Ranking the Potential Free Agent Targets in the NPB and KBO

Of the many bright spots of 2023 baseball season was the absolute delight of the World Baseball Classic, highlighting a number of players beyond Major League Baseball who have made splashes across their respective leagues. Now, a number of those players are looking to make their debut here in the States. 

In recent years, stars from both the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) as well as Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) have not only succeeded in the MLB but become top-shelf talent. Beyond Shohei Ohtani, stars like Ha-Seong Kim, Masataka Yoshida, and Kodai Senga have all made serious pushes to be the best players on their respective teams. 

With a weaker free agent class in general this year, many teams will certainly turn toward these leagues for some talent that might translate across the Pacific. Headlining that group will be Yoshinobu Yamamoto, while phenom Rōki Sasaki will remain in NPB for at least another year. But there are a number of other players (and more cost friendly alternatives) that might find themselves in a Twins uniform.

Jung-Hoo Lee (Kiwoom Heroes)
387 PAs, .318/.406/.455

There are always questions about how KBO players might translate into MLB hitters, but Jung-Hoo Lee has been a mashing machine throughout his young career in the KBO. Already agreed to be posted by his team, the outfielder posted a 162 WRC+ and a 175 WRC+ in his age 22 and age 23 seasons on top of a couple of gold gloves for his Buxton-esque outfield defense.

His weaker .318 batting average this year only came on an ankle surgery that ended his season in July. That might make teams more wary toward his recovery as he attempts to get used to major league pitching, but Lee also did well in the World Baseball Classic against some fierce completion in the Tokyo Dome, going 6-for-14 (including one hit off Cy Young contender Yu Darvish).

Lee likely won’t come cheap, but if the Twins want a major upgrade to assist their outfield core, he might be a strong contender for a singles and doubles hitting machine.

Shota Imanaga (Yokohama Bay Stars)
148 IP, 2.80 ERA, 174 K, 24 BB

On an inning-per-inning basis, Japanese star Shota Imanaga might actually outshine Yamamoto. Throwing in the low-to-mid 90s, Shota includes a four-pitch mix that can really work to fool hitters both on the left and right. Over his twenty-two games in NPB, Imananga struck out a career best 29.4% of NPB hitters this season while walking fewer.

On the plus side, we already saw him this year against the MLB’s best, when he started the championship game of the WBC against the United States. Though only giving the team two innings and allowing a homer to Trea Turner, the southpaw otherwise looked strong against the high-quality US team and put forth the highest Stuff+ in the entire tournament.

It’s likely Shota will command a contract equivalent to Kodai Sengai’s $75 million / five Year deal with the Mets, which given his role in leading that team’s pitching, was an absolute steal. 

Yariel Rodriguez (Chunichi Dragons)
2022 Stats: 54.2 IP, 1.15 ERA, 60 K, 18 BB

Cuban-born Yariel Rodriguez skipped his 2023 season with the Dragons in order to better position himself for free agency in MLB. He spent 2023 first by moving from reliever to starter during the World Baseball Classic and then more recently putting on shows in the Dominican Republic for scouts, all creating a lot of hype for the former NPB reliever to become a big-time pitcher.

In his 2022 relief role, his career best 1.15 ERA did not include a single home run. Rodriguez sports a fastball in the mid-to-high 90s as well as a sinker and curveball that show strikeout potential (including 10 Ks over his two WBC starts). The big question will be whether teams think his stuff is ready for a back of the rotation starting role or if he should remain an elite reliever. If the latter, he might fit nicely within the Twins organization. 

Yuki Matsui (Tokohu Rakuten)
Stats: 57 1/3 IP, 1.57 ERA, 72 K, 13 BB

In a world of Bailey Obers and Felix Bautistas, Tokohu’s Yuki Matsui stands only 5’8”, which for many might throw up a red flag. But as a reliever his last three seasons in NBP, the pitcher’s command of a fastball / splitter might be the kind of thing difficult for MLB pitchers to adjust to in a sixth or seventh inning.

As a closer in NPB, Matsui posted 236 saves (becoming the youngest ever to 200 saves in the league’s history) and the second-best chase rate for the 2023 season over his young career. The biggest concern for the left-hander actually came in the World Baseball Classic, where he struggled to find a proper grip on MLB balls compared to the smaller, pre-sticky Japanese balls. But if Matsui can overcome those difficulties, he could be a surprise weapon for the Twins’ bullpen.

Erick Fedde (NC Dinos)
Stats: 180.1 IP, 2.0 ERA, 209 K, 35 BB

After Merrill Kelly cemented his legend with his commanding performance in Game 2 of the World Series, a number of teams are looking for other possible washouts who have found newfound success in the KBO. The obvious name here is Erick Fedde, who pitched with the Washington Nationals for six years before finding himself on the NC Dinos.

That 2023 season includes 180 innings with a strikeout to walk ratio for an astonishing 5.97 (his previous best in MLB was less than half that), becoming the first American born to win the league’s pitcher triple crown (wins, ERA and strikeouts). Like many pitchers, Fedde visisted a Driveline competitor called PUSH that added a sweeper to his mix, resulting in his 149 strikeouts. Although something of a celebrity in South Korea, Fedde has expressed interest in a return, and I imagine the Twins could find a gamble here.

Naoyuki Uwasawa (Nippon Ham Fighters)
170.1 IP, 3.49 ERA, 124 K, 41 BB

Probably the least-discussed headliner among NBP agents available by posting, Naoyuki Uwasawa could at least make a viable long-term investment for teams interested in a transition project. The 29-year-old posted an ERA under 3 with the Nippon Ham Fighters in 2023, allowing only fourteen dingers over his 170 innings.

Uwasawa comps closely to Kenta Maeda, with a fastball sitting around 91mph but a pitch arsenal that includes a half dozen other pitches to fool batters around the zone. While one of the least strikeout effective pitchers, that arsenal induces numerous weak ground balls and fly balls as he has forced hitters to chase. Unlike the Twins’ need for a top line starter, Uwasawa could provide potential depth for future seasons.

Do you think any of these international free agents should come to the Twins? Sound off in the comments.