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Teruaki Sato contract prediction will force NY Mets to change their mindset

If the Mets want to sign Teruaki Sato, David Stearns will need to adjust his mindset.
ByPat Ragazzo
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Mar 15, 2025; Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; Hanshin Tigers right fielder Teruaki Sato (8) during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Mar 15, 2025; Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; Hanshin Tigers right fielder Teruaki Sato (8) during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The New York Mets have heavily scouted star Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato. President of baseball operations David Stearns has even traveled to Japan to watch Sato himself. Sato will now be posted to MLB by the Hanshin Tigers of the NPB, and should be highly sought after by a number of teams this offseason.

But it could be tricky for the Mets to land Sato for a number of reasons. And one recent Sato contract prediction would force Stearns to completely change his mindset and strategy to sign the star slugger.

David Stearns needs to adjust his mindset to sign Teruaki Sato

Former GM and current MLB insider Jim Bowden made contract predictions for the top 40 free agents this winter, including Sato. The 27-year-old came in at No. 3 on this list and Bowden predicted he will draw a massive five-year, $180 million deal.

Stearns doesn't like to hand out long-term deals. With the exception of Juan Soto's 15-year, $765 million deal, Stearns hasn't dished out a contract longer than three years to any other player since joining the Mets' front office ahead of the 2024 season.

The Mets' head honcho also let franchise cornerstone first baseman Pete Alonso walk to the Baltimore Orioles last December on a five-year, $155 million deal. It's hard to envision Stearns signing Sato to the same amount of years and more money given he has yet to take an MLB at-bat.

That being said, Sato just won the Triple Crown in the NPB and is likely to win the MVP Award as well. He's also younger than Alonso, turning 28 next season, and the Mets still need an adequate replacement at the position. Sato slashed .306/.383/.609 with 40 doubles, 39 homers and 106 RBIs in 143 games last season. Sato has crushed 79 homers across the past two seasons in the NPB. He has middle of the order bat written all over him, and the Mets already made the mistake of not signing Munetaka Murakami last offseason.

Sato is a natural third baseman, but some teams view him as a potential first baseman or corner outfielder. If Bo Bichette doesn't opt-out of his deal, Sato would fit the Mets as a first baseman. But is Stearns really going to take a chance on giving a long-term deal to an unproven bat who has never played first base before? The top executive would have to change his entire mindset to make a move like this, and that's what the Mets would have to do to sign Sato based on Bowden's latest prediction.

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