Yankees rumors: New York could solve infield uncertainty by signing star player from Japan
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Once again, the New York Yankees’ quest for their 28th World Series title fell short. For the second straight year, the Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox in the AL Wild Card series. However, the same result followed in their AL Division Series (ALDS) matchup. In 2025, the Yankees lost to another division rival, the Toronto Blue Jays, in four games. This fall, a third division rival, the Tampa Bay Rays, swept New York in the ALDS.
As the Bronx Bombers look to return to the Fall Classic for the first time since 2024, it’s clear that there are areas that need to be improved. One key spot is third base, where 2025 trade deadline pickup Ryan McMahon has failed to lock down the hot corner. Because of this, the Yankees are looking to upgrade the position. While appearing on Foul Territory, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal discussed the opening. Shared via X, formerly Twitter, Rosenthal expects New York to chase star Japanese third baseman Teruaki Sato this winter.
"I expect the Yankees to be involved in the Sato market."@Ken_Rosenthal says the Japanese Triple Crown winner makes sense for New York, especially at third base. pic.twitter.com/r0XipGCGXp
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— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) November 2, 2026
“I expect the Yankees to be involved in the Sato market,” Rosenthal remarked on Monday morning.
The Yankees have had success with Japanese stars before, most notably Hideki Matsui and former staff ace Masahiro Tanaka. However, New York has failed to attract overseas talent over the last few years, falling short in their pursuit of superstars like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Will Sato prove to be different?
If so, the Yankees could very well solve their third base woes. Arguably the top free agent hitter available, Sato could be the first Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) player to win the MVP then leave for the MLB since Matsui joined New York in the mid-2000s. After winning NPB’s Triple Crown in 2026, it could be time for the 27-year-old to make his mark in the majors. Will he join the Bombers? Or will Sato ply his trade elsewhere in America?
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