Rangers Rumors: Teruaki Sato is becoming a real possibility in Texas but another domino must fall first

Believe it or not, the Texas Rangers are serious suitors for Japanese superstar Teruaki Sato. According to The Athletic, the Rangers have done "extensive background work" on Sato and are among the teams interested in the 27-year-old third baseman/outfielder. As The Athletic noted, the Rangers likely would need to clear payroll space to sign Sato, as president of baseball operations Chris Young said the team won't increase spending in 2027. Therefore, the Rangers most likely would need to trade Corey Seager, Jacob deGrom, or Nathan Eovaldi to sign Sato.

Sato, a left-handed hitter, is planning to join MLB after six seasons with the NPB's Hanshin Tigers. Over 803 games with Hanshin, Sato slashed .271/.337/.514 with 163 home runs and 518 RBI. This past season, he hit .306/.308/.609 with 39 home runs and 106 RBI.

Fans around the world got a look at what Sato can do during the 2026 World Baseball Classic, as the slugger went 3-for-10 with three doubles, a walk, and two RBIs before Venezuela eliminated Japan. He also hit a home run off Blake Snell in a 2025 exhibition game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

ESPN projects Sato will sign a five-year, $115 million contract. MLB Trade Rumors predicts he will sign a five-year, $80 million deal.

The Rangers need to clear payroll space to sign Teruaki Sato, and will have to deal with several moving parts if they land him

Trading Seager would be the easiest way for Texas to clear payroll space for Sato. Seager is owed roughly $155 million over the next five years. If Texas can replace Seager's contract with Sato's, the team would have a younger, less injury-prone player than Seager for the next half-decade.

The thing is, Seager has a full no-trade clause, so if he wants to stay in Texas, which is very possible, the Rangers cannot trade him. Moving deGrom or Eovaldi could also clear space for Sato. Both pitchers are under team control for just one more year, so Texas can replace one of their 2027 salaries with Sato's. Then the Rangers will have room to pay Sato for the rest of his contract because deGrom and Eovaldi's salaries will be off the books after the 2027 season no matter what.

While Sato has primarily played third base in Japan, he has also played in the outfield in 262 NPB games. Texas needs a first baseman more than an outfielder or third baseman, so the team could convert Sato to first base, as the Chicago White Sox did with Munetaka Murakami.

That leads to all kinds of questions with the roster. When healthy, Josh Jung was their most impactful hitter in 2026. Wyatt Langford, despite his failure to launch to superstar status is just 25 years old and a foundational piece. Brandon Nimmo was a key contributor and veteran leader. Jake Burger led the Rangers in both home runs (28) and RBI (90).

Those four players cover all four positions that Sato could play. Now, Joc Pederson is a free agent, freeing up the DH spot. It's unlikely that Texas would want to shell out big money to a player in his 20s just to shove him in at DH, though. Theoretically, Jung and/or Nimmo could move to DH full-time, as neither is a great defensive player, but are we sure Sato will be any better?

Then there's the Sebastian Walcott situation. Whether the 20-year-old phenom breaks camp on the big league roster or arrives at a later point in 2027, he'll be a factor. Trading Seager clears a path for him, but not Sato, and if the Rangers hold on to Seager and instead trade a pitcher, it will only create more of a logjam at third base with Sato in tow.

This isn't to say that the Rangers shouldn't sign Sato. They need an impact bat, and while he's a bigger risk than most free agents, he also might be the most impactful hitter on the market. Adding him to the roster would also give the club trade chips, like Jung, that can be spun off to improve other areas of need.

One way or another, it looks like Chris Young is working hard to improve the team, and that's something that Rangers fans can be grateful for.

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