippon Professional Baseball record with 39 consecutive scoreless games at a stadium in Fukuoka, southern Japan, on July 1, 2021. (Kyodo News via AP)

FILE - Japan's pitcher Hiromi Itoh prepares to pitch during the six inning of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against Japan, on March 14, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, FIle)

FILE - Japan's Teruaki Sato hits a double during the eighth inning of a World Baseball Classic game between Japan and Australia, March 8, 2026 in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

ST. LOUIS (AP) — First basemen Christian Walker of Houston and Matt Olson of Atlanta won their fourth Gold Gloves on Sunday while Boston right fielder Wilyer Abreu won the fielding honor for the third year in a row.

The Red Sox and Arizona tied for the high with three Gold Glove winners each. Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela earned the honor for the second straight season and third baseman Caleb Durbin was a first-time winner.

Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno won his second Gold Glove, his first since 2023, while shortstop Geraldo Perdomo and right fielder Corbin Carroll were first-time winners.

Walker added to Gold Gloves he won in 2022, ‘23 and ’24. Olson also earned the honor in 2018, ‘19 and ’25.

Braves utility man Mauricio Dubón won his third Gold Glove after 2023 and '25.

Other second-time winners included Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman and center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger; Detroit catcher Dillon Dingler; and Milwaukee second baseman Brice Turang.

Additional first-time winners included Cleveland pitcher Tanner Bibee; Milwaukee left fielder Jackson Chourio; Texas utility man Ezequiel Duran; New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean; Tampa Bay shortstop Tanner Walls' and Seattle second baseman Cole Young.

Voting was conducted among managers and up to six coaches from each team, who can’t select players on their own club. Since 2013, voting has been factored with a Society for American Baseball Research defensive index, which comprises about 25% of the total.

The utility category is based on a SABR formula and additional defensive statistics.

Walker earned a $75,000 bonus for winning the honor, Bibee $50,000 and Turang $25,000.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers' Andy Pages (44) singles as Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson reaches for the throw during the eighth inning in Game 3 of baseball's National League Division Series, on Oct. 6, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

FILE - Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker fields a ball hit by Athletics' Jeff McNeil during the fourth inning of a baseball game on Sept. 27, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis, File)

FILE - Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson warms up during the team's batting practice ahead of Game 4 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, on Oct. 7, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

FILE - Houston Astros' Christian Walker at bat against Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Erick Fedde during the ninth inning of Game 2 in baseball's American League Wild Card Series Series, on Sept. 30, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren, File)