An MLB insider has linked the New York Yankees and New York Mets to one of the offseason's top sluggers. 

Nippon Professional Baseball's Triple Crown winner hit .306/.383/.609 in 143 games for the Hanshin Tigers, with 39 home runs, 106 RBIs, and a .991 OPS. 

"[Jon]Heyman reported that the Mets, Phillies, Padres, and Yankees are all linked to the 27-year-old third baseman," Bleacher Report's Erik Beaston wrote about Japanese third baseman Teruaki Sato. 

Sato, 27, has until December 1 to sign a Major League contract or return to the Tigers. The current collective bargaining agreement expires at the turn of the month. 

As for the Yankees, they could use an offensive upgrade at third base. Ryan McMahon's struggles (29.4% strikeout rate, 76 OPS+) are hard to overlook, especially if his typically strong defense continues to fade. 

Sato has his own share of swing-and-miss concerns, but he offers 30-40-homer potential throughout a 162-game season. 

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It may take some time for the left-handed hitter to find a groove against Major League pitching, but it can be done.

Japanese third baseman Kazuma Okamoto led the Toronto Blue Jays with 33 homers in 2026, and Munetaka Murakami performed 30% better than the league-average hitter. 

While Sato's defense is not the strongest at third base, the Yankees certainly could use a boost to a lineup that appears lost without Aaron Judge. 

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