A few moves from Japan to MLB that are not 100%, but seem likely:
- RHP Kenta Maeda will be posted by the Hiroshima Carp. He tried to come last year but the team said no; this year they've apparently acquiesced, which makes sense because after next year he can leave and they'd get nothing. He should command the max posting fee of USD 20mm. Mae-ken, as he's known, has been heavily scouted over the past few years by the Sox, Diamondbacks, and Dodgers, among others. He's probably closer to Iwakuma than Ma-kun in terms of stuff, but obviously still very legit. He'll be 28 in April.
- Yakult Swallows closer Tony Barnette will also be posted, but for USD 500k which seems fair. He's 32 and has had a mixed career in Japan, though he had a 1.29 ERA this year and tied for the league lead in Saves.
- Fukuoka Softbank Hawks 3B Nobuhiro Matsuda says he's going to try his hand in the Majors as a free agent. He's also 32 and still has some pop left, having hit .287/.357/.533 with 35 HR this year. He did strike out 135 times vs 60 walks though. And also 23 of his 35 HR came at home in Fukuoka, where they moved the fences in this year. So who knows.