Past Postings
Of the 45 Japanese-born players who have played in MLB, ten have entered the league using the posting system. Since the system's creation in 1998, the fifteen players that have used it have experienced a range of success. Of the fifteen, eight were immediately signed to Major League contracts. These contracts range from $1.4 million to $52 million. Of the remaining seven, three were signed to Minor League contracts, one was unable to reach a contract agreement and three were unsuccessful in drawing bids from any Major League clubs. The following tables outline each posting and its outcome.
| Player | Posting date | NPB team | MLB team | Winning bid | Date of contract agreement |
MLB contract | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quezada, AlejandroAlejandro Quezada | 01999-02-02February 2, 1999 | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | Cincinnati Reds | $400,001 | 01999-03-02March 2, 1999 | $0Minor league contract | |
| Suzuki, IchiroIchiro Suzuki | 02000-11-09November 9, 2000 | Orix BlueWave | Seattle Mariners | $13,125,000 | 02000-11-30November 30, 2000 | $4,666,6663 years, $14 million | |
| Ishii, KazuhisaKazuhisa IshiiP | 02002-01-03January 3, 2002 | Yakult Swallows | Los Angeles Dodgers | $11,260,000 | 02002-02-08February 8, 2002 | $3,075,0004 years, $12.3 million | |
| Ramirez, RamonRamón RamírezP | 02003-02-06February 6, 2003 | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | New York Yankees | $350,000 | 02003-03-05March 5, 2003 | $0Minor league contract | |
| Otsuka, AkinoriAkinori OtsukaP§ | 02003-11-11November 11, 2003 | Chunichi Dragons | San Diego Padres | $300,000 | 02003-12-09December 9, 2003 | $750,0002 years, $1.5 million | |
| Nakamura, NorihiroNorihiro Nakamura | 02005-01-28January 28, 2005 | Orix Buffaloes | Los Angeles Dodgers | $0Undisclosedψ | 02005-02-03February 3, 2005 | $0Minor league contract | |
| Mori, ShinjiShinji MoriP | 02005-12-12December 12, 2005 | Seibu Lions | Tampa Bay Devil Rays | $750,000 | 02006-11-11November 11, 2006 | $700,0002 years, $1.4 million | |
| Matsuzaka, DaisukeDaisuke MatsuzakaP | 02006-11-02November 2, 2006 | Seibu Lions | Boston Red Sox | $51,111,111.11† | 02006-12-14December 14, 2006 | $8,666,6666 year, $52 million | |
| Iwamura, AkinoriAkinori Iwamura | 02006-11-06November 6, 2006 | Tokyo Yakult Swallows | Tampa Bay Devil Rays | $4,500,000 | 02006-12-15December 15, 2006 | $2,566,6663 year, $7.7 million | |
| Igawa, KeiKei IgawaP | 02006-11-17November 17, 2006 | Hanshin Tigers | New York Yankees | $26,000,194‡ | 02006-12-27December 27, 2006 | $4,000,0005 years, $20 million | |
| Nishioka, TsuyoshiTsuyoshi Nishioka | 02010-11-17November 17, 2010 | Chiba Lotte Marines | Minnesota Twins | $5,329,000 | 02010-12-17December 17, 2010 | $3,000,0003 years, $9 million | |
| Aoki, NorichikaNorichika Aoki | 02011-12-12December 12, 2011 | Tokyo Yakult Swallows | Milwaukee Brewers | $2,500,000 | 02012-01-17January 17, 2012 | $1,250,0002 years, $2.5 million | |
| Darvish, YuYu DarvishP | 02011-12-08December 8, 2011 | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | Texas Rangers | $51,703,411€ | 02012-01-18January 18, 2012 | $10,000,0006 years, $60 million |
| Player | Posting date | NPB team | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pérez, TimoTimo Pérez | 01999-02-02February 2, 1999 | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | Pérez re-signed with the Carp for one season. His contract was purchased by the New York Mets on March 27, 2000. |
|
| Otsuka, AkinoriAkinori OtsukaP | 02002-12-18December 18, 2002 | Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes | Otsuka did not draw any bids from an MLB team. He signed with the Chunichi Dragons on March 20, 2003 for ¥95 million ($800,404 in 2003). |
|
| Iriki, YusakuYusaku IrikiP | 02005-11-22November 22, 2005 | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | Iriki did not draw any bids from an MLB team and was released by the Fighters on December 5, 2005. He was later signed by the New York Mets on January 18, 2006 to a one-year, $750,000 contract. |
|
| Mitsui, KojiKoji MitsuiP | 02008-12-18December 18, 2008 | Saitama Seibu Lions | Mitsui did not draw any bids from an MLB team. He was re-posted the next month. |
|
| Mitsui, KojiKoji MitsuiP§ | 02009-01-08January 8, 2009 | Saitama Seibu Lions | Mitsui did not draw any bids from an MLB team. He was re-signed by the Lions on January 20, 2009, to a one-year, ¥57 million ($594,453 in 2009) contract. |
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| Iwakuma, HisashiHisashi IwakumaP | 02010-11-01November 1, 2010 | Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles | The Oakland A's were awarded exclusive negotiating rights on November 7 after bidding $19.1 million. Contract negotiations ended without an agreement and Iwakuma returned to the Golden Eagles. |
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| Sanada, HirokiHiroki SanadaP | 02011-11-23November 23, 2011 | Yokohama Bay Stars | Sanada did not draw any bids from an MLB team. He was later released by the Bay Stars. | |
| Nakajima, HiroyukiHiroyuki Nakajima | 02011-11-28November 28, 2011 | Saitama Seibu Lions | The New York Yankees were awarded exclusive negotiating rights after bidding $2.5 million. Contract negotiations ended without an agreement and Nakajima resigned with the Lions. |
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