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The story
With Hanshin’s Sato Teruaki eyeing a major league move via the posting system this offseason, reports have emerged that the Dodgers — who fell short of a third straight World Series title — are interested in signing him. South Korea’s Sports Chosun picked up on the news, analyzing that if Sato joins Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki, the team’s popularity in Japan would grow even further, sparking discussion. On 5ch, opinion split right down the middle between those welcoming the new addition and those who feel the concentration of Japanese players has gone too far, with commenters also weighing in on roster questions like open defensive positions and the aging Dodgers lineup.
Korean media takes notice as the Dodgers move toward signing Sato Teruaki! Forecast: a new star would further accelerate the popularity of the “Team Japan” squad
Hanshin Tigers’ Sato Teruaki, who is aiming to move to the majors this offseason via the posting system, appears to have drawn interest from the Los Angeles Dodgers, who fell short of a third consecutive World Series title.
South Korean outlet Sports Chosun also reacted to the move, arguing in an article published locally on October 25 that if Sato joins a Dodgers roster already featuring Japanese players like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki, the team’s popularity and attention in Japan would rise even further.
Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here
What people said
Lol, that's just an Ohtani-envy hater talking (someone with a chip on their shoulder about Ohtani).
They don't need to sign any more.
MLB can just stay locked out forever, you jerks.
Ohtani's 32 too.
Ohtani's probably got another 5 years left,
but guys approaching 40 are due for a changeover soon.
They've already got DePaula too.
I want to watch Yankees games, so I wish he'd go to the Yankees instead.
Yeah, there's something to be said for shining on the East Coast!
Though he'll probably be stuck in the minors for a while.
Where's he even gonna play?
DH is open.
The Dodgers' aging roster is already an issue — if they cut loose the old guys like Freeman (1B), Muncy (3B), and Teoscar (OF), they'd open up plenty of roster spots.
Baseball's popularity is basically dead in America now, so they have to pull in Japanese baseball fans (and Japanese sponsors).
But that trend just keeps killing baseball's popularity in the West division even more.
It's a vicious cycle.
They keep saying he models it after Ohtani, but I don't really see the resemblance.
but nowhere close to peak Ohtani.
Murakami ended up with just an .825 OPS though?
For Japan's Triple Crown winner to only put up that much is embarrassing, isn't it???
Japanese corporate sponsorship revenue >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> domestic US ticket/other revenue
Of course it ends up like this.
Background and Key Points of This Topic
Sato Teruaki is reportedly aiming to challenge the majors via the posting system this offseason, and it’s worth noting that the story originates from an analysis piece by South Korea’s Sports Chosun, which itself cites domestic reporting. The Dodgers already field three Japanese players — Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki — and fell short of a third straight World Series title this season. The thread split mainly into two camps: one voicing a sense of “saturation” over having too many Japanese players, and the other debating the practical roster question of whether Sato could actually play a defensive position or fit in as a DH. Some commenters welcomed Sato’s potential addition in the context of generational turnover, pointing to the aging of core hitters like Freeman and Muncy. It’s also worth flagging for readers that this report only conveys the Dodgers’ “interest” at this stage — it does not indicate that negotiations or an agreement have taken place.
*This article is compiled by excerpting and summarizing the 5ch (Geisoku Sokuho+) thread “[Baseball] Dodgers show interest in signing Sato Teruaki — overseas media take notice, forecasting that a new star would further accelerate the popularity of “Team Japan”“.
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