Kaima Taira is heading toward MLB, and the Seibu Lions have made the move that opens the door.
The Lions said they will post the right-handed pitcher, giving the 26-year-old a chance to launch his major league career after establishing himself as one of Japan’s top arms. Taira just turned in a strong NPB season after shifting back into a starting role from relief, making 23 appearances and working 146 innings. He finished with a 1.36 ERA and 141 strikeouts.
That followed a heavy workload the year before, when he pitched 54 times for Seibu and collected 31 saves. Across 351 games overseas, Taira owns a 1.85 ERA with 676 strikeouts, a track record that makes him one of the more intriguing names to watch as he moves toward the big leagues.
He is not shy about what he wants next, either.
“As a pitcher, my goal is to win a Cy Young award,” he said, per Japanese news agency Kyodo. “And I’d like to pitch in the World Series as well.”
That kind of ambition naturally points the conversation toward Los Angeles. The Dodgers have become one of the most logical destinations for Japanese talent, and they’ve already shown they can bring overseas stars into the fold with the success of Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki. On top of that, the Dodgers are in the mix for the World Series almost every year, which lines up neatly with Taira’s goals.
They also have a front office that clearly keeps close tabs on the NPB market. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said during his exit interview, “Obviously we are a big fan of the NPB and have a lot of respect for the talent in that league,” Friedman said during his exit interview.
“And it’s something we follow closely and watch. Our understanding is there’s a chance there’s a couple of very talented players that are going to potentially come over to the major leagues.
And we’re going to continue to meet on that and talk about it. … We’re excited about having those conversations and watching these guys play out.”
If the Dodgers decide to jump in, they could end up as the team to beat for Taira this offseason.
In Other News...
Dodgers Face Two Quiet Roster Decisions That Could Reshape Their Bullpen
The Dodgers have a small but meaningful set of offseason roster calls ahead of them, with six arbitration-eligible players to sort through before the November 20 deadline. Andy Pages and Emmet Sheehan are expected to stick around, while Brock Stewart and Gavin Stone also appear likely to be tendered even with some lingering questions attached to each.
The trickier decisions sit farther down the list, where Alex Call and Jake Cousins are both in that gray area between usefulness and uncertainty. Los Angeles will have to weigh performance against health before deciding whether either player is worth keeping on the books, and those choices could ripple into how the bullpen is shaped for next season. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Prospect Is Suddenly Testing A Role This Roster May Need
The Dodgers have spent the Arizona Fall League using Charles Davalan in a different way, shifting the No. 6 prospect away from the outfield and over to second base as they sort through a crowded group of young outfielders. It is a notable wrinkle for a player who already built momentum with a strong 2026 season at High-A Great Lakes, where his bat helped him stand out as one of the organizations more interesting position-player prospects.
Eric Longenhagen has pointed to Davalans versatility as one of his selling points, and the new look only adds to the sense that the Dodgers may be exploring a path that keeps his bat moving while broadening his defensive value. Longenhagen has projected him as an everyday player who could handle both second base and left field, with a possible major league role by 2028, and this fall assignment gives the club a chance to see whether that kind of flexibility can become part of the roster puzzle. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Have Two Rotation Fallbacks If Tarik Skubal Gets Away
The Dodgers are expected to chase Tarik Skubal if he reaches free agency, but they are not likely to sit around with only one name on the board. As the winter market takes shape, Los Angeles is already being linked to a pair of rotation alternatives in Freddy Peralta and Michael King, giving the club some insulation if the top target proves too expensive or simply lands elsewhere.
Peraltas season was uneven after splitting time between the Mets and Rays, though he finished on a better note with a strong September and postseason run. King, meanwhile, declined his player option after a strong October and brings the added familiarity of having pitched for the Padres, which only adds to the sense that the Dodgers will have several paths to choose from if their preferred ace slips away. [Read more 🡒]