Another Japanese standout could be on his way to the Majors after all.
Right-handed pitcher Takahiro Norimoto, a prolific strikeout artist during his 13 seasons with Nippon Professional Baseball’s Rakuten Golden Eagles, has an MLB offer on the table, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.
Norimoto is also considering a return to Japan, but is expected to decide on his 2026 plans this weekend, Feinsand added.
In October it was reported that Norimoto planned to explore the possibilities with both MLB and NPB clubs.
Norimoto, who turned 35 in December, is classified as an international free agent, which simplifies his path to signing with an MLB organization.
With more than nine seasons in NPB, he is exempt from the post system, which requires any team that signs him to pay a fee. Additionally, as a player age 25 or older and with more than six seasons in the professional ranks, he is not subject to the MLB’s bonus pool system, which would limit how much teams can bid him.
A six-time NPB All-Star, Norimoto was one of the league’s most dominant starters in the 2010s.
From 2014 to 2018, he led the circuit in strikeouts for five consecutive years, averaging nearly 209 punchouts per season during that stretch.
Norimoto moved to the bullpen in 2024, where he continued to pitch well.
Although his strikeout totals have dropped, Norimoto has still converted 48 saves over the past two campaigns.
In 2025, Norimoto pitched to a 3.05 ERA in 56 games, with 16 saves and 43 strikeouts in 56 innings.
Norimoto has experience dealing with MLB hitters as he, along with two relievers, combined to no hit a star-studded lineup of Major League players during an exhibition game at the Tokyo Dome on November 15, 2014.
At the time, Norimoto called the match “the best performance of my career,” throwing five scoreless frames with six punchouts – versus a lineup that included Ben Zobrist, Robinson Cano, Evan Longoria, Justin Morneau, Yasiel Puig, Salvador Perez and Lucas Duda.
“It’s too good to be true,” said Norimoto, according to the Los Angeles Times. “I wanted to see how my pitches would work against MLB hitters. The fact that my teammate [Motohiro] Shima was catching, which made me feel comfortable and allowed me to perform as usual. The atmosphere in the park was very nice.”
If Norimoto signs with an MLB organization, it will mark the second consecutive offseason that a 35-year-old NPB star has signed an MLB contract after Tomoyuki Sugano joined the Orioles.
He would also be the fourth player to transfer from NPB this season
Fellow right-handed pitcher Tatsuya Imai signed a three-deal with the Astros.
Infielders Munetaka Murakami (White Sox) and Kazuma Okamoto (Blue Jays) also signed multi-year contracts.
Kona Takahashi, a longtime pitcher for the Seibu Lions, opted to return to Japan despite reportedly receiving an MLB offer.
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