The Phillies have long been as aggressive as anyone in baseball when it comes to free agency.
The same hasn’t been true on the international side, though. Their history with signing top talent out of Asia has been almost non-existent, and it hasn’t been for a lack of effort.
“Sometimes there’s a little bit more of an obstacle we’re facing,” Dave Dombrowski told The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber recently. “Maybe [Philly] is not the No. 1 place, first and foremost. But you don’t give in to that. You try to create an atmosphere that people want to join, and you’re hopeful that at some time it works out for you.”
This offseason might finally present that opportunity. Unlike recent winters, the combination of posted players from Japan’s NPB, Korea’s KBO and Taiwan’s CPBL aligns directly with several needs up and down the Phillies’ roster.
An instant match is corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto of the Yomiuri Giants. Before injuries interrupted his 2025 season, the 29-year-old logged seven straight years with a .250 or better average, 27+ homers, 80+ RBIs, 240+ total bases and an OPS of .805 or higher.
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His offensive profile in NPB mirrors what Seiya Suzuki brought from Japan — and the Cubs outfielder has produced an .818 OPS with 87 home runs across his first four MLB seasons.
Okamoto would provide the right-handed power presence the Phillies have lacked the last two years and give Bryce Harper consistent protection in the middle of the order.
MLB Trade Rumors projected a four-year, $64 million deal — a range the Phillies can operate in, whether that means missing out on the Kyle Schwarber sweepstakes or moving Alec Bohm via trade.
The pitching side is less certain. The team isn’t expected to pursue high-end starters, but Ranger Suárez’s expected departure and uncertainty around Zack Wheeler’s recovery leave room for rotation upgrades.
The most coveted starter available is right-hander Tatsuya Imai. He debuted back in 2017 and has made his mark with the Seibu Lions of the NPB. Over his last four seasons, he averaged a 2.19 ERA, and this past year was his best.
In 2025, he posted a 1.92 ERA and a league-best 0.89 WHIP across 163 2/3 innings, allowing only 101 hits and 45 walks.
A contract in the $20 million AAV range over five or six years is expected for the 27-year-old — whose fastball nears triple digits — which may exceed what the Phillies are willing to do.
A more realistic target is in Taiwan. Wei Chuan Dragons right-hander Jo Hsi Hsu was posted Sunday, and Yahoo Sports Taiwan linked the Phillies to the 25-year-old as early as April.
Hsu just put together his best full season — a 2.05 ERA and 0.81 WHIP over 19 starts in 2025.
FanGraphs evaluators Eric Longenhagen and James Fegan noted a late-season dip in velocity that could point to a bullpen future in the MLB, and it is not yet certain whether Hsu will choose a major-league deal or sign in Japan. But the Phillies’ interest predates his posting — and the cost would be nowhere near Imai’s.
If the Phillies don’t go the international route to add pitching, they could enhance their depth offensively. Left-handed hitting is not an organizational priority, but two KBO standouts fit the profile of affordable upside.
Samsung slugger Lewin Díaz just authored one of the greatest offensive seasons in league history: a .314 average, 50 home runs and 158 RBIs — capturing the KBO Triple Crown while setting league records for a foreign player in home runs and runs batted in.
Credit: Sam Navarro – USA TODAY Sports
Díaz played three MLB seasons (2020–22) before moving to the KBO. His arc resembles Eric Thames, who came back from Korea and delivered an .825 OPS and 114 OPS+ over four MLB seasons. Whether Díaz returns to the big leagues remains unknown, but his 2025 output makes him a legitimate candidate.
Kiwoom infielder Sung-mun Song also fits the Phillies’ roster structure — albeit in a different way. After seven inconsistent KBO seasons, Song has hit .327 over the last two years and totaled 109 extra-base hits with OPS marks of .927 and .917.
The 29-year-old’s athleticism allows him to play first, second and third, and while his defense has been up and down, his versatility makes him a complement to Edmundo Sosa as the Phillies shore up their bench.
Although NPB star Munetaka Murakami is the biggest name on the international market, the Phillies’ push to improve — and their willingness to pursue talent across the Pacific — puts them in position to compete for at least one of these players.
