Shinnosuke Ogasawara Officially Posted by Chunichi Dragons

Exciting news from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB): Left-hander Shinnosuke Ogasawara has been officially posted by the Chunichi Dragons. This move, confirmed by reporter Francys Romero, opens up a 45-day window for Ogasawara’s representatives at William Morris Endeavor to negotiate with Major League Baseball (MLB) clubs. If no agreement is reached within this period, Ogasawara will return to the Dragons for the 2025 season.


This decision, reported in October, has now been officially sanctioned, allowing all 30 MLB teams to engage in contract talks with Ogasawara’s representatives. The posting system enables international players to join MLB teams while still under contract with their NPB teams, and Ogasawara’s availability is set to generate significant interest across the league.


While Ogasawara may not be as high-profile as fellow NPB star Roki Sasaki, who has also been posted this offseason, he possesses unique advantages. Due to MLB’s international signing rules, Ogasawara, at 27 years old with parts of 9 NPB seasons under his belt, qualifies as a "professional." This status allows him to freely negotiate contract terms, unlike younger players like the 23-year-old Sasaki, who are classified as "amateurs" and subject to the international bonus pool system with stricter financial limitations.


Ogasawara’s professional status means he can fully assess his market value and negotiate for a potentially lucrative contract without the constraints faced by younger international players. This opens up a wider range of opportunities for Ogasawara as he looks to make his mark in MLB.


The next 45 days will be crucial as Ogasawara’s representatives engage with interested MLB clubs. Teams will be looking to bolster their pitching rotations, and a seasoned left-hander like Ogasawara could be a valuable addition. Fans and analysts alike will be closely monitoring these negotiations, eager to see where Ogasawara will land.