The Angels may have just gotten a break in the Teruaki Sato sweepstakes.
For a while, the idea of Los Angeles landing the 27-year-old NPB star looked like a long shot. Sato has drawn scouts from all over the league, and the expectation was that the bidding would be driven by the usual heavy hitters. Jim Bowden of The Athletic pegged the market as a four-team fight involving the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Angels, which would have pushed the price into uncomfortable territory for a club in a transition year.
But that picture may be changing. Jack Curry of the YES Network reported that the Yankees have concerns about Sato’s defense at third base and may not pursue him this offseason.
Curry’s reporting carries weight because the Yankees own the majority stake in YES Network, and his read on the organization’s plans is generally considered highly reliable. It also lines up with what New York Post insider Joel Sherman said a few weeks ago.
If the Yankees are out, that matters. The Dodgers are also believed to be out, and the Mets may have had interest until Bo Bichette opted into his deal, which effectively shut that door. With fewer big spenders in the mix, Sato’s eventual contract could wind up closer to the five years and $80 millon projected by MLB Trade Rumors than the five years and $140 million million Bowden suggested.
That shift would give the Angels a much better shot. And even with their own defensive issues, they have a case for going after him anyway.
The numbers on the Angels’ defense are ugly. In 2026, they ranked 25th in defensive runs saved at -13, finished with -42 outs above average, third-worst in the league, and committed 91 errors, the 11th most in baseball. So yes, adding another third baseman with questions attached is a real conversation.
Still, the Angels shouldn’t let that scare them off. If Sato doesn’t work at third, they can move him to first and patch the problem that way.
The Yankees don’t have that flexibility, since they already have more left-handed-hitting first basemen than they need with Ben Rice and Luis Garcia Jr. on the roster. Shifting Sato would mean bumping Nolan Schanuel, but that’s a reasonable price for a hitter who has launched 79 homers over the last two seasons.
There’s also the bigger-picture play. Signing Sato would be more than a power add; it would give the Angels another shot at building a real bridge to the Japanese market after they missed the chance to fully capitalize when Shohei Ohtani was with the team.
With new ownership in Stan Kroenke, the Angels would be trying to reset that relationship from a stronger position. If Sato performs, the club would already have a geographic edge when it comes to future Asian stars, and Kroenke would bring the kind of brand-building experience that could matter.
That’s why Sato looks like a do-over the Angels can’t afford to waste. There’s no guarantee his power translates from NPB to MLB, but that risk comes with any import. He remains one of the best lineup upgrades available to Los Angeles and would fit alongside the core the club has built with Reid Detmers and Zach Neto.
If the Yankees really are out, the market gets friendlier for the Angels. And with leadership changes still unfolding and the clock ticking toward the impending lockout, Los Angeles could still make a serious run at Sato if it chooses to be aggressive.
In Other News...
Angels Enter Offseason With Front Office Power Still Unsettled
The Angels are moving into the offseason with their front office still in limbo, even as the incoming ownership group begins laying groundwork for the next era. Kroenke Sports & Entertainment is expected to hold informal meetings with candidates for the general manager job during this weeks GM Meetings, a sign that the search is already taking shape while the franchise waits for the sale to clear MLB approval.
For now, interim GM John Mozeliak remains in charge through December and is still exploring trade possibilities as he manages the roster in the meantime. The Angels could look at deals involving players such as Reid Detmers and Zach Neto, and there is also the possibility of smaller roster tweaks before the offseason really gets going, but the bigger question remains who will ultimately be making those calls once the new ownership structure is fully in place. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Ownership Limbo Could Cost Them A Real Pitching Opportunity
The posting window for Teruaki Sato and Kaima Taira has put a familiar winter problem back in front of the Angels: they have a chance to chase pitching help from Japan, but the franchises ownership situation is making even routine business feel complicated. Both players were posted by NPB clubs with a 30-day deadline to work out MLB deals before the Dec. 1 lockout, and Los Angeles is trying to operate with John Mozeliak in an interim general manager role while the sale of the team remains unresolved.
Mozeliak brings experience, but timing is working against the Angels here. Even if the front office likes the fit and the need is obvious, the uncertainty around who will be making the final call may prevent the club from getting a contract done before the clock runs out, leaving a real pitching opportunity hanging in limbo. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Suddenly Have A Reason For Real Long-Term Optimism
For a franchise that has spent too much time trying to patch holes at the big-league level, the Angels suddenly have something more durable to point to: a farm system that looks meaningfully better than it did not long ago. The boost has come through a mix of trades and encouraging minor-league development, with shortstop Arjun Nimmala, right-hander Tyler Bremner and outfielder Hayden Alvarez emerging as the kinds of prospects that can change the conversation if their progress holds.
Nimmala has already shown well in Double-A and the Arizona Fall League after arriving in a trade, while Bremner has flashed real promise across High-A and Double-A with his pitching numbers. Alvarez, meanwhile, has drawn attention for a blend of athleticism and plate discipline that can travel up the ladder, giving the Angels a trio of young players who could matter in the coming years even if the exact order of their arrival is still to be determined. [Read more 🡒]