Mets target Teruaki Sato will be posted by Hanshin Tigers

If the New York Mets learned their lesson passing on Munetaka Murakami last year, they'll have a chance to make good this offseason, as Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato will be posted by his NPB club, the Hanshin Tigers.  Japanese outlet Yakyu Cosmopolitan first reported that the star infielder has received the green light from his club in hopes of signing with an MLB club before the looming lockout on Dec. 2.  Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns personally went to Japan to scout Sato this season. The 27-year-old won the Triple Crown, slashing .306/.383/.609 with 39 home runs and 106 RBI in 143 games. He won MVP honors by posting a .924 OPS with 40 home runs and 102 RBI in 2025.  While he is listed as a third baseman, he would likely be recruited as a first baseman for the Mets as long as Bo Bichette opts into the second year of his contract. It could go a long way toward solving a maddening equation at first base that was created when the organization let Pete Alonso w