The Philadelphia Phillies are trying to get a head start on the upcoming offseason free agency. According to a report out of Japan, the Phillies have sent a handful of scouts and execs overseas to catch a glimpse of Teruaki Sato. The star slugger is expected to be one of the top available hitters in the Japanese market come winter. Philadelphia’s interest in Sato appears to be so serious that general manager Preston Mattingly made the trip.
Last winter, Tatsuya Imai, Munetaka Murakami, and Kazuma Okamoto were all high-profile players to come out of Japan. The Phillies, however, did not make a legitimate run at any of the stars. Murakami has been one of the top power hitters in Major League Baseball since joining the Chicago White Sox. Philadelphia likely did not pursue the slugger heavily because it did not need a player in his position.
They could have targeted Okamoto, though. The third baseman is playing fairly well for the Toronto Blue Jays after signing a four-year, $60 million contract ahead of the current campaign. At the moment, Alec Bohm remains Philadelphia’s typical third baseman during 2026. Bohm is currently slashing just .209/.264/.304 on the season.
According to the aforementioned report, Mattingly and his scouts arrived extra early to a game between Sato’s Hanshin Tigers and Hiroshima Toyo Carp. The Phillies contingent was interested in seeing the star slugger during pregame batting practice and how he fared during the game. “I wanted to see everything,” claimed Mattingly. “I wanted to see firsthand how [Sato] interacts with his teammates, how he moves on the field, his fielding, and how he uses his body during batting practice.”
Philadelphia Phillies Will Likely Have Room for Teruaki Sato Next Season
GettyTeruaki Sato recently starred for Team Japan at the World Baseball Classic.
Sato eventually went 0-for-4 in the game on May 15, as Hanshin was shut out for the first time this season. Despite the disappointing showing, the slugger has posted impressive statistics during the current campaign. He is currently slashing .360/.440/.720 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs in 41 games. Sato previously posted an eyebrow-raising 40 home runs and 102 RBIs in 139 total games in 2025.
The power hitter is versatile enough to play three different positions. He is, however, typically deployed either at third base or in right field. Interestingly enough, the Philadelphia Phillies will likely need reinforcements in these two particular positions soon. Bohm and right fielder Adolis Garcia are both set to become free agents following the 2026 season.
Japanese Star’s Idol Currently Plays for Philadelphia
Sato, however, is not exactly the perfect match for the Philadelphia Phillies. As The Athletic’s Matt Gelb points out, the star hitter bats from the left side of the plate. The MLB team’s lineup is already left-handed heavy. In fact, five of their nine starters are lefties. Both Bohm and Garcia are two of their four everyday right-handed hitters.
Nevertheless, Philadelphia cannot keep overlooking the Japanese market. The club, like several other MLB teams, is likely kicking itself for not being more aggressive with Murakami or Okamoto. While the Phillies will have plenty of competition for Sato, they could have an ace up their sleeve. The aforementioned Japanese report has claimed that Sato’s baseball idol is current Philadelphia star, Bryce Harper.
Phillies Targeting 40-Home Run Versatile Japanese Slugger