PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks are looking into one of the most intriguing bats on the free-agent market, Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato, according to a report from The Athletic cited by Arizona Sports.
Ken Rosenthal, Katie Woo and Will Sammon reported that the Diamondbacks are “doing their due diligence” on Sato, a left-handed power hitter who has been posted by the Hanshin Tigers this offseason.
Sato won Japan’s Triple Crown this season, hitting .306 with 39 home runs and 106 RBIs in 143 games in a league considered friendly to pitchers. He hit 40 home runs in 2025.
Arizona needs a left-handed bat. The Diamondbacks were among the worst-hitting teams against right-handed pitching last season with a .697 OPS, compared with a .782 OPS against lefties, Arizona Sports noted.
The competition will be stiff. The New York Yankees, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers are among teams with reported interest.
Timing is also a factor. Sato’s usual 45-day posting window is expected to be cut short by a possible lockout, meaning he would have to return to Japan for another season if he does not sign by Dec. 1, Arizona Sports reported.
Owner Ken Kendrick has said the payroll is expected to go down next season, though money is coming off the books for Zac Gallen and Lourdes Gurriel Jr., among others.
Sources: Arizona Sports. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
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